Best way to make xml file editable on web

I have a huge configuration file(xml based), which is frequently updated by the customer. Now i don't want user to make configuration changes directly to the file as user may enter invalid data which can invalidate the file. For now i have a form which takes inputs from user and then at server side i am using xpath to edit the xml.The UI experience is poor as you can enter multiple child tags to a parent and for each addition there's a postback to server and also it requires a lot of user inputs as to know where in the dom he wants to add the tags. Is there any way i can represent my xml in html editable form and provide user with dropdowns to select values from and also he can add new tags. I am open to technologies, JS, php, .net , java or any client side library.

Re: Best way to make xml file editable on web

Hello Star nijhawan

First MANY thanks for your help to contribute to the Community

Then to be honestuntil now xml is used as a datasource hasn't been directly supported by MS with a very nice controlbut I think we can export the xml file into the form of DataTable by using DataSet.ReadXml and then bind the DataTable to the GridViewin the endwe can handle some events of the GridView and do to deal with changes to the DataTable in memoryin the endwhat we can do is just call DataSet.WriteXml to export the all data contents into xml file

If you are interested in thisI'd like to show you my sampleplease if possible leave your message and email here

Reguards

Re: Best way to make xml file editable on web

Hello Decker,

I have been working on this for a bit now and the best solution for editing xml(when i say best i mean best UI experience) seems to be XmlGrid which i am using.

And for generating a new XML on basis on user input i have created a UI which allows users to add one or multiple child elements and uses LINQ to XML and xpath.

I am not sure how using GridView we can show and edit hierarchical data .I'd be nice to see some sample and explore more and better possibilities.

Re: Best way to make xml file editable on web

nijhawan.saurabh
I am not sure how using GridView we can show and edit hierarchical data .I'd be nice to see some sample and explore more and better possibilities.

Hello again

Maybe you should try to nest another GridView inside the parent GridView and do data-binding

Re: Best way to make xml file editable on web

Hi Decker,

I tried this earlier but couldn't foresee if it'd give a good UI experience for editing. Do you know any reference which is somewhat similar to what i am doing?Gridview editing is very powerful, i mean i can also validate using dropdowns in editable region.

It'd be great if i can use a grdview based solution.

Re: Best way to make xml file editable on web

YesI'm afraid you cannot do that directly with the help of GridView when editing GridViewI'd like to show you my demo within 5 days if you are interested in thatplz leave your email:)

Re: Best way to make xml file editable on web

This is fine. Thanks for your support.

Email ID: nijhawan.saurabh@gmail.com

Re: Best way to make xml file editable on web

nijhawan.saurabh
This is fine. Thanks for your support.

Hello

I've sent a demo proj for you-

Re: Best way to make xml file editable on web

nijhawan.saurabh
Email ID: nijhawan.saurabh@gmail.com

Oh man

Your Google email somehow rejected to accept my mailand please use hotmail instead

^_^

Re: Best way to make xml file editable on web

Ok, send it to saurabhnijhawan@hotmail.co.uk

Thanks

Re: Best way to make xml file editable on web

If u received my letter, plz reply to me so as to let me know:-)

Re: Best way to make xml file editable on web

Yea i did, Thanks. I'll check this at home and get back to you.

Re: Best way to make xml file editable on web

nijhawan.saurabh

Yea i did, Thanks. I'll check this at home and get back to you.

How's your processIs everything going well with you now

Welcome your feedback

Re: Best way to make xml file editable on web

Hi, I would like to share a way to quick edit xml. As we can transfer Excel to xml, and Excel is pretty familiar with us.

Below is a article related: http://www.codeproject.com/Tips/371595/Generate-Excel-from-XML-and-Generate-XML-from-Exce

Hope to helpful

My Regards

Re: Best way to make xml file editable on web

Decker Dong - MSFT

How's your processIs everything going well with you now

Welcome your feedback

Hi,

I am trying to make Gridview help present a better UI ecperience for this.

I have also found this interesting but it needs quiet a bit of customization.

http://www.dotnettwitter.com/2011/07/hierarchical-gridview-in-aspnet-with.html

Re: Best way to make xml file editable on web

nijhawan.saurabh

Hi,

I am trying to make Gridview help present a better UI ecperience for this.

I have also found this interesting but it needs quiet a bit of customization.

http://www.dotnettwitter.com/2011/07/hierarchical-gridview-in-aspnet-with.html

Very very thankful for you to share us this nice solution

PSI'm bad at designespecially in UIwithout AestheticsHaha

Re: Best way to make xml file editable on web

So finally, i have decided upon using hierarchical Gridview + xmlgrid(both being referred earlier) as the approach to do this.

I am marking answers here but ppl can do post in more and better ways to do this if possible.

And last but not least, i thank you Decker for following this all the way and helping out. Without your sample i couldn't have looked at Gridview as a viable solution to this!

Re: Best way to make xml file editable on web

nijhawan.saurabh
nijhawan.saurabh

Hello again

Maybe you can also do a feedback at here about the feature back

http://connect.microsoft.com