LINQ to XML Sorting

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In this post, we will read data from the XML file using LINQ to XML, sort it by an element and then load it into a Dictionary.

If you are new to LINQ to XML, check my article LINQ To XML Tutorials with Examples

The sample XML file looks like this:

Let us see how to read this XML file and list the customer names alphabetically. Add a reference to System.XML.Linq in your console application and use this code

static void Main(string[] args)
{
    XElement xelement = XElement.Load("..\\..\\Customers.xml");

    var dict = (from element in xelement.Descendants("Customer")
                    let name = (string)element.Attribute("Name")
                    orderby name
                    select new
                    {
                        CustID = element.Attribute("CustId").Value,
                        CustName = name
                    })
                .ToDictionary(c => c.CustID, c => c.CustName);

    foreach (var item in dict)
    {
        Console.WriteLine(item.Value);  
    }

    Console.ReadLine();
}

As shown above, we first sort the list by Customer Name and then use the .toDictionary() to create a Dictionary<(Of <(TKey, TValue>)>). We then loop through the Dictionary and print the sorted names.

OUTPUT

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About The Author

Suprotim Agarwal, Developer Technologies MVP (Microsoft Most Valuable Professional) is the founder and contributor for DevCurry, DotNetCurry and SQLServerCurry. He is the Chief Editor of a Developer Magazine called DNC Magazine. He has also authored two Books - 51 Recipes using jQuery with ASP.NET Controls. and The Absolutely Awesome jQuery CookBook.

Follow him on twitter @suprotimagarwal.