How do you use sections in c# 4.0 app.config?
I want to use my app config to store the settings for 2 companys, and i'd prefer if it was possible to use a section to seperate the data for one from the other rather then giving them diffrent key names.
I have been checking online but i seem to get a bit overwhelmed when people use sections or find outdated easy ways to use them. could anyone pass me a beginner guide on them?
Below is an example of what my app.config would look like:
<configSections>
<section name="FBI" type="" />
<section name="FSCS" type="" />
</configSections>
<FSCS>
<add key="processingDirectory" value="C:\testfiles\ProccesFolder"/>
</FSCS>
<FBI>
<add key="processingDirectory" value="C:\testfiles\ProccesFolder"/>
</FBI>
Update:
Advanced solution based on the anwer. in case anyone wanted to know.
App.config:
<configuration>
<configSections>
<sectionGroup name="FileCheckerConfigGroup">
<section name="FBI" type="System.Configuration.NameValueSectionHandler" />
<section name="FSCS" type="System.Configuration.NameValueSectionHandler" />
</sectionGroup>
</configSections>
<FileCheckerConfigGroup>
<FSCS>
<add key="processingDirectory" value="C:\testfiles\ProccesFolder"/>
</FSCS>
<FBI>
<add key="processingDirectory" value="C:\testfiles\ProccesFolder"/>
</FBI>
</FileCheckerConfigGroup>
</configuration>
Code:
// Get the application configuration file.
System.Configuration.Configuration config = ConfigurationManager.OpenExeConfiguration(ConfigurationUserLevel.None);
// Get the collection of the section groups.
ConfigurationSectionGroupCollection sectionGroups = config.SectionGroups;
foreach (ConfigurationSectionGroup sectionGroup in sectionGroups)
{
if (sectionGroup.Name == "FileCheckerConfigGroup")
{
foreach (ConfigurationSection configurationSection in sectionGroup.Sections)
{
var section = ConfigurationManager.GetSection(configurationSection.SectionInformation.SectionName) as NameValueCollection;
inputDirectory = section["inputDirectory"]; //"C:\\testfiles";
}
}
}
Solution 1:
<configSections>
<section name="FBI" type="System.Configuration.NameValueSectionHandler" />
<section name="FSCS" type="System.Configuration.NameValueSectionHandler" />
</configSections>
<FSCS>
<add key="processingDirectory" value="C:\testfiles\ProccesFolder"/>
</FSCS>
<FBI>
<add key="processingDirectory" value="C:\testfiles\ProccesFolder"/>
</FBI>
And then:
var section = ConfigurationManager.GetSection("FSCS") as NameValueCollection;
var value = section["processingDirectory"];
Solution 2:
App.config
<configSections>
<sectionGroup name="FileCheckers">
<section name="FBI" type="System.Configuration.NameValueSectionHandler" />
<section name="FSCS" type="System.Configuration.NameValueSectionHandler" />
</sectionGroup>
</configSections>
<FileCheckers>
<FSCS>
<add key="processingDirectory" value="C:\testfiles\ProccesFolder"/>
</FSCS>
<FBI>
<add key="processingDirectory" value="C:\testfiles\ProccesFolder"/>
</FBI>
</FileCheckers>
Example Usage
Configuration config = ConfigurationManager.OpenExeConfiguration(ConfigurationUserLevel.None);
ConfigurationSectionGroup fileCheckersGroup = config.SectionGroups["FileCheckers"];
foreach (ConfigurationSection section in fileCheckersGroup.Sections)
{
NameValueCollection sectionSettings = ConfigurationManager.GetSection(section.SectionInformation.SectionName) as NameValueCollection;
var value = sectionSettings["processingDirectory"]
}