C# XML The most efficient way of loading a XML file

I think maybe you should try XMLTextReader, simply like that

public static void ReadXML(out string ServerConnection, out string ConnectionTimeOut, out ArrayList Servers)
            {
                  ServerConnection = "";
                  ConnectionTimeOut = "";
                  Servers = new ArrayList();

                  XmlTextReader reader = new XmlTextReader(@"D:\test.xml");
                  while(reader.Read())
                  {
                        reader.MoveToElement();
                        if (reader.Name == "ServerConnection")
                        {
                              ServerConnection = reader.ReadInnerXml();
                        }
                        if (reader.Name == "ServerConnectionTimeOut")
                        {
                              ConnectionTimeOut = reader.ReadInnerXml();
                        }
                        if (reader.Name == "Server")
                        {
                              Servers.Add(reader.ReadInnerXml());
                        }
                  }

Why not create a data class to handle the information and serialiaze/deserialize it to/from xml?

As long as we're going to throw all options out here.  Why don't you use ADO.Net dataset to read it with ReadXML.  Then the array, will already be set up in a table and you can loop through it easily.

This is for reading only, I don't need to write anything.

I tried dungla's way, but that gave me a lot of errors after it parsed the ServerConnection.
I can get the ServerConnection and ConnectionTimeOut, but I'm not 100% fluent in C# with XML yet and I don't really know how to loop through the

<ItemDB>
    <Server Title="t1">test1</Server>
    <Server Title="t2">test2</Server>
    <Server Title="t3">test3</Server>
    <Server Title="t4">test4</Server>
    <Server Title="t5">test5</Server>
</ItemDB>

part to get everything.

DOM is slow, Datasets are slower. If you are looking for performance, this is not an option.

XmlTextReader as shown by Dungla would be my pick also. Note that you can also read the inner data of the Server node easily using the MoveToAttribute(name) method.

Note that the XML file you posted is invalid, it lacks a root XML node.

icompass,

Can you show me the errors message? I have tested the code, the function ReadXML() receive 3 params as out param which met your expectation, i think so.

Here is my code
==== MyClass.cs ====
using System;
using System.Xml;
using System.Collections;
class MyClass
{
 static void Main(string[] args)
 {
   string ServerConnection;
   string ConnectionTimeOut;
   ArrayList Servers;
  ReadXML(out ServerConnection, out ConnectionTimeOut, out Servers);
  Console.WriteLine("ServerConnection = {0}", ServerConnection);
  Console.WriteLine("ConnectionTimeOut = {0}", ConnectionTimeOut);
  for (int j = 0; j < Servers.Count; j++)
  {
     Console.WriteLine("Server {0} = {1}", j.ToString(), Servers[j].ToString());
  }
  Console.ReadLine();
 }
 public static void ReadXML(out string ServerConnection, out string ConnectionTimeOut, out ArrayList Servers)
{... code above}
}
======== end of MyClass ====

I tested and have no errors while trying to read through the XML file and get all the node. Just try it again.

If you till receive errors, post here, it's might helpful for me to help you

Hope this help!

.:: LDLP ::.

icompass,

In my code, when met the node name "Server" as in your XML file, get the value of the node and put into an array list. If you want to get the attribute of "Server" node, use AttributeCount, MoveToAttribute(string name), GetAttribute(string name) method to get all the attribute.

Hope this help
.:: LDLP ::.

You were asking for the most EFFICIENT way to load the file. The question you picked may be the most CONVENIENT, but it's certainly not the most EFFICIENT. This is not very fair for the experts like kelmen or dungla which actually gave you the correct answer for your specific question.