Create XML file and Bind XML data to DropDownList in asp.net

Introduction: 

 In this article I will explain how to create XML file and Bind XML data to DropDownList using DataSet in asp.net.

First you need to create the XML file. So to create start visual studio-> File menu-> New -> Webiste -> Name the website and Click Ok.

open website menu-> add new item-> select XML file and name it Qualifications.xml and add the following tags in side it:

<Qualifiations>

  <Qualification>

    <QualificationID>1</QualificationID>

    <QualificationName>BSc</QualificationName>

  </Qualification>

<Qualification>

    <QualificationID>2</QualificationID>

    <QualificationName>B.Tech</QualificationName>

  </Qualification>

<Qualification>

    <QualificationID>3</QualificationID>

    <QualificationName>B.Sc Biotech</QualificationName>

  </Qualification>

<Qualification>

    <QualificationID>4</QualificationID>

    <QualificationName>BBA</QualificationName>

  </Qualification>

<Qualification>

    <QualificationID>5</QualificationID>

    <QualificationName>B.Sc BioInfo</QualificationName>

  </Qualification>

<Qualification>

    <QualificationID>6</QualificationID>

    <QualificationName>BCA</QualificationName>

  </Qualification>

</Qualifiations>

Save the file in the root folder.

C#.Net Code to Create XML file and Bind XML data to DropDownList using DataSet in asp.net

• In the design page (.aspx) place a DropDownList control :

<fieldset style="width:160px;height:160px;">

            <legend>Select Qualification</legend>

    <asp:DropDownList ID="ddlQualification" AutoPostBack="true" runat="server"OnSelectedIndexChanged="ddlQualification_SelectedIndexChanged">

                           </asp:DropDownList>

             </fieldset>

• In the code behind file (.aspx.cs) write the code:

First include following namespaces:

using System.Data;

using System.Data.SqlClient;

using System.Configuration;

then write code:

protected void Page_Load(object sender, EventArgs e)

    {

        if (!Page.IsPostBack)

        {

            BindDropDownList();

        }

    }

    private void BindDropDownList()

    {

        DataSet ds = new DataSet();

        try

        {

            ds.ReadXml(Server.MapPath("XMLFile.xml"));

            ddlQualification.DataSource = ds;

            ddlQualification.DataTextField = "QualificationName";

            ddlQualification.DataValueField = "QualificationID";

            ddlQualification.DataBind();

            ddlQualification.Items.Insert(0, new ListItem("--Select Course--", "0"));

        }

        catch (Exception ex)

        {

            Response.Write(ex.Message);

        }

    }

    protected void ddlQualification_SelectedIndexChanged(object sender, EventArgs e)

    {

        Response.Write("Selected item: " + ddlQualification.SelectedItem.Text + " and Selected value: " + ddlQualification.SelectedValue);

    }

}

VB.Net Code to Create XML file and Bind XML data to DropDownList using DataSet in asp.net

• In the design page (.aspx) place a DropDownList control:

<fieldset style="width:160px;height:160px;">

            <legend>Select Course</legend>

    <asp:DropDownList ID="ddlQualification" AutoPostBack="true" runat="server">

                           </asp:DropDownList>

             </fieldset>

• In the code behind file (.aspx.vb) write the code:

First include following namespaces:

Imports System.Data

Imports System.Data.SqlClient

Imports System.Configuration

Then write the code:

Protected Sub Page_Load(sender As Object, e As EventArgs) Handles Me.Load

        If Not Page.IsPostBack Then

            BindDropDownList()

        End If

    End Sub

    Private Sub BindDropDownList()

        Dim ds As New DataSet()

        Try

            ds.ReadXml(Server.MapPath("Xmlfile.xml"))

            ddlQualification.DataSource = ds

            ddlQualification.DataTextField = "QualificationName"

            ddlQualification.DataValueField = "QualificationID"

            ddlQualification.DataBind()

            ddlQualification.Items.Insert(0, New ListItem("--Select Course--", "0"))

        Catch ex As Exception

            Response.Write(ex.Message)

        End Try

    End Sub

    Protected Sub ddlQualification_SelectedIndexChanged(sender As Object, e As EventArgs) HandlesddlQualification.SelectedIndexChanged

        Response.Write("Selected item: " & ddlQualification.SelectedItem.Text & " and Selected value: " & ddlQualification.SelectedValue)

    End Sub