Question

Can I use an Array of Dictionary objects?

I have an XML which I would like to modify. The Data Structure that I am to use is this –

Dictionary<element, Dictionary<attr, value>>

element – is the Element which I am about to modify
attr – the attribute whose value I am going to update
value – the value with which I am to update

<Parents>
    <Parent id="ParentA" description="New">
        <Children>
            <Child name="ChildA" />
        </Children>
    </Parent>
</Parents>

I would want to pass the following

Dictionary<string, string> dict_Attributes1=new Dictionary<string, string>();
Dictionary<string, string> dict_Attributes2=new Dictionary<string, string>();
dict_Attributes1.Add("id", "ParentB");
dict_Attributes1.Add("description", "Old");
dict_Attributes2.Add("name", "ChildB");
Dictionary<string, Dictionary<string, string>> dict_Elements = new Dictionary<string, Dictionary<string, string>>();
dict_Elements.Add(".", dict_Attributes1);//To update the Element
dict_Elements.Add("Children/Child", dict_Attributes2);//To update the Children's Attributes

Let us assume that I have already identified that I am to update Parent whose id is ParentA.

Now, here I am creating dict_Attributes1, dict_Attributes2 etc., is there a way I can have them stored in an (dynamic, size unknown at compile time) Array of Dictionary objects?

Alternatively, is there a better way of doing this –
1. Modify the attributes of a Selected XElement and its children’s attributes?

EDIT

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<Configuration>
    <Environments>
        <Environment id="Master" description="MasterSystem">
            <Systems>
                <DefaultSystem systemName="Master" server="http://localhost" />
            </Systems>
        </Environment>
    </Environments>
</Configuration>

Now, when a user changes the id and description, I want to update this XML file with the new values. While changing the id and description (which are obtained from the user), I want to update the systemName as well with the same value of id.

If the new id is “Development” and description is “DevelopmentSystem”,

The output XML should be

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<Configuration>
    <Environments>
        <Environment id="Development" description="DeveloperSystem">
            <Systems>
                <DefaultSystem systemName="Development" server="http://localhost" />
            </Systems>
        </Environment>
    </Environments>
</Configuration>

Answer 1

Yes, it is possible. I’m not sure which of these you need, but they both use a List<T>:

var list = new List<Dictionary<string, string>>();

Or:

var list = new List<Dictionary<string, Dictionary<string, string>>>();