Question

How do I load a setting from an external xml file located in the same folder as my program? Or should I be using an old school .ini file? It is only the MySQL server name and a location name that I need to pass to my App.

Answer 1

You should look at Application Settings and the ConfigurationManager. You could also use the Connection Strings section in the app.config.

• How to: Add Application Configuration Files to C# Projects
• MySQL Connection Strings

… For AppSettings …

C# Code…
You will need reference System.Configuration

var value = ConfigurationManager.AppSettings["MySetting"];

App.Config

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8" ?>
<configuration>
  <appSettings>
    <add key="MySetting" value="My Value"/>
  </appSettings>
</configuration>

… For Connection Strings …

C# Code…
You will need reference System.Configuration

var value = ConfigurationManager.ConnectionStrings["MySqlConn"];

App.Config

<configuration>
  <connectionStrings>
    <add name ="MySqlConn"
         connectionString="Server=myServerAddress;Database=myDataBase;
                           Uid=myUsername;Pwd=myPassword;"/>
  </connectionStrings>
</configuration>