Question

I have got some XML files that contain comments above the nodes. When I am reading the file in, as part of the process I would like to get the comment out as well. I know you can write a comment to the file using XmlComment, but not sure how to read them back out.

My XML looks similar to this:

<Objects>
  <!--Comment about node-->
  <GUID-bf2401c0-ef5e-4d20-9d20-a2451a199362>
    <info job="SAVE" person="Joe" />    
    <info job="SAVE" person="Sally" />       
  </GUID-bf2401c0-ef5e-4d20-9d20-a2451a199362>
  <!--Another Comment about node-->
  <GUID-bf2401c0-ef5e-4d20-9d20-a5844113284112>
    <info job="SAVE" person="John" />    
    <info job="SAVE" person="Julie" />       
  </GUID-bf2401c0-ef5e-4d20-9d20-a5844113284112>

Answer 1

Try this:

XmlReaderSettings readerSettings = new XmlReaderSettings();
readerSettings.IgnoreComments = false; 
using (XmlReader reader = XmlReader.Create("input.xml", readerSettings))
{
    XmlDocument myData = new XmlDocument();
    myData.Load(reader);
    // etc...
}

To read comments:

XmlReader xmlRdr = XmlReader.Create("Test.XML");
// Parse the file
while (xmlRdr.Read())
{
    switch (xmlRdr.NodeType)
    {
        case XmlNodeType.Element:
            // You may need to capture the last element to provide a context
            // for any comments you come across... so copy xmlRdr.Name, etc.
            break;
        case XmlNodeType.Comment:
            // Do something with xmlRdr.value