Question

I’m trying to parse an XML document. The document in question is an AppxManifest file.

An example document looks like this:

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<Package xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/appx/2010/manifest" xmlns:build="http://schemas.microsoft.com/developer/appx/2012/build" IgnorableNamespaces="build">
  <Identity Name="uytury" Publisher="hygj" Version="1.0.0.12" ProcessorArchitecture="neutral" />
  <Properties>
    <DisplayName>jhjj</DisplayName>
    <PublisherDisplayName>bhhjb</PublisherDisplayName>
    <Logo>Assets\StoreLogo.png</Logo>
  </Properties>
  <Prerequisites>
    <OSMinVersion>6.2.1</OSMinVersion>
    <OSMaxVersionTested>6.2.1</OSMaxVersionTested>
  </Prerequisites>
  <Resources>
    <Resource Language="EN" />
  </Resources>
  <Applications>
    <Application Id="App" Executable="gfg.exe" EntryPoint="gfg.App">
      <VisualElements DisplayName="fdsf" Logo="Assets\Logo.png" SmallLogo="Assets\SmallLogo.png" Description="gfdsg" ForegroundText="light" BackgroundColor="#2672EC">
        <DefaultTile ShowName="allLogos" WideLogo="Assets\WideLogo.png" ShortName="gfdsg" />
        <SplashScreen Image="Assets\SplashScreen.png" BackgroundColor="#2672EC" />
        <InitialRotationPreference>
          <Rotation Preference="portrait" />
          <Rotation Preference="landscape" />
          <Rotation Preference="portraitFlipped" />
          <Rotation Preference="landscapeFlipped" />
        </InitialRotationPreference>
      </VisualElements>
      <Extensions>
        <Extension Category="windows.search" />
        <Extension Category="windows.shareTarget">
          <ShareTarget>
            <DataFormat>Text</DataFormat>
          </ShareTarget>
        </Extension>
      </Extensions>
    </Application>
  </Applications>
  <build:Metadata>
    <build:Item Name="TargetFrameworkMoniker" Value=".NETCore,Version=v4.5" />
    <build:Item Name="VisualStudio" Version="11.0" />
    <build:Item Name="OperatingSystem" Version="6.2.9200.16384 (win8_rtm.120725-1247)" />
    <build:Item Name="Microsoft.Build.AppxPackage.dll" Version="11.0.50727.1" />
    <build:Item Name="Microsoft.Windows.UI.Xaml.Build.Tasks.dll" Version="11.0.50727.1" />
  </build:Metadata>
</Package>

I try to parse it like so:

var xml=new XmlDocument();
xml.Load(myfile);
var mgr=new XmlNamespaceManager(xml.NameTable);
mgr.AddNamespace("", "http://schemas.microsoft.com/appx/2010/manifest");
var nodes=xml.SelectNodes("Applications");

However, after I execute this, nodes will never contain anything. The xml document is loaded and such though. using SelectNodes("//*") returns every node as expected. What is my problem here?

I’ve also tried many variations on that XPath query such as

• /Package/Applications/Application
• Applications/Application
• Applications/*

Nothing appears to retrieve the single node though. Ideally, I’d like for nodes to contain all of the Application nodes

Answer 1

You have to use xml namespace specifically to select them. consider

"//*[local-name()='Applications']/*[local-name()='Application']"    

in your case this code may also work well:

var doc = new XmlDocument();
doc.LoadXml(xml);
var nsmgr = new XmlNamespaceManager(doc.NameTable);
nsmgr.AddNamespace("a", "http://schemas.microsoft.com/appx/2010/manifest");
var nodes = doc.SelectNodes("//a:Applications/a:Application",nsmgr);