Save a dataset as XML

Applies to: Visual Studio Visual Studio for Mac Visual Studio Code

Access the XML data in a dataset by calling the available XML methods on the dataset. To save the data in XML format, you can call either the GetXml method or the WriteXml method of a DataSet.

Calling the GetXml method returns a string that contains the data from all data tables in the dataset that's formatted as XML.

Calling the WriteXml method sends the XML-formatted data to a file that you specify.

To save the data in a dataset as XML to a variable

• The GetXml method returns a String. Declare a variable of type String and assign it the results of the GetXml method.

  C#

  string xmlData = northwindDataSet.GetXml();
  

  VB

  Dim xmlData As String = NorthwindDataSet.GetXml()
  

To save the data in a dataset as XML to a file

• The WriteXml method has several overloads. Declare a variable and assign it a valid path to save the file to. The following code shows how to save the data to a file:

  C#

  string filePath = "ENTER A VALID FILEPATH";
  northwindDataSet.WriteXml(filePath);
  

  VB

  Dim filePath As String = "ENTER A VALID FILEPATH"
  NorthwindDataSet.WriteXml(filePath)
  

See also

• Save data back to the database