How to Bind XML Data to GridView in ASP.NET

Binding XML Data to gridview controls is easy to accomplish.

There is an easy method of binding XML data within your application. By binding the data to the user interface, the data will become easier to read and analyze without complicated programming. In Visual Studio, only a couple of steps are required to bind your data to a GridView control in an ASP.NET application.

Things You'll Need

• ASP.NET software, such as Visual Studio
• XML Data Source

Instructions

1. Create a new ASP.NET application in your VIsual Studio software by clicking on the "File" menu and selecting "New Website." Select the icon for a new ASP.NET website.

2. Select "GridView Control" from the "Data" menu in design view in the toolbox on the left side of the screen. Click on the GridView control box and select "New" from the "Choose Data Source" drop-down menu. A new dialog box will open titled "Data Source Configuration Wizard."

3. Browse to find your XML data source on the line for "Data File." On the line for "XPath Expression," select the nodes that will represent where you are binding the data. Click "OK" and the XML data will be bound.

Tips & Warnings

• The XML data source should be in a database format which matches the headings in your ASP.NET application. Otherwise, the binding will not work.

References

• W3C: XML Path Language 2.0
• Developer.com: Binding to XML Data in ASP.NET 2.0
• Stardeveloper.com: Displaying XML Data
• CSharpHelp: Binding Raw XML to a Gridview Control

Resources

• DOTNETF1: Binding XML Data