Visual Basci XML how to find a parent element name?

Question

I have an xml file that looks like this:

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<times>
<transfer1>
<given type="type1">
<data1>"data1 here</data1>
<data2>"data2 here"</data2>
</given>
<given type="type2">
<data1>"data1 here</data1>
<data2>"data2 here"</data2>
</given>
</transfer1>
<transfer2>
<given type="type3">
<data1>"data1 here</data1>
<data2>"data2 here"</data2>
</given>
</transfer2>
</times>

I have been give the name of the "type" (lets say the given type = "type2") but want to then know the parent node. In this case it would be "transfer1". Ive looked everywhere and tried many things but cant seem to find what I need. Are there any ideas on how to do this in VB?

Answer 1

Hi @Havooma ,

Please try the following solution.
It is using LINQ to XML API.
It is available in the .Net Framework since 2007.

VB.NET

Sub Main  
 Const inputFile As String = "e:\Temp\Havooma.xml"  
 Dim xdoc As XDocument = XDocument.Load(inputFile)  
  
 Dim xmlNode As String = xdoc.Descendants("given") _  
 .Where(Function(x) x.Attribute("type").Value.Equals("type1")) _  
 .FirstOrDefault()?.Parent.Name.ToString()  
  
 Console.Write(xmlNode)  
End Sub  

Output

transfer1  

Answer 2

If you are using XmlDocument, then:

Imports System.Xml
Imports System.Security
. . .
Dim doc As New XmlDocument
doc.Load("MyFile.xml")
Dim type As String = "type2"

Dim result As XmlNode = doc.SelectSingleNode($"/times/*[given[@type='{SecurityElement.Escape(type)}']]")

If result IsNot Nothing Then
    Console.WriteLine(result.OuterXml)
Else
    Console.WriteLine("Not found")
End If

Answer 3

Try an example:

Dim doc As XDocument = XDocument.Load("MyFile.xml")
Dim type As String = "type2"

Dim result As XElement = (From t In doc.<times>.Elements
                            From g In t.<given>
                            Where g.@type = type
                            Select t).FirstOrDefault

If result IsNot Nothing Then
    Console.WriteLine(result)
Else
    Console.WriteLine("Not found")
End If