ConfigurationSectionCollection Class

Definition

Namespace:

System.Configuration

Assembly:

System.Configuration.ConfigurationManager.dll

Source:

ConfigurationSectionCollection.cs

Represents a collection of related sections within a configuration file.

public ref class ConfigurationSectionCollection sealed : System::Collections::Specialized::NameObjectCollectionBase

public sealed class ConfigurationSectionCollection : System.Collections.Specialized.NameObjectCollectionBase

type ConfigurationSectionCollection = class
    inherit NameObjectCollectionBase

Public NotInheritable Class ConfigurationSectionCollection
Inherits NameObjectCollectionBase

Inheritance

Object

NameObjectCollectionBase

ConfigurationSectionCollection

Examples

The following code example shows how to use the ConfigurationSectionCollection class.

using System;
using System.Configuration;
using System.Collections;

namespace Samples.AspNet.Configuration
{

    // Define a custom section programmatically.
    public sealed class CustomSection :
        ConfigurationSection
    {
        // The collection (property bag) that contains 
        // the section properties.
        private static ConfigurationPropertyCollection _Properties;

        // The FileName property.
        private static readonly ConfigurationProperty _FileName =
            new ConfigurationProperty("fileName",
            typeof(string), "default.txt",
            ConfigurationPropertyOptions.IsRequired);

        // The MasUsers property.
        private static readonly ConfigurationProperty _MaxUsers =
            new ConfigurationProperty("maxUsers",
            typeof(long), (long)1000,
            ConfigurationPropertyOptions.None);

        // The MaxIdleTime property.
        private static readonly ConfigurationProperty _MaxIdleTime =
            new ConfigurationProperty("maxIdleTime",
            typeof(TimeSpan), TimeSpan.FromMinutes(5),
            ConfigurationPropertyOptions.IsRequired);

        // CustomSection constructor.
        public CustomSection()
        {
            // Property initialization
            _Properties =
                new ConfigurationPropertyCollection();

            _Properties.Add(_FileName);
            _Properties.Add(_MaxUsers);
            _Properties.Add(_MaxIdleTime);
        }

        // This is a key customization. 
        // It returns the initialized property bag.
        protected override ConfigurationPropertyCollection Properties
        {
            get
            {
                return _Properties;
            }
        }

        [StringValidator(InvalidCharacters = " ~!@#$%^&*()[]{}/;'\"|\\",
            MinLength = 1, MaxLength = 60)]
        public string FileName
        {
            get
            {
                return (string)this["fileName"];
            }
            set
            {

                this["fileName"] = value;
            }
        }

        [LongValidator(MinValue = 1, MaxValue = 1000000,
            ExcludeRange = false)]
        public long MaxUsers
        {
            get
            {
                return (long)this["maxUsers"];
            }
            set
            {
                this["maxUsers"] = value;
            }
        }

        [TimeSpanValidator(MinValueString = "0:0:30",
            MaxValueString = "5:00:0",
            ExcludeRange = false)]
        public TimeSpan MaxIdleTime
        {
            get
            {
                return (TimeSpan)this["maxIdleTime"];
            }
            set
            {
                this["maxIdleTime"] = value;
            }
        }
    }

    class UsingCustomSectionCollection
    {

        // Create a custom section.
        static void CreateSection()
        {
            try
            {

                CustomSection customSection;

                // Get the current configuration file.
                System.Configuration.Configuration config =
                        ConfigurationManager.OpenExeConfiguration(
                        ConfigurationUserLevel.None);

                // Create the section entry  
                // in the <configSections> and the 
                // related target section in <configuration>.
                if (config.Sections["CustomSection"] == null)
                {
                    customSection = new CustomSection();
                    config.Sections.Add("CustomSection", customSection);
                    customSection.SectionInformation.ForceSave = true;
                    config.Save(ConfigurationSaveMode.Full);
                }
            }
            catch (ConfigurationErrorsException err)
            {
                Console.WriteLine(err.ToString());
            }
        }

        static void GetAllKeys()
        {

            try
            {
                System.Configuration.Configuration config =
                ConfigurationManager.OpenExeConfiguration(
                ConfigurationUserLevel.None);

                ConfigurationSectionCollection sections =
                    config.Sections;

                foreach (string key in sections.Keys)
                {
                    Console.WriteLine(
                     "Key value: {0}", key);
                }
            }
            catch (ConfigurationErrorsException err)
            {
                Console.WriteLine(err.ToString());
            }
        }


        static void Clear()
        {

            try
            {
                System.Configuration.Configuration config =
                ConfigurationManager.OpenExeConfiguration(
                ConfigurationUserLevel.None);

                config.Sections.Clear();

                config.Save(ConfigurationSaveMode.Full);
            }
            catch (ConfigurationErrorsException err)
            {
                Console.WriteLine(err.ToString());
            }
        }


        static void GetSection()
        {

            try
            {
                CustomSection customSection =
                    ConfigurationManager.GetSection(
                    "CustomSection") as CustomSection;

                if (customSection == null)
                    Console.WriteLine(
                        "Failed to load CustomSection.");
                else
                {
                    // Display section information
                    Console.WriteLine("Defaults:");
                    Console.WriteLine("File Name:       {0}",
                        customSection.FileName);
                    Console.WriteLine("Max Users:       {0}",
                        customSection.MaxUsers);
                    Console.WriteLine("Max Idle Time:   {0}",
                        customSection.MaxIdleTime);
                }
            }
            catch (ConfigurationErrorsException err)
            {
                Console.WriteLine(err.ToString());
            }
        }

        static void GetEnumerator()
        {

            try
            {
                System.Configuration.Configuration config =
                ConfigurationManager.OpenExeConfiguration(
                ConfigurationUserLevel.None);

                ConfigurationSectionCollection sections =
                    config.Sections;

                IEnumerator secEnum =
                    sections.GetEnumerator();

                int i = 0;
                while (secEnum.MoveNext())
                {
                    string setionName = sections.GetKey(i);
                    Console.WriteLine(
                        "Section name: {0}", setionName);
                    i += 1;
                }
            }
            catch (ConfigurationErrorsException err)
            {
                Console.WriteLine(err.ToString());
            }
        }

        static void GetKeys()
        {

            try
            {
                System.Configuration.Configuration config =
                ConfigurationManager.OpenExeConfiguration(
                ConfigurationUserLevel.None);

                ConfigurationSectionCollection sections =
                    config.Sections;

                foreach (string key in sections.Keys)
                {

                    Console.WriteLine(
                     "Key value: {0}", key);
                }
            }
            catch (ConfigurationErrorsException err)
            {
                Console.WriteLine(err.ToString());
            }
        }


        static void GetItems()
        {

            try
            {
                System.Configuration.Configuration config =
                ConfigurationManager.OpenExeConfiguration(
                ConfigurationUserLevel.None);

                ConfigurationSectionCollection sections =
                    config.Sections;

                ConfigurationSection section1 =
                    sections["runtime"];

                ConfigurationSection section2 =
                    sections[0];

                Console.WriteLine(
                     "Section1: {0}", section1.SectionInformation.Name);

                Console.WriteLine(
                    "Section2: {0}", section2.SectionInformation.Name);
            }
            catch (ConfigurationErrorsException err)
            {
                Console.WriteLine(err.ToString());
            }
        }


        static void Remove()
        {

            try
            {
                System.Configuration.Configuration config =
                ConfigurationManager.OpenExeConfiguration(
                ConfigurationUserLevel.None);

                CustomSection customSection =
                    config.GetSection(
                    "CustomSection") as CustomSection;

                if (customSection != null)
                {
                    config.Sections.Remove("CustomSection");
                    customSection.SectionInformation.ForceSave = true;
                    config.Save(ConfigurationSaveMode.Full);
                }
                else
                    Console.WriteLine(
                        "CustomSection does not exists.");
            }
            catch (ConfigurationErrorsException err)
            {
                Console.WriteLine(err.ToString());
            }
        }

        static void AddSection()
        {

            try
            {
                System.Configuration.Configuration config =
                ConfigurationManager.OpenExeConfiguration(
                ConfigurationUserLevel.None);

                CustomSection customSection =
                    new CustomSection();

                string index =
                    config.Sections.Count.ToString();

                customSection.FileName =
                    "newFile" + index + ".txt";

                string sectionName = "CustomSection" + index;

                TimeSpan ts = new TimeSpan(0, 15, 0);
                customSection.MaxIdleTime = ts;
                customSection.MaxUsers = 100;

                config.Sections.Add(sectionName, customSection);
                customSection.SectionInformation.ForceSave = true;
                config.Save(ConfigurationSaveMode.Full);
            }
            catch (ConfigurationErrorsException err)
            {
                Console.WriteLine(err.ToString());
            }
        }

        // Exercise the collection.
        // Uncomment the function you want to exercise.
        // Start with CreateSection().
        static void Main(string[] args)
        {
            CreateSection();
            // AddSection();
            // GetSection();
            // GetEnumerator();
            // GetAllKeys();
            // GetKeys();
            // GetItems();

            // Remove();
            // Clear();
        }
    }
}

Imports System.Configuration
Imports System.Collections




' Define a custom section programmatically.

Public NotInheritable Class CustomSection
    Inherits ConfigurationSection
    ' The collection (property bag) that contains 
    ' the section properties.
    Private Shared _Properties _
    As ConfigurationPropertyCollection


    ' The FileName property.
    Private Shared _FileName _
    As New ConfigurationProperty("fileName", _
    GetType(String), "default.txt", _
    ConfigurationPropertyOptions.IsRequired)

    ' The MasUsers property.
    Private Shared _MaxUsers _
    As New ConfigurationProperty("maxUsers", _
    GetType(Long), Fix(1000), _
    ConfigurationPropertyOptions.None)

    ' The MaxIdleTime property.
    Private Shared _MaxIdleTime _
    As New ConfigurationProperty("maxIdleTime", _
    GetType(TimeSpan), TimeSpan.FromMinutes(5), _
    ConfigurationPropertyOptions.IsRequired)


    ' CustomSection constructor.
    Public Sub New()
        ' Property initialization
        _Properties = _
        New ConfigurationPropertyCollection()

        _Properties.Add(_FileName)
        _Properties.Add(_MaxUsers)
        _Properties.Add(_MaxIdleTime)
    End Sub


    ' This is a key customization. 
    ' It returns the initialized property bag.
    Protected Overrides ReadOnly Property Properties() _
    As ConfigurationPropertyCollection
        Get
            Return _Properties
        End Get
    End Property



    <StringValidator( _
    InvalidCharacters:=" ~!@#$%^&*()[]{}/;'""|\", _
    MinLength:=1, MaxLength:=60)> _
    Public Property FileName() As String
        Get
            Return CStr(Me("fileName"))
        End Get
        Set(ByVal value As String)

            Me("fileName") = value
        End Set
    End Property


    <LongValidator(MinValue:=1, _
    MaxValue:=1000000, ExcludeRange:=False)> _
    Public Property MaxUsers() As Long
        Get
            Return Fix(Me("maxUsers"))
        End Get
        Set(ByVal value As Long)
            Me("maxUsers") = value
        End Set
    End Property


    <TimeSpanValidator(MinValueString:="0:0:30", _
    MaxValueString:="5:00:0", ExcludeRange:=False)> _
    Public Property MaxIdleTime() As TimeSpan
        Get
            Return CType(Me("maxIdleTime"), TimeSpan)
        End Get
        Set(ByVal value As TimeSpan)
            Me("maxIdleTime") = value
        End Set
    End Property
End Class




Class UsingCustomSectionCollection


    ' Create a custom section.
    Shared Sub CreateSection()
        Try

            Dim customSection As CustomSection

            ' Get the current configuration file.
            Dim config _
            As System.Configuration.Configuration = _
            ConfigurationManager.OpenExeConfiguration( _
            ConfigurationUserLevel.None)

            ' Create the section entry  
            ' in the <configSections> and the 
            ' related target section in <configuration>.
            If config.Sections("CustomSection") Is Nothing Then
                customSection = New CustomSection()
                config.Sections.Add("CustomSection", customSection)
                customSection.SectionInformation.ForceSave = True
                config.Save(ConfigurationSaveMode.Full)
            End If
        Catch err As ConfigurationErrorsException
            Console.WriteLine(err.ToString())
        End Try
    End Sub


    Shared Sub GetAllKeys()

        Try
            Dim config _
            As System.Configuration.Configuration = _
            ConfigurationManager.OpenExeConfiguration( _
            ConfigurationUserLevel.None)


            Dim sections _
            As ConfigurationSectionCollection = _
            config.Sections

            Dim key As String
            For Each key In sections.Keys
                Console.WriteLine("Key value: {0}", key)
            Next key


        Catch err As ConfigurationErrorsException
            Console.WriteLine(err.ToString())
        End Try
    End Sub



    Shared Sub Clear()

        Try
            Dim config _
            As System.Configuration.Configuration = _
            ConfigurationManager.OpenExeConfiguration( _
            ConfigurationUserLevel.None)

            config.Sections.Clear()

            config.Save( _
            ConfigurationSaveMode.Full)
        Catch err As ConfigurationErrorsException
            Console.WriteLine(err.ToString())
        End Try
    End Sub


    Shared Sub GetSection()

        Try
            Dim customSection _
            As CustomSection = _
            ConfigurationManager.GetSection( _
            "CustomSection")

            If customSection Is Nothing Then
                Console.WriteLine("Failed to load CustomSection.")
            Else
                ' Display section information
                Console.WriteLine("Defaults:")
                Console.WriteLine("File Name:       {0}", _
                customSection.FileName)
                Console.WriteLine("Max Users:       {0}", _
                customSection.MaxUsers)
                Console.WriteLine("Max Idle Time:   {0}", _
                customSection.MaxIdleTime)
            End If


        Catch err As ConfigurationErrorsException
            Console.WriteLine(err.ToString())
        End Try
    End Sub

    Shared Sub GetEnumerator()

        Try
            Dim config _
            As System.Configuration.Configuration = _
            ConfigurationManager.OpenExeConfiguration( _
            ConfigurationUserLevel.None)

            Dim sections _
            As ConfigurationSectionCollection = _
            config.Sections

            Dim secEnum _
            As IEnumerator = sections.GetEnumerator()

            Dim i As Integer = 0
            While secEnum.MoveNext()
                Dim setionName _
                As String = sections.GetKey(i)
                Console.WriteLine( _
                "Section name: {0}", setionName)
                i += 1
            End While
        Catch err As ConfigurationErrorsException
            Console.WriteLine(err.ToString())
        End Try
    End Sub


    Shared Sub GetKeys()

        Try
            Dim config _
            As System.Configuration.Configuration = _
            ConfigurationManager.OpenExeConfiguration( _
            ConfigurationUserLevel.None)

            Dim sections _
            As ConfigurationSectionCollection = _
            config.Sections


            Dim key As String
            For Each key In sections.Keys


                Console.WriteLine("Key value: {0}", key)
            Next key


        Catch err As ConfigurationErrorsException
            Console.WriteLine(err.ToString())
        End Try
    End Sub


    Shared Sub GetItems()

        Try
            Dim config _
            As System.Configuration.Configuration = _
            ConfigurationManager.OpenExeConfiguration( _
            ConfigurationUserLevel.None)

            Dim sections _
            As ConfigurationSectionCollection = _
            config.Sections


            Dim section1 As ConfigurationSection = _
            sections.Item("runtime")

            Dim section2 As ConfigurationSection = _
            sections.Item(0)

            Console.WriteLine("Section1: {0}", _
            section1.SectionInformation.Name)

            Console.WriteLine("Section2: {0}", _
            section2.SectionInformation.Name)

        Catch err As ConfigurationErrorsException
            Console.WriteLine(err.ToString())
        End Try
    End Sub


    Shared Sub Remove()

        Try
            Dim config _
            As System.Configuration.Configuration = _
            ConfigurationManager.OpenExeConfiguration( _
            ConfigurationUserLevel.None)

            Dim customSection As CustomSection = _
            config.GetSection("CustomSection")


            If Not (customSection Is Nothing) Then
                config.Sections.Remove("CustomSection")
                customSection.SectionInformation.ForceSave = True
                config.Save(ConfigurationSaveMode.Full)
            Else
                Console.WriteLine( _
                "CustomSection does not exists.")
            End If

        Catch err As ConfigurationErrorsException
            Console.WriteLine(err.ToString())
        End Try
    End Sub


    Shared Sub AddSection()

        Try
            Dim config _
            As System.Configuration.Configuration = _
            ConfigurationManager.OpenExeConfiguration( _
            ConfigurationUserLevel.None)

            Dim customSection _
            As New CustomSection()


            Dim index As String = _
            config.Sections.Count.ToString()

            customSection.FileName = _
            "newFile" + index + ".txt"

            Dim sectionName As String = _
            "CustomSection" + index

            Dim ts As New TimeSpan(0, 15, 0)
            customSection.MaxIdleTime = ts
            customSection.MaxUsers = 100

            config.Sections.Add(sectionName, customSection)
            customSection.SectionInformation.ForceSave = True
            config.Save(ConfigurationSaveMode.Full)
        Catch err As ConfigurationErrorsException
            Console.WriteLine(err.ToString())
        End Try
    End Sub



    ' Exercise the collection.
    ' Uncomment the function you want to exercise.
    ' Start with CreateSection().
    Public Overloads Shared Sub Main(ByVal args() As String)
        CreateSection()
        ' AddSection()
        ' GetSection()
        ' GetEnumerator()
        ' GetAllKeys()
        ' GetKeys()
        GetItems()
        ' Clear()
        ' Remove()
    End Sub

End Class

The following example is an excerpt of the configuration file used by the previous example.

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>  
<configuration>  
  <configSections>  

    <section name="CustomSection"   
      type="Samples.AspNet.Configuration.CustomSection, ConfigurationSectionCollection, Version=1.0.0.0, Culture=neutral, PublicKeyToken=null" allowDefinition="Everywhere" allowExeDefinition="MachineToApplication" restartOnExternalChanges="true" />  

  </configSections>  

  <CustomSection fileName="default.txt" maxUsers="1000"   
    maxIdleTime="00:05:00" />  

</configuration>  

Remarks

Use the ConfigurationSectionCollection class to iterate through a collection of ConfigurationSection objects. You can access this collection of objects using the Sections property or the Sections property.

The ConfigurationSectionCollection class is also used in the creation of custom types that extend the ConfigurationSection class.

Properties

Count	Gets the number of sections in this ConfigurationSectionCollection object.
IsReadOnly	Gets or sets a value indicating whether the NameObjectCollectionBase instance is read-only. (Inherited from NameObjectCollectionBase)
Item[Int32]	Gets the specified ConfigurationSection object.
Item[String]	Gets the specified ConfigurationSection object.
Keys	Gets the keys to all ConfigurationSection objects contained in this ConfigurationSectionCollection object.

Methods

Add(String, ConfigurationSection)	Adds a ConfigurationSection object to the ConfigurationSectionCollection object.
BaseAdd(String, Object)	Adds an entry with the specified key and value into the NameObjectCollectionBase instance. (Inherited from NameObjectCollectionBase)
BaseClear()	Removes all entries from the NameObjectCollectionBase instance. (Inherited from NameObjectCollectionBase)
BaseGet(Int32)	Gets the value of the entry at the specified index of the NameObjectCollectionBase instance. (Inherited from NameObjectCollectionBase)
BaseGet(String)	Gets the value of the first entry with the specified key from the NameObjectCollectionBase instance. (Inherited from NameObjectCollectionBase)
BaseGetAllKeys()	Returns a String array that contains all the keys in the NameObjectCollectionBase instance. (Inherited from NameObjectCollectionBase)
BaseGetAllValues()	Returns an Object array that contains all the values in the NameObjectCollectionBase instance. (Inherited from NameObjectCollectionBase)
BaseGetAllValues(Type)	Returns an array of the specified type that contains all the values in the NameObjectCollectionBase instance. (Inherited from NameObjectCollectionBase)
BaseGetKey(Int32)	Gets the key of the entry at the specified index of the NameObjectCollectionBase instance. (Inherited from NameObjectCollectionBase)
BaseHasKeys()	Gets a value indicating whether the NameObjectCollectionBase instance contains entries whose keys are not null. (Inherited from NameObjectCollectionBase)
BaseRemove(String)	Removes the entries with the specified key from the NameObjectCollectionBase instance. (Inherited from NameObjectCollectionBase)
BaseRemoveAt(Int32)	Removes the entry at the specified index of the NameObjectCollectionBase instance. (Inherited from NameObjectCollectionBase)
BaseSet(Int32, Object)	Sets the value of the entry at the specified index of the NameObjectCollectionBase instance. (Inherited from NameObjectCollectionBase)
BaseSet(String, Object)	Sets the value of the first entry with the specified key in the NameObjectCollectionBase instance, if found; otherwise, adds an entry with the specified key and value into the NameObjectCollectionBase instance. (Inherited from NameObjectCollectionBase)
Clear()	Clears this ConfigurationSectionCollection object.
CopyTo(ConfigurationSection[], Int32)	Copies this ConfigurationSectionCollection object to an array.
Equals(Object)	Determines whether the specified object is equal to the current object. (Inherited from Object)
Get(Int32)	Gets the specified ConfigurationSection object contained in this ConfigurationSectionCollection object.
Get(String)	Gets the specified ConfigurationSection object contained in this ConfigurationSectionCollection object.
GetEnumerator()	Gets an enumerator that can iterate through this ConfigurationSectionCollection object.
GetHashCode()	Serves as the default hash function. (Inherited from Object)
GetKey(Int32)	Gets the key of the specified ConfigurationSection object contained in this ConfigurationSectionCollection object.
GetObjectData(SerializationInfo, StreamingContext)	Obsolete. Used by the system during serialization.
GetType()	Gets the Type of the current instance. (Inherited from Object)
MemberwiseClone()	Creates a shallow copy of the current Object. (Inherited from Object)
OnDeserialization(Object)	Implements the ISerializable interface and raises the deserialization event when the deserialization is complete. (Inherited from NameObjectCollectionBase)
Remove(String)	Removes the specified ConfigurationSection object from this ConfigurationSectionCollection object.
RemoveAt(Int32)	Removes the specified ConfigurationSection object from this ConfigurationSectionCollection object.
ToString()	Returns a string that represents the current object. (Inherited from Object)

Extension Methods

See also

• Configuration
• ConfigurationSectionGroup
• ConfigurationSection