Input files and output files. What's the best solution?

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Hi,

I can't find the right way and hope that you can help me.

I need to use input files for my C# program. The file consists of some info in the beginning and is followed by a big table. It's a calibration file.

I also need to generate an equal file for the test results. For example, the date of testing used calibration file and then a table with the result.

What is the best way to do this? With XML or the old way like an INI file. Or maybe there's a better way? Feel free to give me advice.

Below is an example of how we performed it before.

What I have tried:

[CONFIG]
AMPLIFIER=AR75A400
LAB=WEBER
RFSWITCH2=LÄGE2
INFO0=ISO11452-2
DATE=2013-11-15
DATE=2013-11-15
INFO8=504158 F-140 A  
DATE=2013-11-15
INFO1=2013-11-15
INFO12=503872 Webers BCI-kabel
INFO13=901290 Blå duschslang
INFO14=900220 10 dB

[CALIBRATION]
UNIT=mA
ATTFIX=auto
LEVEL=60
TYPE=FWDTOVOLT

[CALTABLE]
Name=Calibration file
Text=
Rows=124
Columns=5
High=4.000E+08
Low=1.000E+06
Table=
4.000e+08	-9.10	39.84	09.55	60.00
3.809e+08	-9.16	39.50	10.90	60.00
3.628e+08	-10.70	39.38	12.67	60.00
3.455e+08	-10.69	39.14	12.06	60.00
3.290e+08	-9.85	39.02	08.27	60.00
3.134e+08	-10.63	38.83	10.74	60.00
2.984e+08	-10.68	38.74	09.41	60.00
2.842e+08	-10.66	38.63	07.81	60.00
2.707e+08	-10.47	38.50	14.55	60.00
2.578e+08	-10.52	38.54	07.79	60.00
2.455e+08	-11.14	38.47	13.19	60.00
2.338e+08	-11.12	38.51	14.71	60.00
2.227e+08	-11.36	38.74	08.46	60.00
2.121e+08	-10.34	39.25	10.25	60.00
2.020e+08	-8.43	40.31	17.84	60.00
1.924e+08	-6.37	41.81	16.17	60.00
1.832e+08	-6.78	40.86	15.29	60.00
1.745e+08	-8.24	39.39	15.29	60.00
1.662e+08	-9.14	38.62	15.25	60.00
1.582e+08	-9.90	38.17	11.77	60.00
1.507e+08	-10.72	37.85	08.62	60.00
1.435e+08	-11.37	37.60	07.58	60.00
1.367e+08	-11.89	37.39	12.38	60.00
1.302e+08	-12.22	37.47	11.71	60.00
1.240e+08	-12.30	37.65	09.42	60.00
1.181e+08	-12.08	37.75	09.74	60.00
1.124e+08	-11.90	37.78	10.34	60.00
1.071e+08	-11.61	37.78	06.29	60.00
1.020e+08	-11.14	37.76	13.00	60.00
9.717e+07	-10.88	37.75	07.84	60.00
9.255e+07	-10.58	37.76	12.41	60.00
8.814e+07	-10.41	37.74	07.58	60.00
8.394e+07	-10.47	37.71	13.13	60.00
7.994e+07	-10.33	37.63	08.10	60.00
7.614e+07	-10.36	37.57	11.30	60.00
7.251e+07	-10.48	37.55	09.30	60.00

Posted 31-Jan-22 1:39am

Niklas Arabäck

Updated 1-Feb-22 7:34am

Sean Ewington

v2

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OriginalGriff · Answer 1 · 2022-01-31T02:16:00

Solution 1

I'd use either XML or JSON: build your classes, populate them, and XML or JSON will serialize / deserialize the file in pretty much a single line of code.

It's a lot more flexible and "developer friendly" than an INI file!

Posted 31-Jan-22 2:16am

OriginalGriff

Comments

Niklas Arabäck 31-Jan-22 10:04am

I have thought about this solution and you confirm that it is best, thanks for the input

OriginalGriff 31-Jan-22 10:33am

You're welcome!

M Imran Ansari · Answer 2 · 2022-01-31T02:50:00

In Additional with the solution-1. As you mentioned later on it would be a big table. Write your own classes according to config files and go with either XML or JSON because these formats are human-readable, easy to parse and available in most programming languages. After that easy to enlarge our schema as when expected.
Map the configuration according to the XML:Tags or JSON:Keys names to describe the contents of the elements. So, both types of files can be useful to view, even in a simple text editor. Over XML and JSON you can check the comparison, features and examples with following link:
JSON vs XML in 2022: Comparison, Features & Example[^]