Error reading XML File (API)

Question

1.00/5 (2 votes)

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XML

I am trying to read data from an xml file (API) using the repeater control in vb.net. but I am getting the following error: XmlNodeList' is a type and cannot be used as an expression. 

The error is pointing at this line from the code below:

XmlNodeList nodes = doc.SelectNodes("products/product")
Can anyone please help fix this error?

The code is shown below:

<Script runat="server">
sub Page_Load
if Not Page.IsPostBack then Dim doc  as XmlDocument = new XmlDocument()
doc.Load("this is the url link")
 XmlNodeList  nodes  = doc.SelectNodes("products/product")
rpMyRepeater.DataSource = nodes
rpMyRepeater.DataBind()
end if
end sub
</script>

<html>
<body>
<asp:repeater id="rpMyRepeater" runat="server">
<HeaderTemplate>>
</HeaderTemplate>
   <ItemTemplate>

<%# ((System.Xml.XmlNode)Container.DataItem).Attributes["description"].Value %>
 <%# ((System.Xml.XmlNode)Container.DataItem).InnerXml %>

   </ItemTemplate>
   <FooterTemplate>
   </FooterTemplate>
</asp:repeater>

Posted 24-Aug-15 8:44am

hm9

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Comments

Sergey Alexandrovich Kryukov 24-Aug-15 14:56pm

In what line? Isn't it in doc.Load("this is the url link")?
—SA

Afzaal Ahmad Zeeshan 24-Aug-15 15:07pm

Plus, please note the case sensitivity in VB.NET! if is not the If keyword.

Richard Deeming 24-Aug-15 15:17pm

VB is case insensitive. :)

Afzaal Ahmad Zeeshan 24-Aug-15 15:29pm

Ah, my bad.

2 solutions

Solution 1

Chances are, what you called "this is the url link" is not a valid XML document, most likely, it is not well-formed. You can load it in any Web browser; it will show you where the bug in the file is.

—SA

Posted 24-Aug-15 8:55am

Sergey Alexandrovich Kryukov

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Richard Deeming · Accepted Answer · 2015-08-24T09:17:00

Solution 2

You're mixing VB and C# syntax. In VB, the declaration needs to be:

VB.NET

Dim nodes As XmlNodeList = doc.SelectNodes("products/product")

Posted 24-Aug-15 9:17am

Richard Deeming

Comments

hm9 24-Aug-15 15:44pm

Ok thanks I corrected the code as you suggested and the error is cleared but it is complaining about this line:

<![CDATA[<%# ((System.Xml.XmlNode)Container.DataItem).Attributes["description"].Value %>]]>

The error:
'XmlNode' is a type in 'Xml' and cannot be used as an expression.

any ideas? is it syntax issue?

Richard Deeming 24-Aug-15 15:46pm

You're still using C# syntax.

<![CDATA[<%# DirectCast(Container.DataItem, System.Xml.XmlNode).Attributes("description").Value %>]]>

hm9 24-Aug-15 16:16pm

Ok I corrected the syntax now. Regarding the xml, below is an extract of the xml file, I am trying to access. The nodes I am trying to get to is products/product and the value of ns2:description is what i want to output. but it doesnt show anything on the page. I did change the 'description' for 'ns2:description' but it didnt make a difference

<result xmlns="urn:com:trade:pf:model:xml:output" xmlns:ns2="urn:com:trade:pf:model:xml:common" version="3.0">
<productHeader>
<totalhits>591727
</productHeader>
<products>
<product language="en">
<ns2:name>La Roche Posay
<ns2:description>
La Roche Posay - Effaclar H etc

Richard Deeming 24-Aug-15 16:22pm

Sounds like you have a new question. You'll need to post the full XML file, including the namespace declarations. Make sure you properly encode the XML when you post it.