How to detect the "parsing time" in XSLT transformation using C# code?

Question

Hi all,
I have written a C# code for triggering an XML to XML (XSLT) transformation. As the transformation depends upon the size of the XML and my Input XML file can vary from Kilo-Bytes to Mega-Bytes, I want to detect the "time taken to parse my input file and generate output" .. I can display the "value" via GUI or console, no problem about it. The aim is to save the "time in seconds or milliseconds" in a variable

any links for reference or tutorial concerning to this idea would be helpful too ..

Does it depend on the system configuration?
I mean is it the case that .. the parsing time varies from system to system according to the environment?
If yes.. then, Is it possible to make it a system independent code?
eagerly waiting for reply .. thanQ ..

Here is the solution and Complements:
Answer by marc-gravell is accurate ..
thank you very much marc and thank you "stackoverflow" :)

Answer 1

I'm not sure I understand fully, but perhaps simply:

Stopwatch watch = Stopwatch.StartNew();
// where "xslt" is your prepared XslTransform or XslCompiledTransform
xslt.Transform(input, args, results); 
watch.Stop();
TimeSpan elapsed = watch.Elapsed; // how long

If you want the elapsed time in seconds and milliseconds:

string seconds = elapsed.TotalSeconds.ToString("0.000");

---

If you want separate timings for parse vs transform:

Stopwatch watch = Stopwatch.StartNew();
XPathDocument sourceDoc = new XPathDocument(location);
watch.Stop();
TimeSpan parseTime = watch.Elapsed;
watch.Reset();

watch.Start();
xslt.Transform(sourceDoc, args, results);
watch.Stop();
TimeSpan transformTime = watch.Elapsed;

Answer 2

You are missing a significant component of the total time for a transformation: the time it takes to compile the stylesheet itself.

Here's how to get this time:

// Create the XslCompiledTransform and load the stylesheet.
XslCompiledTransform xslt = new XslCompiledTransform();

Stopwatch watch = Stopwatch.StartNew();  
  xslt.Load("someXsl.xsl");
watch.Stop();   

TimeSpan xsltCompileTime = watch.Elapsed;

Do note that the time to Load/compile an XSLT stylesheet with XslCompiledTransform is typically very big compared to the time required to run typical small transformations. This is why, in a production system one would consider caching a loaded stylesheet and reusing it without load ever after.