Typed configuration data in a separate config file in ASP.Net 4.0?

Question

1. I have an asp.net 4.0 web application.

2. I need extensive configuration data for this web application, that is strongly typed and the structure of this configuration data is going to be fairly complex (cannot do with key-value pairs). In the past I remember having done this in .Net 2.0 but cannot figure out how I will do it in .Net 4.0. The class and config mapping is like shown below (really simplified for the purpose of illustration only):

   class SettingsClass
   {
   int count;
   string name;
   decimal amount;
   }

   <SettingsClass>
   <count>2<count>
   <name>Moiz</name>
   <decimal>10.66</decimal>
   </SettingsClass>

   1. I need this configuration in a separate file (other than the web.config).
   2. I don't think I would have to write explicit serialization/deserialization code.

Does .Net 4.0 configuration classes provide this kind of built in facility?

Would I need to use Enterprise Library 5.0 to get this done?

Answer 1

You can introduce strongly typed sections in configuration files with custom configuration handlers.

If you need these configurations in a separate file you can use OpenMappedExeConfiguration to load additional configuration files.

You can use both practices in .NET 2.0 and 4.0.