How do I read in a DataSetName from an XML File using ReadXML() in .Net?

Question

I've written a DataSet to a XML file using .WriteXML(FileName), and the DataSetName property of the dataset is the top-level tag in the file. However, when I try to read the file into a different DataSet using .ReadXML(FileName), the DataSetName isn't changed to the value of the top-level tag. Am I doing something wrong, or is ReadXML not supposed to set the DataSetName? Just strikes me as odd that it writes it out but won't read it in.

Here's my writing code, the XML file, and the reading code:

Writing:

dsNewReport.DataSetName = "Rejected"
dsNewReport.WriteXml(My.Application.Info.DirectoryPath & "/Reports/Incomplete/" & fileName)

The resulting XML:

<?xml version="1.0" standalone="yes"?>
<Rejected>
  <SearchData>
  //SNIP
  </SearchData>
</Rejected>

Reading:

dsSearchReport.ReadXml(My.Application.Info.DirectoryPath & "/Reports/Incomplete/Search_" & Search_SEQ_GUID & ".xml")
If dsSearchReport.DataSetName = "Rejected" Then
    return True
    'DataSetName = dsSearchReport after the read      
End IF

Answer 1

ReadXml is not designed or tasked with setting your DataSet name - you'll have to do this yourself.

Sure - in your case, you want to set it to the root level name - but that might not be what everyone wants. Someone else might want to set it to the filename - or even something completely different.

So as a compromise, the ReadXml function doesn't do anything at all - it won't touch your DataSet name in any way, shape or form. There's no error on your part - that's just the way it is.

Marc