ConfigurationCollectionAttribute Class

Definition

Namespace:

System.Configuration

Assembly:

System.Configuration.ConfigurationManager.dll

Source:

ConfigurationCollectionAttribute.cs

Declaratively instructs .NET to create an instance of a configuration element collection. This class cannot be inherited.

public ref class ConfigurationCollectionAttribute sealed : Attribute

[System.AttributeUsage(System.AttributeTargets.Class | System.AttributeTargets.Property)]
public sealed class ConfigurationCollectionAttribute : Attribute

[<System.AttributeUsage(System.AttributeTargets.Class | System.AttributeTargets.Property)>]
type ConfigurationCollectionAttribute = class
    inherit Attribute

Public NotInheritable Class ConfigurationCollectionAttribute
Inherits Attribute

Inheritance

Object

Attribute

ConfigurationCollectionAttribute

Attributes

AttributeUsageAttribute

Examples

The following example shows how to use the ConfigurationCollectionAttribute.

This example consists of three classes: UrlsSection, UrlsCollection, and UrlConfigElement. The UrlsSection class uses the ConfigurationCollectionAttribute to define a custom configuration section. This section contains a URL collection (defined by the UrlsCollection class) of URL elements (defined by the UrlConfigElement class). When you run the example, an instance of the UrlsSection class is created and the following configuration elements are generated in the application configuration file:

<configuration>  
    <configSections>  
        <section name="MyUrls" type="UrlsSection,   
          ConfigurationCollectionAttribute, Version=1.0.0.0, Culture=neutral, PublicKeyToken=null" />  
    </configSections>  
    <MyUrls>  
        <urls>  
            <remove name="Contoso" />  
            <add name="Contoso" url="http://www.contoso.com" port="0" />  
        </urls>  
    </MyUrls>  
</configuration  

using System;
using System.Configuration;

// Define a custom section that contains a custom
// UrlsCollection collection of custom UrlConfigElement elements.
// This class shows how to use the ConfigurationCollectionAttribute.
public class UrlsSection : ConfigurationSection
{
    // Declare the Urls collection property using the
    // ConfigurationCollectionAttribute.
    // This allows to build a nested section that contains
    // a collection of elements.
    [ConfigurationProperty("urls", IsDefaultCollection = false)]
    [ConfigurationCollection(typeof(UrlsCollection),
        AddItemName = "add",
        ClearItemsName = "clear",
        RemoveItemName = "remove")]
    public UrlsCollection Urls
    {
        get
        {
            UrlsCollection urlsCollection =
                (UrlsCollection)base["urls"];
            return urlsCollection;
        }
    }
}

// Define the custom UrlsCollection that contains the 
// custom UrlsConfigElement elements.
public class UrlsCollection : ConfigurationElementCollection
{
    public UrlsCollection()
    {
        UrlConfigElement url = (UrlConfigElement)CreateNewElement();
        Add(url);
    }

    public override ConfigurationElementCollectionType CollectionType
    {
        get
        {
            return ConfigurationElementCollectionType.AddRemoveClearMap;
        }
    }

    protected override ConfigurationElement CreateNewElement()
    {
        return new UrlConfigElement();
    }

    protected override Object GetElementKey(ConfigurationElement element)
    {
        return ((UrlConfigElement)element).Name;
    }

    public UrlConfigElement this[int index]
    {
        get
        {
            return (UrlConfigElement)BaseGet(index);
        }
        set
        {
            if (BaseGet(index) != null)
            {
                BaseRemoveAt(index);
            }
            BaseAdd(index, value);
        }
    }

    new public UrlConfigElement this[string Name]
    {
        get
        {
            return (UrlConfigElement)BaseGet(Name);
        }
    }

    public int IndexOf(UrlConfigElement url)
    {
        return BaseIndexOf(url);
    }

    public void Add(UrlConfigElement url)
    {
        BaseAdd(url);
    }
    protected override void BaseAdd(ConfigurationElement element)
    {
        BaseAdd(element, false);
    }

    public void Remove(UrlConfigElement url)
    {
        if (BaseIndexOf(url) >= 0)
            BaseRemove(url.Name);
    }

    public void RemoveAt(int index)
    {
        BaseRemoveAt(index);
    }

    public void Remove(string name)
    {
        BaseRemove(name);
    }

    public void Clear()
    {
        BaseClear();
    }
}

// Define the custom UrlsConfigElement elements that are contained 
// by the custom UrlsCollection.
// Notice that you can change the default values to create new default elements.
public class UrlConfigElement : ConfigurationElement
{
    public UrlConfigElement(String name, String url)
    {
        this.Name = name;
        this.Url = url;
    }

    public UrlConfigElement()
    {

        this.Name = "Contoso";
        this.Url = "http://www.contoso.com";
        this.Port = 0;
    }

    [ConfigurationProperty("name", DefaultValue = "Contoso",
        IsRequired = true, IsKey = true)]
    public string Name
    {
        get
        {
            return (string)this["name"];
        }
        set
        {
            this["name"] = value;
        }
    }

    [ConfigurationProperty("url", DefaultValue = "http://www.contoso.com",
        IsRequired = true)]
    [RegexStringValidator(@"\w+:\/\/[\w.]+\S*")]
    public string Url
    {
        get
        {
            return (string)this["url"];
        }
        set
        {
            this["url"] = value;
        }
    }

    [ConfigurationProperty("port", DefaultValue = (int)0, IsRequired = false)]
    [IntegerValidator(MinValue = 0, MaxValue = 8080, ExcludeRange = false)]
    public int Port
    {
        get
        {
            return (int)this["port"];
        }
        set
        {
            this["port"] = value;
        }
    }
}

Imports System.Configuration




' Define a custom section that contains a custom
' UrlsCollection collection of custom UrlConfigElement elements.
' This class shows how to use the ConfigurationCollectionAttribute.
Public Class UrlsSection
    Inherits ConfigurationSection
    ' Declare the Urls collection property using the
    ' ConfigurationCollectionAttribute.
    ' This allows to build a nested section that contains
    ' a collection of elements.
    <ConfigurationProperty("urls", IsDefaultCollection:=False),
        System.Configuration.ConfigurationCollection(GetType(UrlsCollection),
        AddItemName:="add", ClearItemsName:="clear", RemoveItemName:="remove")> _
    Public ReadOnly Property Urls() As UrlsCollection
        Get
            Dim urlsCollection As UrlsCollection = CType(MyBase.Item("urls"), UrlsCollection)
            Return urlsCollection
        End Get
    End Property

End Class

' Define the custom UrlsCollection that contains the 
' custom UrlsConfigElement elements.
Public Class UrlsCollection
    Inherits ConfigurationElementCollection
    Public Sub New()
        Dim url As UrlConfigElement = CType(CreateNewElement(), UrlConfigElement)
        Add(url)
    End Sub

    Public Overrides ReadOnly Property CollectionType() As ConfigurationElementCollectionType
        Get
            Return ConfigurationElementCollectionType.AddRemoveClearMap
        End Get
    End Property

    Protected Overloads Overrides Function CreateNewElement() As ConfigurationElement
        Return New UrlConfigElement()
    End Function

    Protected Overrides Function GetElementKey(ByVal element As ConfigurationElement) As Object
        Return (CType(element, UrlConfigElement)).Name
    End Function

    Default Shadows Property Item(ByVal index As Integer) As UrlConfigElement
        Get
            Return CType(BaseGet(index), UrlConfigElement)
        End Get
        Set(ByVal value As UrlConfigElement)
            If BaseGet(index) IsNot Nothing Then
                BaseRemoveAt(index)
            End If
            BaseAdd(index, value)
        End Set
    End Property

    Default Public Shadows ReadOnly Property Item(ByVal Name As String) As UrlConfigElement
        Get
            Return CType(BaseGet(Name), UrlConfigElement)
        End Get
    End Property

    Public Function IndexOf(ByVal url As UrlConfigElement) As Integer
        Return BaseIndexOf(url)
    End Function

    Public Sub Add(ByVal url As UrlConfigElement)
        BaseAdd(url)
    End Sub
    Protected Overloads Overrides Sub BaseAdd(ByVal element As ConfigurationElement)
        BaseAdd(element, False)
    End Sub

    Public Sub Remove(ByVal url As UrlConfigElement)
        If BaseIndexOf(url) >= 0 Then
            BaseRemove(url.Name)
        End If
    End Sub

    Public Sub RemoveAt(ByVal index As Integer)
        BaseRemoveAt(index)
    End Sub

    Public Sub Remove(ByVal name As String)
        BaseRemove(name)
    End Sub

    Public Sub Clear()
        BaseClear()
    End Sub
End Class

' Define the custom UrlsConfigElement elements that are contained 
' by the custom UrlsCollection.
Public Class UrlConfigElement
    Inherits ConfigurationElement
    Public Sub New(ByVal name As String, ByVal url As String)
        Me.Name = name
        Me.Url = url
    End Sub

    Public Sub New()
        Me.Name = "Contoso"
        Me.Url = "http://www.contoso.com"
        Me.Port = 0
    End Sub

    <ConfigurationProperty("name", DefaultValue:="Contoso", IsRequired:=True, IsKey:=True)> _
    Public Property Name() As String
        Get
            Return CStr(Me("name"))
        End Get
        Set(ByVal value As String)
            Me("name") = value
        End Set
    End Property

    <ConfigurationProperty("url", DefaultValue:="http://www.contoso.com", IsRequired:=True),
        RegexStringValidator("\w+:\/\/[\w.]+\S*")> _
    Public Property Url() As String
        Get
            Return CStr(Me("url"))
        End Get
        Set(ByVal value As String)
            Me("url") = value
        End Set
    End Property

    <ConfigurationProperty("port", DefaultValue:=0, IsRequired:=False),
        IntegerValidator(MinValue:=0, MaxValue:=8080, ExcludeRange:=False)> _
    Public Property Port() As Integer
        Get
            Return CInt(Fix(Me("port")))
        End Get
        Set(ByVal value As Integer)
            Me("port") = value
        End Set
    End Property
End Class

using System;
using System.Configuration;

class UsingConfigurationCollectionAttribute
{

    // Create a custom section and save it in the 
    // application configuration file.
    static void CreateCustomSection()
    {
        try
        {

            // Create a custom configuration section.
            UrlsSection myUrlsSection = new UrlsSection();

            // Get the current configuration file.
            System.Configuration.Configuration config =
                    ConfigurationManager.OpenExeConfiguration(
                    ConfigurationUserLevel.None);

            // Add the custom section to the application
            // configuration file.
            if (config.Sections["MyUrls"] == null)
            {
                config.Sections.Add("MyUrls", myUrlsSection);
            }

            // Save the application configuration file.
            myUrlsSection.SectionInformation.ForceSave = true;
            config.Save(ConfigurationSaveMode.Modified);

            Console.WriteLine("Created custom section in the application configuration file: {0}",
                config.FilePath);
            Console.WriteLine();
        }
        catch (ConfigurationErrorsException err)
        {
            Console.WriteLine("CreateCustomSection: {0}", err.ToString());
        }
    }

    static void ReadCustomSection()
    {
        try
        {
            // Get the application configuration file.
            System.Configuration.Configuration config =
                    ConfigurationManager.OpenExeConfiguration(
                    ConfigurationUserLevel.None) as Configuration;

            // Read and display the custom section.
            UrlsSection myUrlsSection =
               ConfigurationManager.GetSection("MyUrls") as UrlsSection;

            if (myUrlsSection == null)
            {
                Console.WriteLine("Failed to load UrlsSection.");
            }
            else
            {
                Console.WriteLine("URLs defined in the configuration file:");
                for (int i = 0; i < myUrlsSection.Urls.Count; i++)
                {
                    Console.WriteLine("  Name={0} URL={1} Port={2}",
                        myUrlsSection.Urls[i].Name,
                        myUrlsSection.Urls[i].Url,
                        myUrlsSection.Urls[i].Port);
                }
            }
        }
        catch (ConfigurationErrorsException err)
        {
            Console.WriteLine("ReadCustomSection(string): {0}", err.ToString());
        }
    }
    
    static void Main(string[] args)
    {
       
        // Get the name of the application.
        string appName =
            Environment.GetCommandLineArgs()[0];

        // Create a custom section and save it in the 
        // application configuration file.
        CreateCustomSection();

        // Read the custom section saved in the
        // application configuration file.
        ReadCustomSection();

        Console.WriteLine();
        Console.WriteLine("Enter any key to exit.");

        Console.ReadLine();
    }
}

Imports System.Configuration


Friend Class UsingConfigurationCollectionAttribute

    ' Create a custom section and save it in the 
    ' application configuration file.
    Private Shared Sub CreateCustomSection()
        Try

            ' Create a custom configuration section.
            Dim myUrlsSection As New UrlsSection()

            ' Get the current configuration file.
            Dim config As System.Configuration.Configuration =
                ConfigurationManager.OpenExeConfiguration(ConfigurationUserLevel.None)

            ' Add the custom section to the application
            ' configuration file.
            If config.Sections("MyUrls") Is Nothing Then
                config.Sections.Add("MyUrls", myUrlsSection)
            End If


            ' Save the application configuration file.
            myUrlsSection.SectionInformation.ForceSave = True
            config.Save(ConfigurationSaveMode.Modified)

            Console.WriteLine("Created custom section in the application configuration file: {0}", config.FilePath)
            Console.WriteLine()

        Catch err As ConfigurationErrorsException
            Console.WriteLine("CreateCustomSection: {0}", err.ToString())
        End Try

    End Sub

    Private Shared Sub ReadCustomSection()
        Try
            ' Get the application configuration file.
            Dim config As System.Configuration.Configuration = TryCast(ConfigurationManager.OpenExeConfiguration(ConfigurationUserLevel.None), Configuration)

            ' Read and display the custom section.
            Dim myUrlsSection As UrlsSection = TryCast(ConfigurationManager.GetSection("MyUrls"), UrlsSection)

            If myUrlsSection Is Nothing Then
                Console.WriteLine("Failed to load UrlsSection.")
            Else
                Console.WriteLine("URLs defined in app.config:")
                For i As Integer = 0 To myUrlsSection.Urls.Count - 1
                    Console.WriteLine("  Name={0} URL={1} Port={2}", myUrlsSection.Urls(i).Name, myUrlsSection.Urls(i).Url, myUrlsSection.Urls(i).Port)
                Next i
            End If
        Catch err As ConfigurationErrorsException
            Console.WriteLine("ReadCustomSection(string): {0}", err.ToString())
        End Try

    End Sub

    Shared Sub Main(ByVal args() As String)

        ' Get the name of the application.
        Dim appName As String = Environment.GetCommandLineArgs()(0)

        ' Create a custom section and save it in the 
        ' application configuration file.
        CreateCustomSection()

        ' Read the custom section saved in the
        ' application configuration file.
        ReadCustomSection()

        Console.WriteLine()
        Console.WriteLine("Enter any key to exit.")

        Console.ReadLine()
    End Sub
End Class

Remarks

You use the ConfigurationCollectionAttribute attribute to decorate a ConfigurationElementCollection element. This instructs .NET to create an instance of the collection and to initialize it using your custom ConfigurationElement values.

Note

The simplest way to create a custom configuration element is to use the attributed (declarative) model. You declare the elements and decorate them with the ConfigurationCollectionAttribute attribute. For each element marked with this attribute, .NET uses reflection to read the decorating parameters and create a related ConfigurationElementCollection instance. You can also use the programmatic model. In this case it is your responsibility to declare the custom public collection but also to override the ConfigurationElementCollection member and return the properties collection.

The .NET configuration system provides attribute types that you can use during the creation of custom configuration elements. There are two kinds of attributes:

• The attributes that instruct .NET how to create instances of the custom configuration element properties. These types include:

  • ConfigurationCollectionAttribute

  • ConfigurationPropertyAttribute

• The attributes that instruct .NET how to validate the custom configuration element properties. These types include:

  • IntegerValidatorAttribute

  • LongValidatorAttribute

  • RegexStringValidatorAttribute

  • StringValidatorAttribute

  • TimeSpanValidatorAttribute

Constructors

ConfigurationCollectionAttribute(Type)

Initializes a new instance of the ConfigurationCollectionAttribute class.

Properties

AddItemName	Gets or sets the name of the <add> configuration element.
ClearItemsName	Gets or sets the name for the <clear> configuration element.
CollectionType	Gets or sets the type of the ConfigurationCollectionAttribute attribute.
ItemType	Gets the type of the collection element.
RemoveItemName	Gets or sets the name for the <remove> configuration element.
TypeId	When implemented in a derived class, gets a unique identifier for this Attribute. (Inherited from Attribute)

Methods

Equals(Object)	Returns a value that indicates whether this instance is equal to a specified object. (Inherited from Attribute)
GetHashCode()	Returns the hash code for this instance. (Inherited from Attribute)
GetType()	Gets the Type of the current instance. (Inherited from Object)
IsDefaultAttribute()	When overridden in a derived class, indicates whether the value of this instance is the default value for the derived class. (Inherited from Attribute)
Match(Object)	When overridden in a derived class, returns a value that indicates whether this instance equals a specified object. (Inherited from Attribute)
MemberwiseClone()	Creates a shallow copy of the current Object. (Inherited from Object)
ToString()	Returns a string that represents the current object. (Inherited from Object)

See also

• ConfigurationPropertyAttribute
• IntegerValidatorAttribute
• LongValidatorAttribute
• RegexStringValidatorAttribute
• StringValidatorAttribute
• TimeSpanValidatorAttribute