Loading XML Content at Runtime

Describes how to load custom game data at game runtime through the Content Pipeline.

Loading custom game content

This example concludes the procedure begun in the tutorial Adding an XML Content File to a Visual Studio Project.

Once custom game data is integrated as game content from an XML file through the Content Pipeline, it exists within your game runtime package in binary format. The data can be loaded at runtime through the ContentManager.

To load the custom data in the game

The "MyDataTypes" library is added as a reference in the game project.

1. In Solution Explorer, right-click the game project, click Add Reference, click the Projects tab, select MyDataTypes, and then click OK.

2. In Solution Explorer, double-click Game1.cs to edit it.

3. Add the using declaration for the MyDataTypes namespace.

   using MyDataTypes;
   

4. Add a data declaration for an array of type PetData, the class defined in the "MyDataTypes" library.

   PetData[] pets;
   

5. In the LoadContent override function, load the custom content.

   protected override void LoadContent()
   {
       // Load the pet data table
       pets = Content.Load<PetData[]>("pets");
   }
   

   The custom game data now resides in the array of PetData objects.

See Also

Using an XML File to Specify Content
Adding Content to a Game