Represents a collection of related sections within a configuration file.
Namespace:
System.Configuration
Assembly:
System.Configuration (in System.Configuration.dll)
Visual Basic (Declaration)
<SerializableAttribute> _
Public NotInheritable Class ConfigurationSectionCollection _
Inherits NameObjectCollectionBase
Dim instance As ConfigurationSectionCollection
[SerializableAttribute]
public sealed class ConfigurationSectionCollection : NameObjectCollectionBase
[SerializableAttribute]
public ref class ConfigurationSectionCollection sealed : public NameObjectCollectionBase
public final class ConfigurationSectionCollection extends NameObjectCollectionBase
Use the ConfigurationSectionCollection class to iterate through a collection of ConfigurationSection objects. You can access this collection of objects using the Sections property or the Sections property.
The ConfigurationSectionCollection class is also used in the creation of custom types that extend the ConfigurationSection class.
The following code example shows how to use the ConfigurationSectionCollection class.
Imports System
Imports System.Configuration
Imports System.Collections
' Define a custom section programmatically.
Public NotInheritable Class CustomSection
Inherits ConfigurationSection
' The collection (property bag) that contains
' the section properties.
Private Shared _Properties _
As ConfigurationPropertyCollection
' The FileName property.
Private Shared _FileName _
As New ConfigurationProperty("fileName", _
GetType(String), "default.txt", _
ConfigurationPropertyOptions.IsRequired)
' The MasUsers property.
Private Shared _MaxUsers _
As New ConfigurationProperty("maxUsers", _
GetType(Long), Fix(1000), _
ConfigurationPropertyOptions.None)
' The MaxIdleTime property.
Private Shared _MaxIdleTime _
As New ConfigurationProperty("maxIdleTime", _
GetType(TimeSpan), TimeSpan.FromMinutes(5), _
ConfigurationPropertyOptions.IsRequired)
' CustomSection constructor.
Public Sub New()
' Property initialization
_Properties = _
New ConfigurationPropertyCollection()
_Properties.Add(_FileName)
_Properties.Add(_MaxUsers)
_Properties.Add(_MaxIdleTime)
End Sub 'New
' This is a key customization.
' It returns the initialized property bag.
Protected Overrides ReadOnly Property Properties() _
As ConfigurationPropertyCollection
Get
Return _Properties
End Get
End Property
<StringValidator( _
InvalidCharacters:=" ~!@#$%^&*()[]{}/;'""|\", _
MinLength:=1, MaxLength:=60)> _
Public Property FileName() As String
Get
Return CStr(Me("fileName"))
End Get
Set(ByVal value As String)
Me("fileName") = value
End Set
End Property
<LongValidator(MinValue:=1, _
MaxValue:=1000000, ExcludeRange:=False)> _
Public Property MaxUsers() As Long
Get
Return Fix(Me("maxUsers"))
End Get
Set(ByVal value As Long)
Me("maxUsers") = value
End Set
End Property
<TimeSpanValidator(MinValueString:="0:0:30", _
MaxValueString:="5:00:0", ExcludeRange:=False)> _
Public Property MaxIdleTime() As TimeSpan
Get
Return CType(Me("maxIdleTime"), TimeSpan)
End Get
Set(ByVal value As TimeSpan)
Me("maxIdleTime") = value
End Set
End Property
End Class 'CustomSection
Class UsingCustomSectionCollection
' Create a custom section.
Shared Sub CreateSection()
Try
Dim customSection As CustomSection
' Get the current configuration file.
Dim config _
As System.Configuration.Configuration = _
ConfigurationManager.OpenExeConfiguration( _
ConfigurationUserLevel.None)
' Create the section entry
' in the <configSections> and the
' related target section in <configuration>.
If config.Sections("CustomSection") Is Nothing Then
customSection = New CustomSection()
config.Sections.Add("CustomSection", customSection)
customSection.SectionInformation.ForceSave = True
config.Save(ConfigurationSaveMode.Full)
End If
Catch err As ConfigurationErrorsException
Console.WriteLine(err.ToString())
End Try
End Sub 'CreateSection
Shared Sub GetAllKeys()
Try
Dim config _
As System.Configuration.Configuration = _
ConfigurationManager.OpenExeConfiguration( _
ConfigurationUserLevel.None)
Dim sections _
As ConfigurationSectionCollection = _
config.Sections
Dim key As String
For Each key In sections.Keys
Console.WriteLine("Key value: {0}", key)
Next key
Catch err As ConfigurationErrorsException
Console.WriteLine(err.ToString())
End Try
End Sub 'GetAllKeys
Shared Sub Clear()
Try
Dim config _
As System.Configuration.Configuration = _
ConfigurationManager.OpenExeConfiguration( _
ConfigurationUserLevel.None)
config.Sections.Clear()
config.Save( _
ConfigurationSaveMode.Full)
Catch err As ConfigurationErrorsException
Console.WriteLine(err.ToString())
End Try
End Sub 'Clear
Shared Sub GetSection()
Try
Dim customSection _
As CustomSection = _
ConfigurationManager.GetSection( _
"CustomSection")
If customSection Is Nothing Then
Console.WriteLine("Failed to load CustomSection.")
Else
' Display section information
Console.WriteLine("Defaults:")
Console.WriteLine("File Name: {0}", _
customSection.FileName)
Console.WriteLine("Max Users: {0}", _
customSection.MaxUsers)
Console.WriteLine("Max Idle Time: {0}", _
customSection.MaxIdleTime)
End If
Catch err As ConfigurationErrorsException
Console.WriteLine(err.ToString())
End Try
End Sub 'GetSection
Shared Sub GetEnumerator()
Try
Dim config _
As System.Configuration.Configuration = _
ConfigurationManager.OpenExeConfiguration( _
ConfigurationUserLevel.None)
Dim sections _
As ConfigurationSectionCollection = _
config.Sections
Dim secEnum _
As IEnumerator = sections.GetEnumerator()
Dim i As Integer = 0
While secEnum.MoveNext()
Dim setionName _
As String = sections.GetKey(i)
Console.WriteLine( _
"Section name: {0}", setionName)
i += 1
End While
Catch err As ConfigurationErrorsException
Console.WriteLine(err.ToString())
End Try
End Sub 'GetEnumerator
Shared Sub GetKeys()
Try
Dim config _
As System.Configuration.Configuration = _
ConfigurationManager.OpenExeConfiguration( _
ConfigurationUserLevel.None)
Dim sections _
As ConfigurationSectionCollection = _
config.Sections
Dim key As String
For Each key In sections.Keys
Console.WriteLine("Key value: {0}", key)
Next key
Catch err As ConfigurationErrorsException
Console.WriteLine(err.ToString())
End Try
End Sub 'GetKeys
Shared Sub GetItems()
Try
Dim config _
As System.Configuration.Configuration = _
ConfigurationManager.OpenExeConfiguration( _
ConfigurationUserLevel.None)
Dim sections _
As ConfigurationSectionCollection = _
config.Sections
Dim section1 As ConfigurationSection = _
sections.Item("runtime")
Dim section2 As ConfigurationSection = _
sections.Item(0)
Console.WriteLine("Section1: {0}", _
section1.SectionInformation.Name)
Console.WriteLine("Section2: {0}", _
section2.SectionInformation.Name)
Catch err As ConfigurationErrorsException
Console.WriteLine(err.ToString())
End Try
End Sub 'GetItems
Shared Sub Remove()
Try
Dim config _
As System.Configuration.Configuration = _
ConfigurationManager.OpenExeConfiguration( _
ConfigurationUserLevel.None)
Dim customSection As CustomSection = _
config.GetSection("CustomSection")
If Not (customSection Is Nothing) Then
config.Sections.Remove("CustomSection")
customSection.SectionInformation.ForceSave = True
config.Save(ConfigurationSaveMode.Full)
Else
Console.WriteLine( _
"CustomSection does not exists.")
End If
Catch err As ConfigurationErrorsException
Console.WriteLine(err.ToString())
End Try
End Sub 'Remove
Shared Sub AddSection()
Try
Dim config _
As System.Configuration.Configuration = _
ConfigurationManager.OpenExeConfiguration( _
ConfigurationUserLevel.None)
Dim customSection _
As New CustomSection()
Dim index As String = _
config.Sections.Count.ToString()
customSection.FileName = _
"newFile" + index + ".txt"
Dim sectionName As String = _
"CustomSection" + index
Dim ts As New TimeSpan(0, 15, 0)
customSection.MaxIdleTime = ts
customSection.MaxUsers = 100
config.Sections.Add(sectionName, customSection)
customSection.SectionInformation.ForceSave = True
config.Save(ConfigurationSaveMode.Full)
Catch err As ConfigurationErrorsException
Console.WriteLine(err.ToString())
End Try
End Sub 'AddSection
' Exercise the collection.
' Uncomment the function you want to exercise.
' Start with CreateSection().
Public Overloads Shared Sub Main(ByVal args() As String)
CreateSection()
' AddSection()
' GetSection()
' GetEnumerator()
' GetAllKeys()
' GetKeys()
GetItems()
' Clear()
' Remove()
End Sub 'Main
End Class 'UsingCustomSectionCollection
using System;
using System.Configuration;
using System.Collections;
namespace Samples.AspNet.Configuration
{
// Define a custom section programmatically.
public sealed class CustomSection :
ConfigurationSection
{
// The collection (property bag) that contains
// the section properties.
private static ConfigurationPropertyCollection _Properties;
// The FileName property.
private static readonly ConfigurationProperty _FileName =
new ConfigurationProperty("fileName",
typeof(string), "default.txt",
ConfigurationPropertyOptions.IsRequired);
// The MasUsers property.
private static readonly ConfigurationProperty _MaxUsers =
new ConfigurationProperty("maxUsers",
typeof(long), (long)1000,
ConfigurationPropertyOptions.None);
// The MaxIdleTime property.
private static readonly ConfigurationProperty _MaxIdleTime =
new ConfigurationProperty("maxIdleTime",
typeof(TimeSpan), TimeSpan.FromMinutes(5),
ConfigurationPropertyOptions.IsRequired);
// CustomSection constructor.
public CustomSection()
{
// Property initialization
_Properties =
new ConfigurationPropertyCollection();
_Properties.Add(_FileName);
_Properties.Add(_MaxUsers);
_Properties.Add(_MaxIdleTime);
}
// This is a key customization.
// It returns the initialized property bag.
protected override ConfigurationPropertyCollection Properties
{
get
{
return _Properties;
}
}
[StringValidator(InvalidCharacters = " ~!@#$%^&*()[]{}/;'\"|\\",
MinLength = 1, MaxLength = 60)]
public string FileName
{
get
{
return (string)this["fileName"];
}
set
{
this["fileName"] = value;
}
}
[LongValidator(MinValue = 1, MaxValue = 1000000,
ExcludeRange = false)]
public long MaxUsers
{
get
{
return (long)this["maxUsers"];
}
set
{
this["maxUsers"] = value;
}
}
[TimeSpanValidator(MinValueString = "0:0:30",
MaxValueString = "5:00:0",
ExcludeRange = false)]
public TimeSpan MaxIdleTime
{
get
{
return (TimeSpan)this["maxIdleTime"];
}
set
{
this["maxIdleTime"] = value;
}
}
}
class UsingCustomSectionCollection
{
// Create a custom section.
static void CreateSection()
{
try
{
CustomSection customSection;
// Get the current configuration file.
System.Configuration.Configuration config =
ConfigurationManager.OpenExeConfiguration(
ConfigurationUserLevel.None);
// Create the section entry
// in the <configSections> and the
// related target section in <configuration>.
if (config.Sections["CustomSection"] == null)
{
customSection = new CustomSection();
config.Sections.Add("CustomSection", customSection);
customSection.SectionInformation.ForceSave = true;
config.Save(ConfigurationSaveMode.Full);
}
}
catch (ConfigurationErrorsException err)
{
Console.WriteLine(err.ToString());
}
}
static void GetAllKeys()
{
try
{
System.Configuration.Configuration config =
ConfigurationManager.OpenExeConfiguration(
ConfigurationUserLevel.None);
ConfigurationSectionCollection sections =
config.Sections;
foreach (string key in sections.Keys)
{
Console.WriteLine(
"Key value: {0}", key);
}
}
catch (ConfigurationErrorsException err)
{
Console.WriteLine(err.ToString());
}
}
static void Clear()
{
try
{
System.Configuration.Configuration config =
ConfigurationManager.OpenExeConfiguration(
ConfigurationUserLevel.None);
config.Sections.Clear();
config.Save(ConfigurationSaveMode.Full);
}
catch (ConfigurationErrorsException err)
{
Console.WriteLine(err.ToString());
}
}
static void GetSection()
{
try
{
CustomSection customSection =
ConfigurationManager.GetSection(
"CustomSection") as CustomSection;
if (customSection == null)
Console.WriteLine(
"Failed to load CustomSection.");
else
{
// Display section information
Console.WriteLine("Defaults:");
Console.WriteLine("File Name: {0}",
customSection.FileName);
Console.WriteLine("Max Users: {0}",
customSection.MaxUsers);
Console.WriteLine("Max Idle Time: {0}",
customSection.MaxIdleTime);
}
}
catch (ConfigurationErrorsException err)
{
Console.WriteLine(err.ToString());
}
}
static void GetEnumerator()
{
try
{
System.Configuration.Configuration config =
ConfigurationManager.OpenExeConfiguration(
ConfigurationUserLevel.None);
ConfigurationSectionCollection sections =
config.Sections;
IEnumerator secEnum =
sections.GetEnumerator();
int i = 0;
while (secEnum.MoveNext())
{
string setionName = sections.GetKey(i);
Console.WriteLine(
"Section name: {0}", setionName);
i += 1;
}
}
catch (ConfigurationErrorsException err)
{
Console.WriteLine(err.ToString());
}
}
static void GetKeys()
{
try
{
System.Configuration.Configuration config =
ConfigurationManager.OpenExeConfiguration(
ConfigurationUserLevel.None);
ConfigurationSectionCollection sections =
config.Sections;
foreach (string key in sections.Keys)
{
Console.WriteLine(
"Key value: {0}", key);
}
}
catch (ConfigurationErrorsException err)
{
Console.WriteLine(err.ToString());
}
}
static void GetItems()
{
try
{
System.Configuration.Configuration config =
ConfigurationManager.OpenExeConfiguration(
ConfigurationUserLevel.None);
ConfigurationSectionCollection sections =
config.Sections;
ConfigurationSection section1 =
sections["runtime"];
ConfigurationSection section2 =
sections[0];
Console.WriteLine(
"Section1: {0}", section1.SectionInformation.Name);
Console.WriteLine(
"Section2: {0}", section2.SectionInformation.Name);
}
catch (ConfigurationErrorsException err)
{
Console.WriteLine(err.ToString());
}
}
static void Remove()
{
try
{
System.Configuration.Configuration config =
ConfigurationManager.OpenExeConfiguration(
ConfigurationUserLevel.None);
CustomSection customSection =
config.GetSection(
"CustomSection") as CustomSection;
if (customSection != null)
{
config.Sections.Remove("CustomSection");
customSection.SectionInformation.ForceSave = true;
config.Save(ConfigurationSaveMode.Full);
}
else
Console.WriteLine(
"CustomSection does not exists.");
}
catch (ConfigurationErrorsException err)
{
Console.WriteLine(err.ToString());
}
}
static void AddSection()
{
try
{
System.Configuration.Configuration config =
ConfigurationManager.OpenExeConfiguration(
ConfigurationUserLevel.None);
CustomSection customSection =
new CustomSection();
string index =
config.Sections.Count.ToString();
customSection.FileName =
"newFile" + index + ".txt";
string sectionName = "CustomSection" + index;
TimeSpan ts = new TimeSpan(0, 15, 0);
customSection.MaxIdleTime = ts;
customSection.MaxUsers = 100;
config.Sections.Add(sectionName, customSection);
customSection.SectionInformation.ForceSave = true;
config.Save(ConfigurationSaveMode.Full);
}
catch (ConfigurationErrorsException err)
{
Console.WriteLine(err.ToString());
}
}
// Exercise the collection.
// Uncomment the function you want to exercise.
// Start with CreateSection().
static void Main(string[] args)
{
CreateSection();
// AddSection();
// GetSection();
// GetEnumerator();
// GetAllKeys();
// GetKeys();
// GetItems();
// Remove();
// Clear();
}
}
}
The following example is an excerpt of the configuration file used by the previous example.
<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<configuration>
<configSections>
<section name="CustomSection"
type="Samples.AspNet.Configuration.CustomSection, ConfigurationSectionCollection, Version=1.0.0.0, Culture=neutral, PublicKeyToken=null" allowDefinition="Everywhere" allowExeDefinition="MachineToApplication" restartOnExternalChanges="true" />
</configSections>
<CustomSection fileName="default.txt" maxUsers="1000"
maxIdleTime="00:05:00" />
</configuration>
System..::.Object
System.Collections.Specialized..::.NameObjectCollectionBase
System.Configuration..::.ConfigurationSectionCollection
Any public static (Shared in Visual Basic) members of this type are thread safe. Any instance members are not guaranteed to be thread safe.
Windows 7, Windows Vista, Windows XP SP2, Windows XP Media Center Edition, Windows XP Professional x64 Edition, Windows XP Starter Edition, Windows Server 2008 R2, Windows Server 2008, Windows Server 2003, Windows Server 2000 SP4, Windows Millennium Edition, Windows 98
The .NET Framework and .NET Compact Framework do not support all versions of every platform. For a list of the supported versions, see .NET Framework System Requirements.
.NET Framework
Supported in: 3.5, 3.0, 2.0
Reference