How to parse deep XML values with C#

How to parse deep XML values with C#

Working in Visual Studio 2010, .NET v4
I'm a relative newbie to both C# and XML. Using website resources, I was
able to work out a fairly simple approach to parsing XML for specific
values. However, the XML became increasingly complex, and the method I'm
using (sort of a 'navigate via iterations' technique) is starting to look
rather absurd, with many nested reader.Read() calls. I'm certain there's a
less embarrassing way, but when the only tool you have is a hammer...
So, the question is: What's a neat, clean way to parse the XML (see
below), returning a list of all 'action' values, only from an item
matching <item itemkind="Wanted"> and <phrase>SomeSearchString</phrase>?
Here is a fragment of the XML:
<formats>
<items>
<item itemkind="NotWanted">
<phrase>Not this one</phrase>
<actions>
<action>
<actionkind>SetStyle</actionkind>
<parameter>Normal</parameter>
</action>
<action>
<actionkind>SetMargins</actionkind>
<parameter>0.25,0.25,1,4</parameter>
</action>
</actions>
</item>
<item itemkind="Wanted">
<phrase>SomeSearchString</phrase>
<actions>
<action>
<actionkind>Action 1</actionkind>
<parameter>Param 1</parameter>
</action>
<action>
<actionkind>Action 2</actionkind>
<parameter>Param 2</parameter>
</action>
<action>
<actionkind>Action 3</actionkind>
<parameter>Param 3</parameter>
</action>
</actions>
</item>
</items>
<styles>
<style stylename="Normal">
<fontname>Arial</fontname>
<fontsize>10</fontsize>
<bold>0</bold>
</style>
<style stylename="Heading">
<fontname>fntame frhead</fontname>
<fontsize>12</fontsize>
<bold>1</bold>
</style>
</styles>
</formats>
And here's the code that I've arrived at. It does work, but, well, see for
yourself. Please be gentle:
public static List<TAction> GetActionsForPhraseItem(string AFileName,
string APhrase)
{
List<TAction> list = new List<TAction>();
string xmlactionkind = null;
string xmlparameter = null;
string match = null;
// Search through XML items
using (XmlReader reader = XmlReader.Create(AFileName))
{
if (reader.ReadToFollowing("items"))
{
while (reader.Read())
{
if (reader.ReadToFollowing("item"))
{
while (reader.Read())
{
if (reader.NodeType == XmlNodeType.Element &&
reader.GetAttribute("itemkind") == "Phrase")
{
if (reader.ReadToFollowing("phrase"))
{
match = reader.ReadString();
if (match == APhrase)
{
if (reader.ReadToFollowing("actions"))
{
// Use a subtree to deal with just the
aItemKind item actions
using (var SubTree = reader.ReadSubtree())
{
bool HaveActionKind = false;
bool HaveParameter = false;
while (SubTree.Read())
{
if (SubTree.NodeType ==
XmlNodeType.Element && SubTree.Name ==
"actionkind")
{
xmlactionkind = SubTree.ReadString();
HaveActionKind = true;
}
if (SubTree.NodeType ==
XmlNodeType.Element && SubTree.Name ==
"parameter")
{
xmlparameter = SubTree.ReadString();
HaveParameter = true;
}
if ((HaveActionKind == true) &&
(HaveParameter == true))
{
TAction action = new TAction()
{
ActionKind = xmlactionkind,
Parameter = xmlparameter
};
list.Add(action);
HaveActionKind = false;
HaveParameter = false;
}
}
}
}
}
}
}
}
}
}
}
}
return list;
}
Bearing in mind that I'm new to C#, I suspect that LINQ would be quite
useful here, but so far I haven't been able to wrap my brain around it.
Trying to learn too many new things at once, I imagine. Thanks in advance
for any help (and constructive criticisms).