Xml dropdownlist bind in asp.net?

In this example, I will show you to bind dropdownlist with an xml file using ReadXml() method. In order to read data from cities.xml file into a dataset from the specified path using Server.MapPath.

Step 1: Create an XML file:

Right click on the project and add xml file and name it as cities.xml. Copy and paste the following code.

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8" ?>
<cities>
  <City>
    <CityId>101</CityId>
    <CityName>London</CityName>
  </City>
  <City>
    <CityId>102</CityId>
    <CityName>Bangkok</CityName>
  </City>
  <City>
    <CityId>103</CityId>
    <CityName>Paris</CityName>
  </City>
  <City>
    <CityId>104</CityId>
    <CityName>Dubai</CityName>
  </City>
  <City>
    <CityId>105</CityId>
    <CityName>Istanbul</CityName>
  </City>
</cities>

Step 2:  Drag a DropDownList from toolbox and drop it on the webform.Copy and paste the following code.

WebControls.aspx:

           <table style="font-family: Arial;">
                <tr>
                    <td colspan="2"><b>Register Form</b></td>
                </tr>
                <tr>
                    <td>First Name: </td>
                    <td>
                        <asp:TextBox ID="TextBox1" runat="server"></asp:TextBox>
                    </td>
                </tr>
                <tr>
                    <td>Last Name: </td>
                    <td>
                        <asp:TextBox ID="TextBox2" runat="server"></asp:TextBox>
                    </td>
                </tr>
                <tr>
                    <td>Country:</td>
                    <td>
                        <asp:DropDownList ID="ddlCities" Width="173px" runat="server">
                        </asp:DropDownList>
                    </td>
                </tr>
            </table>

Step 2: Copy and paste the following code in the code behind page.

WebControls.aspx.cs:

       protected void Page_Load(object sender, EventArgs e)
        {
            if (!IsPostBack)
            {
                LoadCitiesDropDownList();
            }        
       }

        public void LoadCitiesDropDownList()
        {
                //Create a new DataSet
                DataSet ds = new DataSet();
                //Read the xml data from the XML file using ReadXml() method
                ds.ReadXml(Server.MapPath("Cities.xml"));
                ddlCities.DataTextField = "CityName";
                ddlCities.DataValueField = "CityId";
                ddlCities.DataSource = ds;
                ddlCities.DataBind();
                ListItem li = new ListItem("Select City", "-1");
                ddlCities.Items.Insert(0, li);
        }

Output: