How to Read an Integer Value from web.config in VB.NET

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The Problem: Reading Integer Values

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Attempting to read an integer value might throw an error if the configuration property does not allow direct usage of integers due to its serialization format. This was encountered when the serializeAs attribute only allowed for string types, leading to difficulties when trying to process these values as integers.

The Solution: Simplifying Access to Integer Values

Step-by-Step Guide

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Read the Integer Value in Your Code: Once the settings are structured correctly, you can read the integer values using the following VB.NET code snippet:

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Error Handling: Make sure to implement error handling to catch any potential conversion issues. Using Integer.TryParse will help to ensure your application won't crash due to invalid integer formats.

Benefits of Using appSettings

Simplicity: The <appSettings> section is straightforward and designed for key-value pairs.

Performance: Retrieving values from this section can sometimes be faster due to its simplicity in structure.

Flexibility: Changing configuration values becomes easier without worrying about serialization types.

Conclusion