It depends on how much data do you have and how do you structure it. XML is quite good and light weight if you have not too much data. One nearly automatic option is using
Data Contract.
See
http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ms733127.aspx[
^].
See also my past solutions:
How can I utilize XML File streamwriter and reader in my form application?[
^],
Creating a property files...[
^].
That was about XML, but you also can use JSON, see
deseralize a json string array[
^].
Best and cleanest deployment is so called "x-copy installation": you copy the content of your output directory to a user's computer and it start working without any hassles. For deployment, just zip it. Consider this way first, especially if your application is simple. Your data file will come in your output directory as well, if you put it in the project. Alternatively, embed the file(s) in your assemblt exectutable(s) using .xres resources.
—SA
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