How to check for null attributes in LinqToXML expressions?

I have a LinqToXML expression where I am trying to select distinct names based on similar attributes. The cod开发者_Python百科e is working great and I've put it below:

            var q = xmlDoc.Element("AscentCaptureSetup").Element("FieldTypes")
            .Descendants("FieldType")
            .Select(c => new { width = c.Attribute("Width").Value,
                                script = c.Attribute("ScriptName").Value,
                                sqlType = c.Attribute("SqlType").Value,
                                enableValues = c.Attribute("EnableValues").Value,
                                scale = c.Attribute("Scale").Value,
                                forceMatch = c.Attribute("ForceMatch").Value,
                                forceMatchCaseSensitive = c.Attribute("ForceMatchCaseSensitive").Value,
                                sortAlphabetically = c.Attribute("SortAlphabetically").Value,
                            })
            .Distinct();

The problem arises since not all the attributes are required, and if one of them is omitted, for example sortAlphabetically, I get an Object not Referenced error. Makes sense, but it there a way to alter the query to only use assign the new values if the attribute actually exists? (Thereby bypassing any null pointer errors)

Instead of using the Value property (which will blow up on a null reference), simply cast the XAttribute to string - you'll either get the value, or a null reference if the XAttribute reference is null. (XElement works the same way, and this applies to all conversions to nullable types.)

So you'd have:

.Select(c => new { 
     width = (string) c.Attribute("Width"),
     script = (string) c.Attribute("ScriptName"),
     sqlType = (string) c.Attribute("SqlType"),
     enableValues = (string) c.Attribute("EnableValues"),
     scale = (string) c.Attribute("Scale"),
     forceMatch = (string) c.Attribute("ForceMatch"),
     forceMatchCaseSensitive = (string) c.Attribute("ForceMatchCaseSensitive"),
     sortAlphabetically = (string) c.Attribute("SortAlphabetically"),
 })

Some of those attributes sound like they should actually be cast to int? or bool?, mind you...