title: Local File-type Datastore for Winforms
body: <p>I hope my title is not misleading, but what I'm looking for is a file-type datastore for a Winforms app (.NET 3.5) that will allow me to: </p>
  
  <ol>
  <li>store/retrieve strings and decimal numbers (only);</li>
  <li>open and save it to a file with a custom extension (like: *.abc); and</li>
  <li>have some relational data mapping.</li>
  </ol>
  
  <p>Basically, the application should allow me to create a new file with my custom extension (I am <em>au fait</em> with handling file-associations), and then save into this file data based on functionality determined by the application itself. Similar to when you would create a Word document, except that this file should also be able to store relational data.</p>
  
  <p>An elementary example:</p>
  
  <ul>
  <li>the "file" represents a person's car</li>
  <li>every car will have standard data that will apply to it - Make, Model, Year, Color, etc.</li>
  <li>However, each car may have self-determined categories associated with it such as: Mechanic History, In-Car Entertainment History, Modifications History, etc.</li>
  <li>From the data stored in this "file", the person can then generate a comprehensive report on the car.</li>
  </ul>
  
  <p>I realise that the above example could easily warrant using an embedded DB like SQLCE (SQL server compact edition), but this time around I want to be able to create datastores that can move with people, assuming that this application resides on more than one computer (eg. Work and Home).</p>
  
  <p>I'm unsure if XML is the option to go with here, as the relational data-mapping may pose a problem.  In theory I envision having a pre-defined data-model, and create a new SQLCE-type database (the "file") to which the data can be persisted to and retrieved from. File-size is not an issue, as long as it's portable, ie. I can copy it to a flash disk from the office and continue working with it at home.</p>
  
  <p>If my question is still unclear, please let me know and I'll try my best to clarify! I would really appreciate any help in this regard.</p>
  
  <p>THANX A MILLION!!</p>
  
  <h3>EDIT: my apologies for the long-winded essay!</h3>