XmlSerializer for class based on Interface

[Tantr Mantr]

Hello ,
I have a class which I serialize using XMLSerializer.
This class has public properties which are based on other interfaces.
Because of this I am unable to serialize the object.
Error : There was an error reflecting the type XXXX
Is there any way to serialize this object w/o moving away from Interface
based classes.
Many Thanks!
Eg.
//=========Interf aces=========== ====
public interface IActor
{
[XmlElement("nam e")]
string Name { get; set; }

[XmlElement("age nt")]
IAgent Agent { get; set; }
}

public interface IAgent
{
[XmlElement("rat e")]
double Rate { get; set; }
}
//=========Classe s============== =
[XmlRoot("actor" )]
public class Actor : IActor
{
private string name;

[XmlElement("nam e")]
public string Name
{
get { return name; }
set { name = value; }
}

private IAgent agent;

[XmlElement("bro ker")]
public IAgent Agent
{
get { return agent; }
set { agent = value; }
}

//other customer methods
}

public class Agent : IAgent
{
private double rate;

[XmlElement("rat e")]
public double Rate
{
get { return rate; }
set { rate = value; }
}

}

//============Tes t============== =
[STAThread]
public static void Main()
{
XmlSerializer s;
TextWriter w;

#region actor

IActor actor = new Actor();
actor.Name = "Bob";
IAgent agent = new Agent();
agent.Rate = 12.34D;
actor.Agent = agent;

// Serialization
s = new XmlSerializer(t ypeof (Actor));
w = new StreamWriter(@" c:\list.xml");
s.Serialize(w, actor);
w.Close();

#endregion actor
Console.ReadLin e();
}

[Ciaran O''Donnell]

Give the constructor the typeof(IAgent) too.

Ciaran O'Donnell

"Tantr Mantr" wrote:

Hello ,
I have a class which I serialize using XMLSerializer.
This class has public properties which are based on other interfaces.
Because of this I am unable to serialize the object.
Error : There was an error reflecting the type XXXX
Is there any way to serialize this object w/o moving away from Interface
based classes.
Many Thanks!
Eg.
//=========Interf aces=========== ====
public interface IActor
{
[XmlElement("nam e")]
string Name { get; set; }

[XmlElement("age nt")]
IAgent Agent { get; set; }
}

public interface IAgent
{
[XmlElement("rat e")]
double Rate { get; set; }
}
//=========Classe s============== =
[XmlRoot("actor" )]
public class Actor : IActor
{
private string name;

[XmlElement("nam e")]
public string Name
{
get { return name; }
set { name = value; }
}

private IAgent agent;

[XmlElement("bro ker")]
public IAgent Agent
{
get { return agent; }
set { agent = value; }
}

//other customer methods
}

public class Agent : IAgent
{
private double rate;

[XmlElement("rat e")]
public double Rate
{
get { return rate; }
set { rate = value; }
}

}

//============Tes t============== =
[STAThread]
public static void Main()
{
XmlSerializer s;
TextWriter w;

#region actor

IActor actor = new Actor();
actor.Name = "Bob";
IAgent agent = new Agent();
agent.Rate = 12.34D;
actor.Agent = agent;

// Serialization
s = new XmlSerializer(t ypeof (Actor));
w = new StreamWriter(@" c:\list.xml");
s.Serialize(w, actor);
w.Close();

#endregion actor
Console.ReadLin e();
}

[Tantr Mantr]

I had to add an additional constructor in additon to the default constructor
as a default is required for serialization.

That did not work. I now get an error : There was an error reflecting type
'Actor'
"Ciaran O''Donnell" wrote:

Give the constructor the typeof(IAgent) too.

Ciaran O'Donnell

"Tantr Mantr" wrote:

Hello ,
I have a class which I serialize using XMLSerializer.
This class has public properties which are based on other interfaces.
Because of this I am unable to serialize the object.
Error : There was an error reflecting the type XXXX
Is there any way to serialize this object w/o moving away from Interface
based classes.
Many Thanks!
Eg.
//=========Interf aces=========== ====
public interface IActor
{
[XmlElement("nam e")]
string Name { get; set; }

[XmlElement("age nt")]
IAgent Agent { get; set; }
}

public interface IAgent
{
[XmlElement("rat e")]
double Rate { get; set; }
}
//=========Classe s============== =
[XmlRoot("actor" )]
public class Actor : IActor
{
private string name;

[XmlElement("nam e")]
public string Name
{
get { return name; }
set { name = value; }
}

private IAgent agent;

[XmlElement("bro ker")]
public IAgent Agent
{
get { return agent; }
set { agent = value; }
}

//other customer methods
}

public class Agent : IAgent
{
private double rate;

[XmlElement("rat e")]
public double Rate
{
get { return rate; }
set { rate = value; }
}

}

//============Tes t============== =
[STAThread]
public static void Main()
{
XmlSerializer s;
TextWriter w;

#region actor

IActor actor = new Actor();
actor.Name = "Bob";
IAgent agent = new Agent();
agent.Rate = 12.34D;
actor.Agent = agent;

// Serialization
s = new XmlSerializer(t ypeof (Actor));
w = new StreamWriter(@" c:\list.xml");
s.Serialize(w, actor);
w.Close();

#endregion actor
Console.ReadLin e();
}

[Shailen Sukul]

I ran into a similar problem as well. Unforutnately, the default .Net
serializer is not smart enough to pick out the runtime instance of the
interface type. You will have to implement your own serialization routine by
implementing IXmlSerizanble in your class.

A complete listing of your code with IXmlSerializabl e implemented is given
below:

--
Good luck!

Shailen Sukul
Architect
(BSc MCTS, MCSD.Net MCSD MCAD)
Ashlen Consulting Service P/L
(http://www.ashlen.net.au)

using System;
using System.Collecti ons.Generic;
using System.Text;
using System.Xml;
using System.Xml.Seri alization;
using System.IO;

namespace TestConsoleAppl ication
{
//=========Interf aces=========== ====
public interface IActor : IXmlSerializabl e
{
[XmlElement("nam e")]
string Name { get; set; }

[XmlElement("age nt")]
IAgent Agent { get; set; }
}

public interface IAgent : IXmlSerializabl e
{
[XmlElement("rat e")]
double Rate { get; set; }
}
//=========Classe s============== =
[XmlRoot("actor" )]
public class Actor : IActor, IXmlSerializabl e
{
public Actor()
{}

private string name;

[XmlElement("nam e")]
public string Name
{
get { return name; }
set { name = value; }
}

private IAgent agent;

[XmlElement("bro ker")]
public IAgent Agent
{
get { return agent; }
set { agent = value; }
}

//other customer methods

#region IXmlSerializabl e Members

public System.Xml.Sche ma.XmlSchema GetSchema()
{
return null;
}

public void ReadXml(System. Xml.XmlReader reader)
{
name = reader["Name"];

reader.Read(); // Skip ahead to next node

if (reader.MoveToC ontent() == XmlNodeType.Ele ment &&
reader.LocalNam e == "broker")
{
agent = new Agent();
agent.ReadXml(r eader);
}
}

public void WriteXml(System .Xml.XmlWriter writer)
{
writer.WriteAtt ributeString("N ame", Name);

writer.WriteSta rtElement("brok er");
agent.WriteXml( writer);
writer.WriteEnd Element();

}

#endregion
}

public class Agent : IAgent, IXmlSerializabl e
{
private double rate;

[XmlElement("rat e")]
public double Rate
{
get { return rate; }
set { rate = value; }
}

#region IXmlSerializabl e Members

public System.Xml.Sche ma.XmlSchema GetSchema()
{
return null;
}

public void ReadXml(System. Xml.XmlReader reader)
{
rate = double.Parse(re ader["rate"]);
}

public void WriteXml(System .Xml.XmlWriter writer)
{
writer.WriteAtt ributeString("r ate", rate.ToString() );
}

#endregion
}

class test
{
//============Tes t============== =
[STAThread]
public static void Main()
{
XmlSerializer s;
TextWriter w;

#region actor

IActor actor = new Actor();
actor.Name = "Bob";
IAgent agent = new Agent();
agent.Rate = 12.34D;
actor.Agent = agent;

// Serialization
s = new XmlSerializer(t ypeof(Actor));
w = new StreamWriter(@" c:\list.xml");
s.Serialize(w, actor);
w.Close();

// deserialize
XmlSerializer xs = new XmlSerializer(t ypeof(Actor));
FileStream fs = new FileStream(@"c: \\list.xml", FileMode.Open);
fs.Position = 0;
IActor actor2 = (Actor)xs.Deser ialize(fs);
Console.WriteLi ne(string.Forma t("Actor Name = {0} Broker.Rate =
{1}", actor2.Name, actor2.Agent.Ra te));

#endregion actor
Console.ReadLin e();
}
}
}