Binary Serialization over the net

[Gilad Kapelushnik]

Hello

I need to send data (a whole class) from a Sever to a Client.
I convert this class to a binary array using Binary Serialization:

public byte[] ToBytes(){
try{
IFormatter formatter = new BinaryFormatter();
MemoryStream stream = new MemoryStream();
formatter.Serialize(stream,this);
byte[] Bytes = new byte[stream.Length];
stream.Seek(0,System.IO.SeekOrigin.Begin);
stream.Read(Bytes,0,(int)stream.Length);
return Bytes;
}catch{
return null;
}
}

On the client side I recive the array of bytes and Deserialize them using:

public static CQuery FromBytes(byte[] Bytes){
try{
IFormatter formatter = new BinaryFormatter();
MemoryStream stream = new MemoryStream(Bytes.Length);
stream.Write(Bytes,0,(int)Bytes.Length);
stream.Seek(0,System.IO.SeekOrigin.Begin);
return (CQuery)formatter.Deserialize(stream);
}
catch{
return null;
}
}

My problem is that the client needs to know the Class type (casting after
deserialize) and the only way to do this is have the *same* DLL contating the
class on both server & client.

How can I do Serialization without having to supply the DLL but rather
define the class (exactly the same mathods) in the same way it is defined on
the server side.

Gilad.

[Ignacio Machin \( .NET/ C# MVP \)]

Hi,
The client NEEDS the dll no matter what, in the DLL is where the code of
the class is declared. Otherwise how the client could invoke methods or
properties of the instance?

Just for sake of clarity, remember that you send an INSTANCE of a class, not
a class (AKA type)

cheers,

--
Ignacio Machin,
ignacio.machin AT dot.state.fl.us
Florida Department Of Transportation

"Gilad Kapelushnik" <Gi**************@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in
message news:24**********************************@microsof t.com...

Hello

I need to send data (a whole class) from a Sever to a Client.
I convert this class to a binary array using Binary Serialization:

public byte[] ToBytes(){
try{
IFormatter formatter = new BinaryFormatter();
MemoryStream stream = new MemoryStream();
formatter.Serialize(stream,this);
byte[] Bytes = new byte[stream.Length];
stream.Seek(0,System.IO.SeekOrigin.Begin);
stream.Read(Bytes,0,(int)stream.Length);
return Bytes;
}catch{
return null;
}
}

On the client side I recive the array of bytes and Deserialize them using:

public static CQuery FromBytes(byte[] Bytes){
try{
IFormatter formatter = new BinaryFormatter();
MemoryStream stream = new MemoryStream(Bytes.Length);
stream.Write(Bytes,0,(int)Bytes.Length);
stream.Seek(0,System.IO.SeekOrigin.Begin);
return (CQuery)formatter.Deserialize(stream);
}
catch{
return null;
}
}

My problem is that the client needs to know the Class type (casting after
deserialize) and the only way to do this is have the *same* DLL contating
the
class on both server & client.

How can I do Serialization without having to supply the DLL but rather
define the class (exactly the same mathods) in the same way it is defined
on
the server side.

Gilad.