Defining a type that works like the types that support XmlArrayAttribute

[Martin Z]

Hi,

I'm trying to support a 3rd-party XML format for which there is no
schema. As such, I've been making my objects that map to their format
using the XMLSerializer... but there's one object that stops me.

We have a class called Abstract-A, and a collection of Abstract-As
we'll call A-List. One particular subtype of AbstractA is bothering
me, because it works like this:

<AList>
<D foo="foo" bar="bar"/>
<G foo="foo">quux</G>
<B>
<B-Child foo="foo"/>
<B-Child foo="bar"/>
</B>
</AList>

As you can see, the problem is B-child. I define AList as a list of
Abstract-A's, and D, G, and B as subtypes of Abstract-A. But B is a
list of B-Childs. I tried defining B's "XmlText" member as being a
list of B-Childs, but you can only apply XmlText to strings (or arrays
of strings).

Any help would be appreciated.

[Martin Z]

On Feb 23, 12:24 pm, "Martin Z" <[e-mail]:

Hi,

I'm trying to support a 3rd-party XML format for which there is no
schema. As such, I've been making my objects that map to their format
using the XMLSerializer... but there's one object that stops me.

We have a class called Abstract-A, and a collection of Abstract-As
we'll call A-List. One particular subtype of AbstractA is bothering
me, because it works like this:

<AList>
<D foo="foo" bar="bar"/>
<G foo="foo">quux</G>
<B>
<B-Child foo="foo"/>
<B-Child foo="bar"/>
</B>
</AList>

As you can see, the problem is B-child. I define AList as a list of
Abstract-A's, and D, G, and B as subtypes of Abstract-A. But B is a
list of B-Childs. I tried defining B's "XmlText" member as being a
list of B-Childs, but you can only apply XmlText to strings (or arrays
of strings).

Any help would be appreciated.

I've tried a few things more so far, still with no success:
1) XmlText, mentioned above.
2) Multiple XMLElement members (one for each element in the array -
horrible klude idea) - didn't work.
3) Implementing IEnumerable - might've worked, but the XmlSerializer
no longer considers my type B to be a subtype of Abstract-A, so it
can't be used in the AList.

[Martin Z]

On Feb 23, 12:24 pm, "Martin Z" <[e-mail]:

Hi,

I'm trying to support a 3rd-party XML format for which there is no
schema. As such, I've been making my objects that map to their format
using the XMLSerializer... but there's one object that stops me.

We have a class called Abstract-A, and a collection of Abstract-As
we'll call A-List. One particular subtype of AbstractA is bothering
me, because it works like this:

<AList>
<D foo="foo" bar="bar"/>
<G foo="foo">quux</G>
<B>
<B-Child foo="foo"/>
<B-Child foo="bar"/>
</B>
</AList>

As you can see, the problem is B-child. I define AList as a list of
Abstract-A's, and D, G, and B as subtypes of Abstract-A. But B is a
list of B-Childs. I tried defining B's "XmlText" member as being a
list of B-Childs, but you can only apply XmlText to strings (or arrays
of strings).

Any help would be appreciated.

*bump*

anybody? I keep running into schema of this style - the XMLSerializer
is so limited for stuff like this.