HOWTO Overcome missing namespace declaration in root node

[David B. Bitton]

I am having a problem deserializing XML when the root node is missing a
namespace declaration. My Type has an XmlTypeAttribut e with a namespace
defined. If I attempt to deserialize the XML, I get the dreaded

<elementname xmlns=''> was not expected

exception. If I comment out the XmlTypeAttribut e, it works just fine. Just
so you know, when I instantiate an instance of an XmlSerializer, I pass a
default namespace to the ctor. Unfortunately that doesn't seem to work.

So, how can I get the XmlSerializer to accept XML that is missing namespace
declarations?

--
--

David B. Bitton
da***@codenoevi l.com
www.codenoevil.com

Code Made Fresh DailyT

[Christoph Schittko [MVP]]

David,

Can you post:

* The serialization class
* the tag of the root element, including all namespace definitions
* the line of code where you instantiate the XmlSerializer

--
Christoph Schittko [MVP]
Software Architect, .NET Mentor

"David B. Bitton" <da***@codenoev il.com> wrote in message
news:%2******** ********@tk2msf tngp13.phx.gbl. ..

I am having a problem deserializing XML when the root node is missing a
namespace declaration. My Type has an XmlTypeAttribut e with a namespace
defined. If I attempt to deserialize the XML, I get the dreaded

<elementname xmlns=''> was not expected

exception. If I comment out the XmlTypeAttribut e, it works just fine. Just so you know, when I instantiate an instance of an XmlSerializer, I pass a
default namespace to the ctor. Unfortunately that doesn't seem to work.

So, how can I get the XmlSerializer to accept XML that is missing namespace declarations?

--
--

David B. Bitton
da***@codenoevi l.com
www.codenoevil.com

Code Made Fresh DailyT

[David B. Bitton]

Chris,
Look inline below:

--
--

David B. Bitton
da***@codenoevi l.com
www.codenoevil.com

Code Made Fresh Daily™
"Christoph Schittko [MVP]" <ch************ ********@austin .rr.com> wrote in
message news:eN******** *****@TK2MSFTNG P12.phx.gbl...

David,

Can you post:

* The serialization class
[System.Xml.Seri alization.XmlTy peAttribute(Nam espace=Transfer Manifest.DEFAUL
T_NAMESPACE)]
[System.Xml.Seri alization.XmlRo otAttribute(Nam espace=Transfer Manifest.DEFAUL
T_NAMESPACE, IsNullable=fals e, ElementName="tr ansfermanifest" )]
public class TransferManifes t {

public const string DEFAULT_NAMESPA CE =
"http://codenoevil.com/TransferManifes t.xsd";

/// <remarks/>
[System.Xml.Seri alization.XmlEl ementAttribute( "filelist")]
public FileList[] FileLists;

/// <remarks/>
[System.Xml.Seri alization.XmlEl ementAttribute( "folderlist ")]
public FolderList[] FolderLists;

/// <remarks/>
[System.Xml.Seri alization.XmlEl ementAttribute( "uploadinfo ")]
public UploadInfo[] UploadInfos;

#region XML (de)serializati on code
public static TransferManifes t ReadXml(string xml)
{
XmlSerializer xmlSerializer =
new XmlSerializer(t ypeof(TransferM anifest));

xmlSerializer.U nknownNode+= new
XmlNodeEventHan dler(XmlSeriali zer_UnknownNode );
xmlSerializer.U nknownAttribute += new
XmlAttributeEve ntHandler(XmlSe rializer_Unknow nAttribute);

try
{
TransferManifes t transferManifes t =
(TransferManife st)xmlSerialize r.Deserialize(
new StringReader(xm l)
);

return transferManifes t;
}
catch(Exception ex)
{
throw new ApplicationExce ption("Transfer Manifest failed to deserialize: "
+ ex.Message, ex);
}
}

public static string WriteXml(Transf erManifest transferManifes t)
{
XmlSerializer xmlSerializer =
new XmlSerializer(t ypeof(TransferM anifest), DEFAULT_NAMESPA CE);

StringWriter stringWriter = new StringWriter();

xmlSerializer.S erialize(string Writer, transferManifes t);

return stringWriter.To String();
}

private static void XmlSerializer_U nknownNode
(object sender, XmlNodeEventArg s e)
{
Debug.WriteLine ("Unknown Node:" + e.Name + "\t" + e.Text);
}

private static void XmlSerializer_U nknownAttribute
(object sender, XmlAttributeEve ntArgs e)
{
System.Xml.XmlA ttribute attr = e.Attr;
Debug.WriteLine ("Unknown attribute " +
attr.Name + "='" + attr.Value + "'");
}
#endregion
}

* the tag of the root element, including all namespace definitions
<transfermanife st>
* the line of code where you instantiate the XmlSerializer
Look inside the WriteXml() method above.

--
Christoph Schittko [MVP]
Software Architect, .NET Mentor

"David B. Bitton" <da***@codenoev il.com> wrote in message
news:%2******** ********@tk2msf tngp13.phx.gbl. ..

I am having a problem deserializing XML when the root node is missing a
namespace declaration. My Type has an XmlTypeAttribut e with a namespace
defined. If I attempt to deserialize the XML, I get the dreaded

<elementname xmlns=''> was not expected

exception. If I comment out the XmlTypeAttribut e, it works just fine.

Just

so you know, when I instantiate an instance of an XmlSerializer, I pass a default namespace to the ctor. Unfortunately that doesn't seem to work.

So, how can I get the XmlSerializer to accept XML that is missing

namespace

declarations?

--
--

David B. Bitton
da***@codenoevi l.com
www.codenoevil.com

Code Made Fresh DailyT

[Christoph Schittko [MVP]]

David,

The code you posted works fine for me with this code:

TransferManifes t mfst = new TransferManifes t();
string xml = TransferManifes t.WriteXml( mfst );
mfst = TransferManifes t.ReadXml( xml );

but I removed the three array type properties

/// <remarks/>
[System.Xml.Seri alization.XmlEl ementAttribute( "filelist")]
public FileList[] FileLists;

/// <remarks/>
[System.Xml.Seri alization.XmlEl ementAttribute( "folderlist ")]
public FolderList[] FolderLists;

/// <remarks/>
[System.Xml.Seri alization.XmlEl ementAttribute( "uploadinfo ")]
public UploadInfo[] UploadInfos;

because I didn't have the class definitions.

The root element

<transfermanife st>

you posted would not deserialize because it's missing the XML namespace that
you declared with the XmlRoot and XmlType attributes. The root element needs
a namespace declaration like this:

<transfermanife st xmlns=http://codenoevil.com/TransferManifes t.xsd>

which your code produces.

You could either post more code, or follow the instructions at [0] on how to
debug deserialization .

--
HTH
Christoph Schittko [MVP]
Software Architect, .NET Mentor

"David B. Bitton" <da***@codenoev il.com> wrote in message
news:%2******** ********@TK2MSF TNGP11.phx.gbl. ..

Chris,
Look inline below:

--
--

David B. Bitton
da***@codenoevi l.com
www.codenoevil.com

Code Made Fresh DailyT
"Christoph Schittko [MVP]" <ch************ ********@austin .rr.com> wrote in
message news:eN******** *****@TK2MSFTNG P12.phx.gbl...

David,

Can you post:

* The serialization class

[System.Xml.Seri alization.XmlTy peAttribute(Nam espace=Transfer Manifest.DEFAUL T_NAMESPACE)]
[System.Xml.Seri alization.XmlRo otAttribute(Nam espace=Transfer Manifest.DEFAUL T_NAMESPACE, IsNullable=fals e, ElementName="tr ansfermanifest" )]
public class TransferManifes t {

public const string DEFAULT_NAMESPA CE =
"http://codenoevil.com/TransferManifes t.xsd";

/// <remarks/>
[System.Xml.Seri alization.XmlEl ementAttribute( "filelist")]
public FileList[] FileLists;

/// <remarks/>
[System.Xml.Seri alization.XmlEl ementAttribute( "folderlist ")]
public FolderList[] FolderLists;

/// <remarks/>
[System.Xml.Seri alization.XmlEl ementAttribute( "uploadinfo ")]
public UploadInfo[] UploadInfos;

#region XML (de)serializati on code
public static TransferManifes t ReadXml(string xml)
{
XmlSerializer xmlSerializer =
new XmlSerializer(t ypeof(TransferM anifest));

xmlSerializer.U nknownNode+= new
XmlNodeEventHan dler(XmlSeriali zer_UnknownNode );
xmlSerializer.U nknownAttribute += new
XmlAttributeEve ntHandler(XmlSe rializer_Unknow nAttribute);

try
{
TransferManifes t transferManifes t =
(TransferManife st)xmlSerialize r.Deserialize(
new StringReader(xm l)
);

return transferManifes t;
}
catch(Exception ex)
{
throw new ApplicationExce ption("Transfer Manifest failed to deserialize: " + ex.Message, ex);
}
}

public static string WriteXml(Transf erManifest transferManifes t)
{
XmlSerializer xmlSerializer =
new XmlSerializer(t ypeof(TransferM anifest), DEFAULT_NAMESPA CE);

StringWriter stringWriter = new StringWriter();

xmlSerializer.S erialize(string Writer, transferManifes t);

return stringWriter.To String();
}

private static void XmlSerializer_U nknownNode
(object sender, XmlNodeEventArg s e)
{
Debug.WriteLine ("Unknown Node:" + e.Name + "\t" + e.Text);
}

private static void XmlSerializer_U nknownAttribute
(object sender, XmlAttributeEve ntArgs e)
{
System.Xml.XmlA ttribute attr = e.Attr;
Debug.WriteLine ("Unknown attribute " +
attr.Name + "='" + attr.Value + "'");
}
#endregion
}

* the tag of the root element, including all namespace definitions
<transfermanife st>

* the line of code where you instantiate the XmlSerializer

Look inside the WriteXml() method above.

--
Christoph Schittko [MVP]
Software Architect, .NET Mentor

"David B. Bitton" <da***@codenoev il.com> wrote in message
news:%2******** ********@tk2msf tngp13.phx.gbl. ..

I am having a problem deserializing XML when the root node is missing a namespace declaration. My Type has an XmlTypeAttribut e with a namespace defined. If I attempt to deserialize the XML, I get the dreaded

<elementname xmlns=''> was not expected

exception. If I comment out the XmlTypeAttribut e, it works just fine.

Just

so you know, when I instantiate an instance of an XmlSerializer, I pass a

default namespace to the ctor. Unfortunately that doesn't seem to

work.
So, how can I get the XmlSerializer to accept XML that is missing

namespace

declarations?

--
--

David B. Bitton
da***@codenoevi l.com
www.codenoevil.com

Code Made Fresh DailyT

[David B. Bitton]

Chris,
I am well aware of _why_ the exception occurs. Now I need a way to work
around it. How can I provide a "hint" to the XmlSerializer that if the root
node has either an empty xmlns, or none at all, that the root node namespace
_should_ be something, and it's OK if the node is missing the declaration.

--
--

David B. Bitton
da***@codenoevi l.com
www.codenoevil.com

Code Made Fresh Daily™
"Christoph Schittko [MVP]" <ch************ ********@austin .rr.com> wrote in
message news:%2******** ********@tk2msf tngp13.phx.gbl. ..

David,

The code you posted works fine for me with this code:

TransferManifes t mfst = new TransferManifes t();
string xml = TransferManifes t.WriteXml( mfst );
mfst = TransferManifes t.ReadXml( xml );

but I removed the three array type properties

/// <remarks/>
[System.Xml.Seri alization.XmlEl ementAttribute( "filelist")]
public FileList[] FileLists;

/// <remarks/>
[System.Xml.Seri alization.XmlEl ementAttribute( "folderlist ")]
public FolderList[] FolderLists;

/// <remarks/>
[System.Xml.Seri alization.XmlEl ementAttribute( "uploadinfo ")]
public UploadInfo[] UploadInfos;

because I didn't have the class definitions.

The root element

<transfermanife st>

you posted would not deserialize because it's missing the XML namespace that you declared with the XmlRoot and XmlType attributes. The root element needs a namespace declaration like this:

<transfermanife st xmlns=http://codenoevil.com/TransferManifes t.xsd>

which your code produces.

You could either post more code, or follow the instructions at [0] on how to debug deserialization .

--
HTH
Christoph Schittko [MVP]
Software Architect, .NET Mentor

"David B. Bitton" <da***@codenoev il.com> wrote in message
news:%2******** ********@TK2MSF TNGP11.phx.gbl. ..

Chris,
Look inline below:

--
--

David B. Bitton
da***@codenoevi l.com
www.codenoevil.com

Code Made Fresh DailyT
"Christoph Schittko [MVP]" <ch************ ********@austin .rr.com> wrote in

message news:eN******** *****@TK2MSFTNG P12.phx.gbl...

David,

Can you post:

* The serialization class

[System.Xml.Seri alization.XmlTy peAttribute(Nam espace=Transfer Manifest.DEFAUL

T_NAMESPACE)]

[System.Xml.Seri alization.XmlRo otAttribute(Nam espace=Transfer Manifest.DEFAUL

T_NAMESPACE, IsNullable=fals e, ElementName="tr ansfermanifest" )]
public class TransferManifes t {

public const string DEFAULT_NAMESPA CE =
"http://codenoevil.com/TransferManifes t.xsd";

/// <remarks/>
[System.Xml.Seri alization.XmlEl ementAttribute( "filelist")]
public FileList[] FileLists;

/// <remarks/>
[System.Xml.Seri alization.XmlEl ementAttribute( "folderlist ")]
public FolderList[] FolderLists;

/// <remarks/>
[System.Xml.Seri alization.XmlEl ementAttribute( "uploadinfo ")]
public UploadInfo[] UploadInfos;

#region XML (de)serializati on code
public static TransferManifes t ReadXml(string xml)
{
XmlSerializer xmlSerializer =
new XmlSerializer(t ypeof(TransferM anifest));

xmlSerializer.U nknownNode+= new
XmlNodeEventHan dler(XmlSeriali zer_UnknownNode );
xmlSerializer.U nknownAttribute += new
XmlAttributeEve ntHandler(XmlSe rializer_Unknow nAttribute);

try
{
TransferManifes t transferManifes t =
(TransferManife st)xmlSerialize r.Deserialize(
new StringReader(xm l)
);

return transferManifes t;
}
catch(Exception ex)
{
throw new ApplicationExce ption("Transfer Manifest failed to

deserialize: "

+ ex.Message, ex);
}
}

public static string WriteXml(Transf erManifest transferManifes t)
{
XmlSerializer xmlSerializer =
new XmlSerializer(t ypeof(TransferM anifest), DEFAULT_NAMESPA CE);

StringWriter stringWriter = new StringWriter();

xmlSerializer.S erialize(string Writer, transferManifes t);

return stringWriter.To String();
}

private static void XmlSerializer_U nknownNode
(object sender, XmlNodeEventArg s e)
{
Debug.WriteLine ("Unknown Node:" + e.Name + "\t" + e.Text);
}

private static void XmlSerializer_U nknownAttribute
(object sender, XmlAttributeEve ntArgs e)
{
System.Xml.XmlA ttribute attr = e.Attr;
Debug.WriteLine ("Unknown attribute " +
attr.Name + "='" + attr.Value + "'");
}
#endregion
}

* the tag of the root element, including all namespace definitions
<transfermanife st>

* the line of code where you instantiate the XmlSerializer

Look inside the WriteXml() method above.

--
Christoph Schittko [MVP]
Software Architect, .NET Mentor

"David B. Bitton" <da***@codenoev il.com> wrote in message
news:%2******** ********@tk2msf tngp13.phx.gbl. ..
> I am having a problem deserializing XML when the root node is missing a > namespace declaration. My Type has an XmlTypeAttribut e with a namespace > defined. If I attempt to deserialize the XML, I get the dreaded
>
> <elementname xmlns=''> was not expected
>
> exception. If I comment out the XmlTypeAttribut e, it works just

fine. Just
> so you know, when I instantiate an instance of an XmlSerializer, I

pass

a

> default namespace to the ctor. Unfortunately that doesn't seem to

work. >
> So, how can I get the XmlSerializer to accept XML that is missing
namespace
> declarations?
>
> --
> --
>
> David B. Bitton
> da***@codenoevi l.com
> www.codenoevil.com
>
> Code Made Fresh DailyT
>
>

[Christoph Schittko [MVP]]

David,

Now I am with you ... and tha bad news is that the XmlSerializer is not
really intended to do what you're trying to do. From an XML perspective,
you're trying to deserialize two entirely different XML formats. While the
two formats share the same element names, their QNames (name+namespace ) are
different. An XmlSerializer is really only good at processing one format.

You may be able to work around this with two serializer instances. One that
you instantiate with

XmlSerializer ser1 = new XmlSerializer( typeof( TransferManifes t ) );

and another one that you instantiate with XmlOverrideAttr ibutes supplied to
the constructor:

<notTested>
XmlAttributeOve rrides overrides = new XmlAttributeOve rrides();
XmlAttributes atts = new XmlAttributes() ;
// override the XmlType and XmlRoot attributes
atts.XmlType = new XmlTypeAttribut e();
atts.XmlRoot = new XmlRootAttribut e();
overrides.Add( typeof( TransferManifes t ), atts );
XmlSerializer ser2 = new XmlSerializer( typeof( TransferManifes t ),
overrides );
</notTested>

then you read the first element of your XML document with an XmlTextReader
to determine if any namespaces are declared.

TransferManifes t tm = null;
XmlTextReader reader = new XmlTextReader( new StringReader( xml ) );
if( reader.Read() )
{
if( reader.Namespac eURI = "" )
{
reader.Close();
tm = ser2.Deserializ e( new StringReader( xml ) );
}
else
{
reader.Close();
tm = ser1.Deserializ e( new StringReader( xml ) );
}
}

Let me know if this works ...
--

Christoph Schittko [MVP, XmlInsider]
Software Architect, .NET Mentor

"David B. Bitton" <da***@codenoev il.com> wrote in message
news:el******** ******@tk2msftn gp13.phx.gbl...

Chris,
I am well aware of _why_ the exception occurs. Now I need a way to work around it. How can I provide a "hint" to the XmlSerializer that if the root node has either an empty xmlns, or none at all, that the root node namespace _should_ be something, and it's OK if the node is missing the declaration.

--
--

David B. Bitton
da***@codenoevi l.com
www.codenoevil.com

Code Made Fresh DailyT
"Christoph Schittko [MVP]" <ch************ ********@austin .rr.com> wrote in
message news:%2******** ********@tk2msf tngp13.phx.gbl. ..

David,

The code you posted works fine for me with this code:

TransferManifes t mfst = new TransferManifes t();
string xml = TransferManifes t.WriteXml( mfst );
mfst = TransferManifes t.ReadXml( xml );

but I removed the three array type properties

/// <remarks/>
[System.Xml.Seri alization.XmlEl ementAttribute( "filelist")]
public FileList[] FileLists;

/// <remarks/>
[System.Xml.Seri alization.XmlEl ementAttribute( "folderlist ")]
public FolderList[] FolderLists;

/// <remarks/>
[System.Xml.Seri alization.XmlEl ementAttribute( "uploadinfo ")]
public UploadInfo[] UploadInfos;

because I didn't have the class definitions.

The root element

<transfermanife st>

you posted would not deserialize because it's missing the XML namespace that

you declared with the XmlRoot and XmlType attributes. The root element

needs

a namespace declaration like this:

<transfermanife st xmlns=http://codenoevil.com/TransferManifes t.xsd>

which your code produces.

You could either post more code, or follow the instructions at [0] on how to

debug deserialization .

--
HTH
Christoph Schittko [MVP]
Software Architect, .NET Mentor

"David B. Bitton" <da***@codenoev il.com> wrote in message
news:%2******** ********@TK2MSF TNGP11.phx.gbl. ..

Chris,
Look inline below:

--
--

David B. Bitton
da***@codenoevi l.com
www.codenoevil.com

Code Made Fresh DailyT
"Christoph Schittko [MVP]" <ch************ ********@austin .rr.com> wrote

in message news:eN******** *****@TK2MSFTNG P12.phx.gbl...
> David,
>
> Can you post:
>
> * The serialization class

[System.Xml.Seri alization.XmlTy peAttribute(Nam espace=Transfer Manifest.DEFAUL T_NAMESPACE)]

[System.Xml.Seri alization.XmlRo otAttribute(Nam espace=Transfer Manifest.DEFAUL

T_NAMESPACE, IsNullable=fals e, ElementName="tr ansfermanifest" )]
public class TransferManifes t {

public const string DEFAULT_NAMESPA CE =
"http://codenoevil.com/TransferManifes t.xsd";

/// <remarks/>
[System.Xml.Seri alization.XmlEl ementAttribute( "filelist")]
public FileList[] FileLists;

/// <remarks/>
[System.Xml.Seri alization.XmlEl ementAttribute( "folderlist ")]
public FolderList[] FolderLists;

/// <remarks/>
[System.Xml.Seri alization.XmlEl ementAttribute( "uploadinfo ")]
public UploadInfo[] UploadInfos;

#region XML (de)serializati on code
public static TransferManifes t ReadXml(string xml)
{
XmlSerializer xmlSerializer =
new XmlSerializer(t ypeof(TransferM anifest));

xmlSerializer.U nknownNode+= new
XmlNodeEventHan dler(XmlSeriali zer_UnknownNode );
xmlSerializer.U nknownAttribute += new
XmlAttributeEve ntHandler(XmlSe rializer_Unknow nAttribute);

try
{
TransferManifes t transferManifes t =
(TransferManife st)xmlSerialize r.Deserialize(
new StringReader(xm l)
);

return transferManifes t;
}
catch(Exception ex)
{
throw new ApplicationExce ption("Transfer Manifest failed to deserialize:

"

+ ex.Message, ex);
}
}

public static string WriteXml(Transf erManifest transferManifes t)
{
XmlSerializer xmlSerializer =
new XmlSerializer(t ypeof(TransferM anifest), DEFAULT_NAMESPA CE);

StringWriter stringWriter = new StringWriter();

xmlSerializer.S erialize(string Writer, transferManifes t);

return stringWriter.To String();
}

private static void XmlSerializer_U nknownNode
(object sender, XmlNodeEventArg s e)
{
Debug.WriteLine ("Unknown Node:" + e.Name + "\t" + e.Text);
}

private static void XmlSerializer_U nknownAttribute
(object sender, XmlAttributeEve ntArgs e)
{
System.Xml.XmlA ttribute attr = e.Attr;
Debug.WriteLine ("Unknown attribute " +
attr.Name + "='" + attr.Value + "'");
}
#endregion
}
> * the tag of the root element, including all namespace definitions

<transfermanife st>

> * the line of code where you instantiate the XmlSerializer

Look inside the WriteXml() method above.

>
> --
> Christoph Schittko [MVP]
> Software Architect, .NET Mentor
>
> "David B. Bitton" <da***@codenoev il.com> wrote in message
> news:%2******** ********@tk2msf tngp13.phx.gbl. ..
> > I am having a problem deserializing XML when the root node is

missing

a

> > namespace declaration. My Type has an XmlTypeAttribut e with a

namespace

> > defined. If I attempt to deserialize the XML, I get the dreaded
> >
> > <elementname xmlns=''> was not expected
> >
> > exception. If I comment out the XmlTypeAttribut e, it works just

fine. > Just
> > so you know, when I instantiate an instance of an XmlSerializer, I

pass

a
> > default namespace to the ctor. Unfortunately that doesn't seem to

work.

> >
> > So, how can I get the XmlSerializer to accept XML that is missing
> namespace
> > declarations?
> >
> > --
> > --
> >
> > David B. Bitton
> > da***@codenoevi l.com
> > www.codenoevil.com
> >
> > Code Made Fresh DailyT
> >
> >
>
>

[Kevin Yu [MSFT]]

Hi David,

I agree with Chris on this. Since you're serializing two Xml documents with
different formats, I think you have to create two serializers to get them
work. For workaround, Chris has provided us with a good example. If
anything is unclear, please feel free to reply to the post. I'll try my
best to help.

Kevin Yu
=======
"This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and confers no
rights."