What's wrong with this code? Serialization

[Don]

Dim strSQL As String = "SELECT lastname, firstname, title, hiredate " & _

"FROM Employees "

If Len(lastname) > 0 Then

strSQL += "WHERE lastname = '" & lastname & "' "

End If

strSQL += "FOR XML AUTO"

Dim objConn As SqlConnection = New SqlConnection("Data
Source=PASWEB22D;Initial Catalog=iClas;uid=sa;password=emitsadmin;")

objConn.Open()

Dim objCmd As SqlCommand = New SqlCommand(strSQL, objConn)

Dim serializer As XmlSerializer

Dim reader As XmlTextReader

reader = objCmd.ExecuteXmlReader

Dim emp As New Employees.employee

If serializer.CanDeserialize(reader) Then <!--Code breaks here all the time
"Message: Object reference not set to an instance of an object."-->

emp = serializer.Deserialize(reader)

Else

Response.Write("Cannot Deserialize.")

End If

[Emre Deniz]

Because serializer is nothing. you should instanciate it. Declare it new
keyword. Good luck.

Don wrote:

Dim strSQL As String = "SELECT lastname, firstname, title, hiredate " & _

"FROM Employees "

If Len(lastname) > 0 Then

strSQL += "WHERE lastname = '" & lastname & "' "

End If

strSQL += "FOR XML AUTO"

Dim objConn As SqlConnection = New SqlConnection("Data
Source=PASWEB22D;Initial Catalog=iClas;uid=sa;password=emitsadmin;")

objConn.Open()

Dim objCmd As SqlCommand = New SqlCommand(strSQL, objConn)

Dim serializer As XmlSerializer

Dim reader As XmlTextReader

reader = objCmd.ExecuteXmlReader

Dim emp As New Employees.employee

If serializer.CanDeserialize(reader) Then <!--Code breaks here all the time
"Message: Object reference not set to an instance of an object."-->

emp = serializer.Deserialize(reader)

Else

Response.Write("Cannot Deserialize.")

End If