Basic Object Serialization to a STRING

30 May 2006 10:08 PM

Alex Maghen

I'm trying to figure out, from the examples, how to serialize my object to a
String variable so that I can use it to write the serialized object to a
database.

I'd like to use a BinaryFormatter and then do a Convert.ToBase64() or
something to get it into a string that'll be all text and usable in a SQL
query parameter.

But I get confused on two steps:

1. The first parameter of BinaryFormatter.Serialize() is a "stream". Can I
replace that with a string or something that can catch the data that comes
from the Object I pass?

2. How do I do the Convert.ToBase64() before it goes into the string?

So if I have a serializable object named "MyObj"...

BinaryFormatter formatter = new BinaryFormatter();
formatter.Serialize(<what goes here???>, MyObj);

Thanks.

Alex

30 May 2006 10:55 PM

sloan

I have a complete serialization example at:
spaces.msn.com/sholliday/

search for "serialization" and you'll find it.

Are you trying to XmlSerialize?

Show quote

"Alex Maghen" <AlexMaghen@newsgroup.nospam> wrote in message
news:5CC019CC-E3EA-479A-A64A-16012B631462@microsoft.com...
> I'm trying to figure out, from the examples, how to serialize my object to
a
> String variable so that I can use it to write the serialized object to a
> database.
>
> I'd like to use a BinaryFormatter and then do a Convert.ToBase64() or
> something to get it into a string that'll be all text and usable in a SQL
> query parameter.
>
> But I get confused on two steps:
>
> 1. The first parameter of BinaryFormatter.Serialize() is a "stream". Can I
> replace that with a string or something that can catch the data that comes
> from the Object I pass?
>
> 2. How do I do the Convert.ToBase64() before it goes into the string?
>
> So if I have a serializable object named "MyObj"...
>
> BinaryFormatter formatter = new BinaryFormatter();
> formatter.Serialize(<what goes here???>, MyObj);
>
> Thanks.
>
> Alex

31 May 2006 1:01 AM

Greg Young

1) Use a memorystream

MemoryStream m = new MemoryStream();

serialize object into stream.

2) Use MemoryStream.ToArray()
http://msdn.microsoft.com/library/default.asp?url=/library/en-us/cpref/html/frlrfSystemIOMemoryStreamClassToArrayTopic.asp
which will convert your memorystream into a byte []

3) Call Convert.ToBase64(yourbytes) which will return you a string that is
safe to insert into your database.

To do the opposite.

First convert your string back to bytes .. Convert.FromBase64() (returns a
byte [])

create your memorystream

MemoryStream m = new MemoryStream(yourbytes)
Deserialize your object from your stream.

Cheers,

Greg Young
MVP - C#
http://geekswithblogs.net/gyoung
Show quote

"Alex Maghen" <AlexMaghen@newsgroup.nospam> wrote in message
news:5CC019CC-E3EA-479A-A64A-16012B631462@microsoft.com...
> I'm trying to figure out, from the examples, how to serialize my object to
> a
> String variable so that I can use it to write the serialized object to a
> database.
>
> I'd like to use a BinaryFormatter and then do a Convert.ToBase64() or
> something to get it into a string that'll be all text and usable in a SQL
> query parameter.
>
> But I get confused on two steps:
>
> 1. The first parameter of BinaryFormatter.Serialize() is a "stream". Can I
> replace that with a string or something that can catch the data that comes
> from the Object I pass?
>
> 2. How do I do the Convert.ToBase64() before it goes into the string?
>
> So if I have a serializable object named "MyObj"...
>
> BinaryFormatter formatter = new BinaryFormatter();
> formatter.Serialize(<what goes here???>, MyObj);
>
> Thanks.
>
> Alex