An object that serializes and deserializes itself dynamically?

microsoft.public.dotnet.framework

8 Sep 2006 7:42 PM

Steve Bugden

Hi,

I created a class that can serialize and deserialize itself dynamically.
Please see the example class below.

I can call the class to serialise and deserialise as follows:

        Dim objPerson As New Person
        objPerson.FamilyName = "Smith"
        objPerson.FirstName = "John"
        objPerson.Serialise()
        objPerson = objPerson.DeSerialise
        MsgBox(objPerson.FirstName & " " & objPerson.FamilyName)

This works but I would prefer it if the DeSerialise function didn't have to
return an object of the same type but simply set the values inside of
objPerson. It would be a bit confusing if the return value was not assigned
to anything.

Obviously, one solution would be to hard code the values but then I would
lose the dynamic nature of the function.

Does anyone have a better solution?

Regards,

Steve.

**************************

Imports System.IO
Imports System.Text
Imports System.Xml.Serialization
Imports System

Public Class Person

Inherits Object

Private m_strFirstName As String
Private m_strFamilyName As String
Private m_strFilename As String = "MyFile.txt"

Public Overridable Property FirstName() As String
Get
    Return m_strFirstName
End Get
Set(ByVal value As String)
    m_strFirstName = value
End Set
End Property
Public Overridable Property FamilyName() As String
Get
    Return m_strFamilyName
End Get
Set(ByVal value As String)
    m_strFamilyName = value
End Set
End Property

Public Overridable Sub Serialise()
    Dim serializer As New XmlSerializer(GetType(Person))
    Dim objWriter As New StreamWriter(m_strFileName)
    serializer.Serialize(objWriter, Me)
    objWriter.Close()
    objWriter = Nothing
    serializer = Nothing
End Sub

Public Overridable Function DeSerialise() As Person
    Dim serializer As New XmlSerializer(GetType(Person))
    Dim fstFileStream As FileStream
    Dim objMMSSettings As Person
    'Deserialise the file to create the main web site object
    serializer = New XmlSerializer(GetType(Person))
    fstFileStream = New FileStream(m_strFilename, FileMode.Open)

    objMMSSettings = CType(serializer.Deserialize(fstFileStream), Person)

    If Not fstFileStream Is Nothing Then
        fstFileStream.Close()
        fstFileStream = Nothing
    End If
    Return objMMSSettings
End Function

End Class

9 Sep 2006 1:32 PM

Kevin Spencer

You will have to copy the members from the deserialized instance returned.

--
HTH,

Kevin Spencer
Microsoft MVP
Chicken Salad Surgery

What You Seek Is What You Get.

Show quote

"Steve Bugden" <SteveBug***@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:E1C40579-54A0-4C8C-A168-CE1D7C4CD43F@microsoft.com...
> Hi,
>
> I created a class that can serialize and deserialize itself dynamically.
> Please see the example class below.
>
> I can call the class to serialise and deserialise as follows:
>
>        Dim objPerson As New Person
>        objPerson.FamilyName = "Smith"
>        objPerson.FirstName = "John"
>        objPerson.Serialise()
>        objPerson = objPerson.DeSerialise
>        MsgBox(objPerson.FirstName & " " & objPerson.FamilyName)
>
> This works but I would prefer it if the DeSerialise function didn't have
> to
> return an object of the same type but simply set the values inside of
> objPerson. It would be a bit confusing if the return value was not
> assigned
> to anything.
>
> Obviously, one solution would be to hard code the values but then I would
> lose the dynamic nature of the function.
>
> Does anyone have a better solution?
>
> Regards,
>
> Steve.
>
> **************************
>
> Imports System.IO
> Imports System.Text
> Imports System.Xml.Serialization
> Imports System
>
> Public Class Person
>
> Inherits Object
>
> Private m_strFirstName As String
> Private m_strFamilyName As String
> Private m_strFilename As String = "MyFile.txt"
>
> Public Overridable Property FirstName() As String
> Get
>    Return m_strFirstName
> End Get
> Set(ByVal value As String)
>    m_strFirstName = value
> End Set
> End Property
> Public Overridable Property FamilyName() As String
> Get
>    Return m_strFamilyName
> End Get
> Set(ByVal value As String)
>    m_strFamilyName = value
> End Set
> End Property
>
> Public Overridable Sub Serialise()
>    Dim serializer As New XmlSerializer(GetType(Person))
>    Dim objWriter As New StreamWriter(m_strFileName)
>    serializer.Serialize(objWriter, Me)
>    objWriter.Close()
>    objWriter = Nothing
>    serializer = Nothing
> End Sub
>
> Public Overridable Function DeSerialise() As Person
>    Dim serializer As New XmlSerializer(GetType(Person))
>    Dim fstFileStream As FileStream
>    Dim objMMSSettings As Person
>    'Deserialise the file to create the main web site object
>    serializer = New XmlSerializer(GetType(Person))
>    fstFileStream = New FileStream(m_strFilename, FileMode.Open)
>
>    objMMSSettings = CType(serializer.Deserialize(fstFileStream), Person)
>
>    If Not fstFileStream Is Nothing Then
>        fstFileStream.Close()
>        fstFileStream = Nothing
>    End If
>    Return objMMSSettings
> End Function
>
> End Class

10 Sep 2006 9:12 AM

Steve Bugden

OK Thanks.

Show quote

"Kevin Spencer" wrote:

> You will have to copy the members from the deserialized instance returned.
>
> --
> HTH,
>
> Kevin Spencer
> Microsoft MVP
> Chicken Salad Surgery
>
> What You Seek Is What You Get.
>
> "Steve Bugden" <SteveBug***@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
> news:E1C40579-54A0-4C8C-A168-CE1D7C4CD43F@microsoft.com...
> > Hi,
> >
> > I created a class that can serialize and deserialize itself dynamically.
> > Please see the example class below.
> >
> > I can call the class to serialise and deserialise as follows:
> >
> >        Dim objPerson As New Person
> >        objPerson.FamilyName = "Smith"
> >        objPerson.FirstName = "John"
> >        objPerson.Serialise()
> >        objPerson = objPerson.DeSerialise
> >        MsgBox(objPerson.FirstName & " " & objPerson.FamilyName)
> >
> > This works but I would prefer it if the DeSerialise function didn't have
> > to
> > return an object of the same type but simply set the values inside of
> > objPerson. It would be a bit confusing if the return value was not
> > assigned
> > to anything.
> >
> > Obviously, one solution would be to hard code the values but then I would
> > lose the dynamic nature of the function.
> >
> > Does anyone have a better solution?
> >
> > Regards,
> >
> > Steve.
> >
> > **************************
> >
> > Imports System.IO
> > Imports System.Text
> > Imports System.Xml.Serialization
> > Imports System
> >
> > Public Class Person
> >
> > Inherits Object
> >
> > Private m_strFirstName As String
> > Private m_strFamilyName As String
> > Private m_strFilename As String = "MyFile.txt"
> >
> > Public Overridable Property FirstName() As String
> > Get
> >    Return m_strFirstName
> > End Get
> > Set(ByVal value As String)
> >    m_strFirstName = value
> > End Set
> > End Property
> > Public Overridable Property FamilyName() As String
> > Get
> >    Return m_strFamilyName
> > End Get
> > Set(ByVal value As String)
> >    m_strFamilyName = value
> > End Set
> > End Property
> >
> > Public Overridable Sub Serialise()
> >    Dim serializer As New XmlSerializer(GetType(Person))
> >    Dim objWriter As New StreamWriter(m_strFileName)
> >    serializer.Serialize(objWriter, Me)
> >    objWriter.Close()
> >    objWriter = Nothing
> >    serializer = Nothing
> > End Sub
> >
> > Public Overridable Function DeSerialise() As Person
> >    Dim serializer As New XmlSerializer(GetType(Person))
> >    Dim fstFileStream As FileStream
> >    Dim objMMSSettings As Person
> >    'Deserialise the file to create the main web site object
> >    serializer = New XmlSerializer(GetType(Person))
> >    fstFileStream = New FileStream(m_strFilename, FileMode.Open)
> >
> >    objMMSSettings = CType(serializer.Deserialize(fstFileStream), Person)
> >
> >    If Not fstFileStream Is Nothing Then
> >        fstFileStream.Close()
> >        fstFileStream = Nothing
> >    End If
> >    Return objMMSSettings
> > End Function
> >
> > End Class
>
>
>

26 Sep 2006 9:56 AM

Steve Bugden

Hi,

For anyone who may be interested I have worked out a way for an object to
deserialise itself. Please see code listing below.

Following on from the previous example this function would sit in the Person
class.(in c#, sorry as previous code was in vb.net).

I would be pleased to know if anyone can see any problem with this code.

Regards,

public virtual void Deserialise()
{
    XmlSerializer serializer = new XmlSerializer(typeof(Person));
    Person objSettings;

    //Deserialise the file to create the main web site object
    serializer = new XmlSerializer(typeof(Person));
    FileStream fstFileStream = new FileStream(m_strFileName, FileMode.Open);

    objSettings = (Person)serializer.Deserialize(fstFileStream);
    if (fstFileStream != null)
        {
        fstFileStream.Close();
        fstFileStream = null;
        }

    //Assign the properties
    Type objectType = objSettings.GetType();
    PropertyInfo[] properties = objectType.GetProperties();
    Type objectTypeThis = this.GetType();
    PropertyInfo[] propertiesThis = objectTypeThis.GetProperties();
    foreach (PropertyInfo property in properties)
    {
        foreach (PropertyInfo propertyThis in propertiesThis)
        {
        if (propertyThis.Name == property.Name)
            {
               propertyThis.SetValue(this, property.GetValue(objSettings,
null), null);
            }
        }
    }
}