Serialize elements of an array but not the array (XMLSerizlization)

Question

I have a simple array that I need to serialize as part of a larger object.

public class Holder
{
    public int ID { get; set; }
    public string Name { get; set; }
    public Thing[] Thingies { get; set; }
}

public class Thing {}

Normally this would be serialized as:

...
<Holder>
    <ID>...</ID>
    <Name>...</Name>
    <ArrayOfThing>
        <Thing>...</Thing>
        <Thing>...</Thing>
        <Thing>...</Thing>
        ...
    </ArrayOfThing>
</Holder>

Without worrying too much about deserialization, is there a way I could simply remove the ArrayOf element, but keep the elements inside, so that I'd have:

...
<Holder>
    <ID>...</ID>
    <Name>...</Name>
    <Thing>...</Thing>
    <Thing>...</Thing>
    <Thing>...</Thing>
    ...
</Holder>

@Austin No, it would have other elements. Let me update the example. — MPelletier, Sep 14 '11 at 00:27

score 2 · Accepted Answer · answered Sep 14 '11 at 00:35

2

Try

public class Holder
{
    public int ID { get; set; }
    public string Name { get; set; }

    [XmlElement("Thing")]
    public Thing[] Thingies { get; set; }
}

MSDN for XmlElementAttribute has some examples as well.

answered Sep 14 '11 at 00:35

Bala R

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Wouldn't that just wrap Thing in another Thing tag? – MPelletier Sep 14 '11 at 00:39
@MPelletier nope. look at the example in the linked msdn page or just give it a try. – Bala R Sep 14 '11 at 00:40
OK, I thought XmlElement was a way to rename the tag. Silly me. I haven't actually seen it in action. I'll check the page AND try it. :) – MPelletier Sep 14 '11 at 00:42
Wow, it renames the tag in every other context, but with arrays, it just renames the elements, not the array! Nice! Now to read up! – MPelletier Sep 14 '11 at 00:56

score 0 · Answer 2 · edited May 23 '17 at 11:47

0

You could implement IXmlSerializable to let you read and write Thing or other children from the containing XML element.

Here is how you would implement this Proper way to implement IXmlSerializable?

edited May 23 '17 at 11:47

Community

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answered Sep 14 '11 at 00:32

Bernie White

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gilly3 · Answer 3 · 2011-09-14T00:43:17.983

0

Use the [XmlElement] attribute:

[XmlElement]
public Thing[] Thingies { get; set; }

edited Sep 14 '11 at 00:43

answered Sep 14 '11 at 00:32

gilly3

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Serialize elements of an array but not the array (XMLSerizlization)

3 Answers3