Question

I have a model that I would like to serialize to an xml with specific properties.

Model:

public class MyClassModel
{
    public int Id { get; set; }
    public DateTime updated { get; set; }
}

The Code in the controller action:

IList<MyClassModel> objects = getStuff();
return new XmlResult(jaPropEstates); //Asp.net mvc class that is inherited from ActionResult

XmlResult class

public class XmlResult : ActionResult
{
    private object objectToSerialize;

    /// <summary>
    /// Initializes a new instance of the <see cref="XmlResult"/> class.
    /// </summary>
    /// <param name="objectToSerialize">The object to serialize to XML.</param>
    public XmlResult(object objectToSerialize)
    {
        this.objectToSerialize = objectToSerialize;
    }

    /// <summary>
    /// Gets the object to be serialized to XML.
    /// </summary>
    public object ObjectToSerialize
    {
        get { return this.objectToSerialize; }
    }

    /// <summary>
    /// Serialises the object that was passed into the constructor to XML and writes the corresponding XML to the result stream.
    /// </summary>
    /// <param name="context">The controller context for the current request.</param>
    public override void ExecuteResult(ControllerContext context)
    {
        if (this.objectToSerialize != null)
        {
            context.HttpContext.Response.Clear();
            var xs = new System.Xml.Serialization.XmlSerializer(this.objectToSerialize.GetType());
            context.HttpContext.Response.ContentType = "text/xml";
            xs.Serialize(context.HttpContext.Response.Output, this.objectToSerialize);
        }
    }
}

The output:

<ArrayOfMyClassModel>
   <MyClassModel>
      <Id>0</Id>
      <updated>0001-01-01T00:00:00</updated>
   </MyClassModel>
   <MyClassModel>
      <Id>2</Id>
      <updated>0001-01-01T00:00:00</updated>
   </MyClassModel>

I want it to be like this:

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8" ?> <!-- I want this -->
<listings xmlns="listings-schema"> <!-- I want ArrayOfMyClassModel to be renamed to this -->
    <property> <!-- I want MyClassModel to be renamed to property -->
      <Id>2</Id>
      <updated>0001-01-01T00:00:00</updated>
    </property>
</listings>

Note the difference as commented. How do I give my elements custom names?

Answer 1

Check out Proper way to implement IXmlSerializable. Gives you complete control over the XML serializer.