Question

Is it possible to do the following :

Create an instance of SomeCLass in another part of my code AND
Using this newly created instance/object can I obtain the :

[System.Xml.Serialization.XmlElementAttribute(“someClass”)]
XML Serialization rule

What I am Trying To Achieve :
1. Identify whether SomeCLass contains an XML Serialization rule on any property in it
2. If it does contain such a serialization rule, identify the rule.
    (i.e. whether its an … XMLIgnore || XMLElement || XMLAttribute … etc.)

---

The class referred to in the question :

    Class SomeClass
    {
            SomeOtherClass[] privtArr;

            [System.Xml.Serialization.XmlElementAttribute("SomeOtherClass")]
            public SomeOtherClass[] anInstance
            {
                get
                {
                    return this.privtArr;
                }
                set
                {
                    this.privtArr = value;
                }
            } 
    }

Answer 1

You don’t need to create an instance; simply look at the Type, in particular GetFields() and GetProperties(). Loop over the public non-static fields/properties, and check Attribute.GetCustomAttribute(member, attributeType) – i.e.

public class Test
{
    [XmlElement("abc")]
    public int Foo { get; set; }
    [XmlIgnore]
    public string Bar { get; set; }

    static void Main()
    {
        var props = typeof (Test).GetProperties(
              BindingFlags.Public | BindingFlags.Instance);
        foreach(var prop in props)
        {
            if(Attribute.IsDefined(prop, typeof(XmlIgnoreAttribute)))
            {
                Console.WriteLine("Ignore: " + prop.Name);
                continue; // it is ignored; stop there
            }
            var el = (XmlElementAttribute) Attribute.GetCustomAttribute(
                   prop, typeof (XmlElementAttribute));
            if(el != null)
            {
                Console.WriteLine("Element: " + (
                  string.IsNullOrEmpty(el.ElementName) ?
                  prop.Name : el.ElementName));
            }
            // todo: repeat for other interesting attributes; XmlAttribute,
            // XmlArrayItem, XmlInclude, etc...
        }
    }
}

If you do need to create an instance, use new or Activator.CreateInstance.