Question

public class Options
    {
        public FolderOption FolderOption { set; get; }

        public Options()
        {
            FolderOption = new FolderOption();
        }


        public void Save()
        {
            XmlSerializer serializer = new XmlSerializer(typeof(Options));
            TextWriter textWriter = new StreamWriter(@"C:\Options.xml");
            serializer.Serialize(textWriter, this);
            textWriter.Close();
        }

        public void Read()
        {
            XmlSerializer deserializer = new XmlSerializer(typeof(Options));
            TextReader textReader = new StreamReader(@"C:\Options.xml");
            //this = (Options)deserializer.Deserialize(textReader);
            textReader.Close();

        }
    }
}

I managed to Save without problem, all members of FolderOption are deserialized. But the problem is how to read it back? The line – //this = (Options)deserializer.Deserialize(textReader); won’t work.

Edit: Any solution to this problem? Can we achieve the same purpose without assigning to this? That is deserialize Options object back into Option. I am lazy to do it property by property. Performing on the highest level would save of lot of effort.

Answer 1

This will work if your Options type is a struct, as you can a alter a struct itself.

If Options is a class (reference type), you can’t assign to the current instance of a reference type with in that instance. Suggesting you to write a helper class, and put your Read and Save methods there, like this

     public class XmlSerializerHelper<T>
    {
        public Type _type;

        public XmlSerializerHelper()
        {
            _type = typeof(T);
        }


        public void Save(string path, object obj)
        {
            using (TextWriter textWriter = new StreamWriter(path))
            {
                XmlSerializer serializer = new XmlSerializer(_type);
                serializer.Serialize(textWriter, obj);
            }

        }

        public T Read(string path)
        {
            T result;
            using (TextReader textReader = new StreamReader(path))
            {
                XmlSerializer deserializer = new XmlSerializer(_type);
                result = (T)deserializer.Deserialize(textReader);
            }
            return result;

        }
    }

And then consume it from your caller, to read and save objects, instead of trying it from the class.

//In the caller

var helper=new XmlSerializerHelper<Options>();
var obj=new Options();

//Write and read
helper.Save("yourpath",obj);
obj=helper.Read("yourpath");

And put the XmlSerializerHelper in your Util’s namespace, it is reusable and will work with any type.