Using .NET XmlSerializer for xml with different polymorphic roots
I have XML docs with different roots coming from one source. I have a XSD schema just like described in this question, with the abstract='true' root element 'BaseElem' of a Base type, plus additional root elements Elem1, Elem2, ... that extend the Base type and use substitutionGroup='BaseElement' attribute.
xsd.exe generates BaseElem and the derived Elem1, Elem2, ... classes ok, with only the derived classes having the [XmlRootAttribute].
I would like to use the built-in XmlSerializer to both serialize and deserialize generated objects.
<Elem1>...</Elem1> <!--This is the whole document, not a frament-->
into this object, or in reverse:
var elem1 = new Elem1();
Serializing:
var srz = new XmlSerializer(typeof (BaseElem));
srz.Serialize(writer, elem1);
produces elements. To serialize with specific root, I must create serializer "new XmlSerializer(typeof(Elem1))".
Deserializing does not work at all if the BaseElem is used, and only works like this:
var srz = new XmlSerializer(typeof (Elem1));
var elem1 = (Elem1) srz.Deserialize(reader);
How can I have a more polymorphic, single serializer approach?
Thanks!
if I understand correctly... could you use more of a generic approach? (showing just the deserialization snippet...)
public static T DeserializeObject<T>(object obj)
{
XmlSerializer xs = new XmlSerializer(typeof(T));
//etc
return (T)xs.Deserialize(obj);
}