Overriding XML deserialization to use base deserialization and adding functionality

using System.Xml.Serialization;namespace Custom.Xml.Serialization{    public interface IXmlDeserializationCallback    {        void OnXmlDeserialization(object sender);    }    public class CustomXmlSerializer : XmlSerializer    {        protected override object Deserialize(XmlSerializationReader reader)        {            var result = base.Deserialize(reader);            var deserializedCallback = result as IXmlDeserializationCallback;            if (deserializedCallback != null)            {                deserializedCallback.OnXmlDeserialization(this);            }            return result;        }    }}

inherit your class from IXmlDeserializationCallback and implement your synchronizing logic in OnXmlDeserialization method.

credits to How do you find out when you've been loaded via XML Serialization?

UPDATE:

well, as far as I understand the topicstarter, he does not want to "manually" call some logic after each XML deserialization. So instead of doing this:

public class MyEntity{     public string SomeData { get; set; }     public void FixReferences()     {          // call after deserialization          // ...     }}foreach (var xmlData in xmlArray){    var xmlSer = new XmlSerializer(typeof(MyEntity));    using (var memStream = new MemoryStream(Encoding.UTF8.GetBytes(xmlData)))    {       var entity = (MyEntity)xmlSer.Deserialize(memStream);       entity.FixReferences();       // do something else with the entity       // ...      }}

he wants to do just deserialization, without worrying about extra calls. In this case, proposed solution is the cleanest / simplest - you only need to inherit your entity class from IXmlDeserializationCallback interface, and replace XmlSerializer with CustomXmlSerializer:

 public class MyEntity: IXmlDeserializationCallback    {         public string SomeData { get; set; }         private void FixReferences()         {              // call after deserialization              // ...         }         public void OnXmlDeserialization(object sender)         {             FixReferences();         }     }    foreach (var xmlData in xmlArray)    {        var xmlSer = new CustomXmlSerializer(typeof(MyEntity));        using (var memStream = new MemoryStream(Encoding.UTF8.GetBytes(xmlData)))        {           var entity = (MyEntity)xmlSer.Deserialize(memStream);           // entity.FixReferences(); - will be called automatically           // do something else with the entity           // ...          }    }

Your options using XmlSerializer are limited.

• Deserialize your entire object graph and then apply whatever fix-ups you require.
• Do some processing in the property setters of your object.
• Implement IXmlSerializable on your types so that you have explicit control of serialization/deserialization. Not an easy option.

If you can change to using the DataContractSerializer, which has its advantanges (and disadvantages) then you can use the OnDeserializedAttribute. For example

[DataContract]public class MyClass{    [DataMember]    public string AMember{get;set;}    [OnDeserialized]    public void OnDeserialized(StreamingContext context)    {        // called after deserializing instance of MyClass    }}

i have a nice solution 4 u

write this static class

public delegate void OnDeserializedEventArgs(object itemDeserialized, string xmlSource);public delegate void OnDeserializedFailedEventArgs(string xmlSource);public static class SerializationServices{    public static event OnDeserializedEventArgs OnDeserializedEvent;    public static event OnDeserializedFailedEventArgs OnDeserializedFailedEvent;    public static T Deserialize<T>(this string item) where T : class    {        XmlSerializer ser = new XmlSerializer(item.GetType());        StringReader sr = new StringReader(item);        var obj = ser.Deserialize(sr);        if (obj is T)        {            if (OnDeserializedEvent != null)                OnDeserializedEvent(obj, item);            return obj as T;        }        if (OnDeserializedFailedEvent != null)            OnDeserializedFailedEvent(item);        //callback - invalid event        return null;    }}

and then use it with this code

public class MyDesrializedClass{    //put some properties here...}class Program{    static void Main(string[] args)    {        SerializationServices.OnDeserializedEvent += SerializationServices_OnDeserializedEvent;        SerializationServices.OnDeserializedFailedEvent += SerializationServices_OnDeserializedFailedEvent;        string someXml = string.Empty; //replace this with something...        MyDesrializedClass deserializedClass = someXml.Deserialize<MyDesrializedClass>();    }    private static void SerializationServices_OnDeserializedFailedEvent(string xmlSource)    {        //will get here before 'deserializedClass' will get it's results    }    private static void SerializationServices_OnDeserializedEvent(object itemDeserialized, string xmlSource)    {        //will get here before 'deserializedClass' will get it's results    }}

if u paste these code into diferent namespaces don't forget to add the 'using ...' otherwize u wont see the method deserialize in the program context

Tzahi