Serialize a nullable int

XmlSerializer supports the ShouldSerialize{Foo}() pattern, so you can add a method:

public bool ShouldSerializeID() {return ID.HasValue;}

There is also the {Foo}Specified pattern - not sure if XmlSerializer supports that one.

I'm using this micro-pattern to implement Nullable serialization:

[XmlIgnore]public double? SomeValue { get; set; }[XmlAttribute("SomeValue")] // or [XmlElement("SomeValue")][EditorBrowsable(EditorBrowsableState.Never)]public double XmlSomeValue { get { return SomeValue.Value; } set { SomeValue= value; } }  [EditorBrowsable(EditorBrowsableState.Never)]public bool XmlSomeValueSpecified { get { return SomeValue.HasValue; } }

This provides the right interface to the user without compromise and still does the right thing when serializing.

I figured out a workaround utilizing two properties. An int? property with an XmlIgnore attribute and an object property which gets serialized.

    /// <summary>    /// Score db record    /// </summary>            [System.Xml.Serialization.XmlIgnore()]    public int? ID     {         get         {             return iID_m;         }         set         {             iID_m = value;         }     }    /// <summary>    /// Score db record    /// </summary>            [System.Xml.Serialization.XmlElement("ID",IsNullable = false)]    public object IDValue    {        get        {            return ID;        }        set        {            if (value == null)            {                ID = null;            }            else if (value is int || value is int?)            {                ID = (int)value;            }            else            {                ID = int.Parse(value.ToString());            }        }    }