XmlSerializing inherited generic list

XmlSerializing inherited generic list

• Gil Fefer

  The solution is to rename the list elements at the place where the list is exposed as a property, as follows:
  
  

  public class Charges {
      List<Charge> list = new List<Charge>();
      public Charges() { }
  
      [XmlElement("Total")]
      public List<Charge> List {
          get { return this.list; }
          set { this.list = value; }
      }
  }
  
  public class Charge {
      public string Description;
      public string Detail;
      public decimal Amount;
      public Charge() { }
      public Charge(string description,
                          string detail,
                          decimal amount) {
          this.Description = description;
          this.Detail = detail;
          this.Amount = amount;
      }
  }
  
  Then the following works as you have requested:
  
  

  Charges c = new Charges();
  c.List.Add(new Charge("Some fancy charge",
                                  "Charge for being too fancy", 82.44m));
  c.List.Add(new Charge("More charges",
                                  "For nothing in particular", 55.27m));

  XmlSerializer s = new XmlSerializer(typeof(Charges));
  s.Serialize(Console.Out, c);
  
  This produces:
  

  <Charges>
    <Total>
      <Description>Some fancy charge</Description>
      <Detail>Charge for being too fancy</Detail>
      <Amount>82.44</Amount>
    </Total>
    <Total>
      <Description>More charges</Description>
      <Detail>For nothing in particular</Detail>
      <Amount>55.27</Amount>
    </Total>
  </Charges>
  
  Enjoy!

  
  
• XmlSerializing inherited generic list