Object Serialization with an ArrayList - C# Discussion Boards

6-Aug-07 6:25

THIS is the info that I've been following to serialize my object. Now, the unfortunate thing about this info is that it does NOT cover serializing any kind of array or arraylist.

Anyone have any info on how to accomplish this???

Hessam Jalali6-Aug-07 8:38

6-Aug-07 8:38

all Arrays including ArrayList are marked as Serializable So to serialize them just create your formatter and put your array as the object which must be serialized and for Deserializing that Get the object and cast it to ArrayList or your Array (just like the Article)

//Serializing ArrayList
            ArrayList arr = new ArrayList();

            arr.Add(1);
            arr.Add(2);
            arr.Add("Hello");
            arr.Add(new Bitmap(100, 100));

            System.Runtime.Serialization.Formatters.Binary.BinaryFormatter bf = new System.Runtime.Serialization.Formatters.Binary.BinaryFormatter();

            System.IO.MemoryStream ms=new System.IO.MemoryStream();

            bf.Serialize(ms, arr);


//Deserializing the arr to arr2

            bf.Serialize(ms, arr);

            System.IO.Stream newMS = new System.IO.MemoryStream(ms.ToArray());

            ArrayList arr2 = bf.Deserialize(newMS) as ArrayList;

//Serializing Array

            int[] myIntArr = new int[] { 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 };

            System.Runtime.Serialization.Formatters.Binary.BinaryFormatter bf = new System.Runtime.Serialization.Formatters.Binary.BinaryFormatter();

            System.IO.MemoryStream ms=new System.IO.MemoryStream();

            bf.Serialize(ms, myIntArr);


//Deserializing Array

            System.IO.Stream newMS = new System.IO.MemoryStream(ms.ToArray());

            int[] myIntArr2= (int[])bf.Deserialize(newMS);

Spyder_Snyper6-Aug-07 8:57

6-Aug-07 8:57

I see what it is that you are doing, but not quite what I am trying to do...

I have an object, lets call it Note. And within Note, there are a couple of ArrayLists. Now... I want to serialize ALL of Note. And the info found here:

http://www.codeproject.com/csharp/objserial.asp?forumid=3218&mpp=50&df=100&fr=51&select=2169777&msg=2169777

does not cover how to serialize the whole object WITH any kind of Array or ArrayList.

Hessam Jalali6-Aug-07 9:20

6-Aug-07 9:20

On your example the only thing you need is to mark your class as Serializable, just that, and its going to work if all instances you have inside it created from serializable classes which Array and ArrayList are.

[Serializable]
Class Note
{
    ArrayList arr1=new ArrayList();
    ArrayList arr2=new ArrayList();
    
    int integer=0;
    string str=1;
    Bitmap bmp=new Bitmap(100,100);
    
    public ArrayList Arr1
    {
        get{return this.arr1;}
    }

    public ArrayList Arr2
    {
        set{this.arr2=value;}
    }

    public static stream Serialize()
    {
        //creating stream and ...

        BinaryFormatter bf=new BinaryFormatter();
        bf.Serialize(stream,this);
        return stream;
    }

    public static Note Deserialize(Stream stream)
    {
        BinaryFormatter bf=new BinaryFormatter();
       return bf.Deserialize(stream) as Note;
    }     
}

I hope this one help

Spyder_Snyper6-Aug-07 9:23

6-Aug-07 9:23

So... does that mean that I don't need the Deserialization Constructor and the Serialization Function of GetObjectData???

Hessam Jalali6-Aug-07 9:34

6-Aug-07 9:34

Yes that's right you don't need them for doing such tasks using serialization

here is another example, I wrote it today morning and it seems works fine

http://www.codeproject.com/script/comments/forums.asp?msg=2168731&forumid=1649&mode=all&userid=3534038#xx2168731xx

Good Luck Smile | :)

Spyder_Snyper6-Aug-07 9:43

6-Aug-07 9:43

hehe... that link brings me back to my previous post...lol...

would it be possible to get the link to whatever you were trying to link to???

Thanks Big Grin | :-D

Hessam Jalali6-Aug-07 9:49

Re: Object Serialization with an ArrayList [modified]

6-Aug-07 9:49

Sorry About that Blush | :O

i put it all here

<br />
<br />
 [Serializable]<br />
class GraphicsPathData<br />
{<br />
byte[] types;<br />
PointF[] points;<br />
FillMode fillMode;<br />
<br />
public GraphicsPathData(GraphicsPath gp)<br />
{<br />
this.types = gp.PathTypes;<br />
this.points = gp.PathPoints;<br />
this.fillMode = gp.FillMode;<br />
}<br />
<br />
public static System.IO.Stream Serialize(GraphicsPathData gpd)<br />
{<br />
System.IO.MemoryStream ms=new System.IO.MemoryStream();<br />
<br />
System.Runtime.Serialization.Formatters.Binary.BinaryFormatter bf = new System.Runtime.Serialization.Formatters.Binary.BinaryFormatter();<br />
<br />
bf.Serialize(ms, gpd);<br />
ms.Flush();<br />
return ms;<br />
}<br />
<br />
public static GraphicsPathData Deserialize(System.IO.Stream stream)<br />
{<br />
System.Runtime.Serialization.Formatters.Binary.BinaryFormatter bf = new System.Runtime.Serialization.Formatters.Binary.BinaryFormatter();<br />
<br />
object obj=bf.Deserialize(stream);<br />
GraphicsPathData gpd =obj as GraphicsPathData;<br />
return gpd;<br />
}<br />
<br />
public static GraphicsPath GetGraphicsPath(GraphicsPathData gpd)<br />
{<br />
return new GraphicsPath(gpd.points, gpd.types, gpd.fillMode);<br />
}<br />
<br />
public static GraphicsPath GetGraphicsPath(System.IO.Stream gpdStream)<br />
{<br />
return GetGraphicsPath(Deserialize(gpdStream));<br />
}<br />
}<br />
<br />

and I tested that like

<br />
<br />
GraphicsPath gp = new GraphicsPath();<br />
gp.AddEllipse(10, 10, 100, 100);<br />
<br />
GraphicsPathData gpd = new GraphicsPathData(gp);<br />
System.IO.Stream gpdStream = GraphicsPathData.Serialize(gpd);<br />
<br />
//Just create a new stream for  exchanging of data!!!<br />
<br />
System.IO.Stream newStream = new System.IO.MemoryStream(((System.IO.MemoryStream)gpdStream).ToArray());<br />
<br />
GraphicsPath gpDeserialized = GraphicsPathData.GetGraphicsPath(newStream);<br />
<br />

Spyder_Snyper6-Aug-07 10:36

6-Aug-07 10:36

Oh MAN!

You are king. Thanks a ton. This is almost exactly what I['m trying to do too...lol...So it works out perfectly!

Only now to code the saving to file...

cyn86-Aug-07 20:17

cyn8

6-Aug-07 20:17

Hey, thanks for the great reply at http://www.codeproject.com/script/comments/forums.asp?forumid=1649&fr=126&select=2170482&df=100&mpp=50&msg=2170482
However if i got an 3 arraylist to be serialize, one of them is an arraylist containing graphicspath, how do i deserialize them back to the 3 different arraylist. Should i save the number of items in each of the arraylist?

Below is how i put all the arraylist into a single arraylist

ArrayList arr = new ArrayList();

arr.Add(Arraylist1);//arraylist containing Point[]
for(int i=0;i
{
GraphicsPathData gpd = new GraphicsPathData((GraphicsPath)PathList[i]);
Stream gpdStream = GraphicsPathData.Serialize(gpd);
arr.Add(gpdStream);
}

arr.Add(Arraylist1);//arraylist containing enum

formatter.Serialize(myStream, arr);
myStream.Close();

What other method do you suggest?

Thanks in advance

Hessam Jalali6-Aug-07 21:25

6-Aug-07 21:25

I send a post to Graphicspath serialization for you. Smile | :)

Spyder_Snyper7-Aug-07 4:39

7-Aug-07 4:39

So you have provided me with some fantastic help. Although I'm once again at a loss.

Now that I have a Serialized Stream, how do I save it to a file?

Hessam Jalali7-Aug-07 6:43