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Serialization in non - Document/View arch. projects .

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28 Jun 20021 min read 61.1K   41   9
This explains how to serialize objects in non document/view architecture projects

Introduction

This article will show you how you can serialize data to disk and retrieve it again in non doc/view architecture projects. Just follow the steps outlined.

Steps to follow

  • Create a normal project as you usually do.
  • Add the class which you would use to serialize the data. It might contain just normal variables or collection classes or any kind of data that you want to store.
    • Be sure to derive that class from CObject. Only then you can serialize the data.
    • Be sure to use the DECLARE_SERIAL macro inside.
  • //CInfo.h
    
    class CInfo : public CObject
    {
    DECLARE_SERIAL(CInfo)
    
    public:
    
        virtual void Serialize(CArchive& ar);
        int m_nIndex;
        CString m_strName;
    };
  • Add the serialization function in this class's .cpp file. Be sure to use the IMPLEMENT_SERIAL macro as shown.
  • //CInfo.cpp
    
    #include "stdafx.h"
    #include "CInfo.h"
    
    IMPLEMENT_SERIAL(CInfo,CObject,1)
    
    void CInfo::Serialize(CArchive& ar)
    {
        if (ar.IsLoading()) // If you are loading data from the disk
        {
            ar >> m_strName;
            ar >> m_nIndex;
        }
        else // If you are storing data to the disk
        {
            ar << m_strName;
            ar << m_nIndex;
        }
    }
  • As this example is concerned with just 2 variables, assume that 2 edit controls have been created to accommodate the Index and the Name. Add 2 variables to those edit controls using the Class Wizard. Now the File to which the data has to be written or read from has to be defined. I do that simply by :-
  • // The Accounts.dat file is the 
    // file that we are going to use 
    // to save and read data
    
    #define DATA_FILE _T("Accounts.dat") 
  • Now, we write the code for storing the data to the disk. Here,
    m_bCanSave
    is declared in the header file as BOOL m_bCanSave; and in the constructor it has been initialized as m_bCanSave = FALSE;
  • void SaveRecords()                  
    //  Code to serialize and save the data
    {
        UINT nFlags = CFile::typeBinary | CFile::modeWrite;
    
        if (_access(DATA_FILE, 0))
        {
            nFlags |= CFile::modeCreate;            
            // The file doesn't exist, so create it
            
            m_bCanSave = TRUE;
        }
        else
        {
            int nTemp = _access(DATA_FILE, 6);  
            // Check Read Write Permissions
    
            if(nTemp==0)
                m_bCanSave = TRUE;
        }
    
        if (m_bCanSave)
        {
            CFile file;
            CFileException fe;
    
            // The file exists with read & write permissions
            if (file.Open(DATA_FILE, nFlags, &fe))
            {
                CArchive ar(&file, CArchive::store);
                UpdateData(TRUE);
                Info.m_nIndex = m_nIndex;
                Info.m_strName = m_strName;
                Info.Serialize(ar); // Serialize the data
            }
        }   
    }
  • Now , we write the code for reading the data from the disk.
  • void LoadRecords()
    {
        if (_access(DATA_FILE, 6)==0) // If File Exists
        {
            CFile file;
            CFileException fe;
    
            if (file.Open(DATA_FILE,CFile::typeBinary | 
                CFile::modeRead, &fe))
            {
                CArchive ar(&file, CArchive::load);
                Info.Serialize(ar);
            }
    
        }
    
        m_nIndex = Info.m_nIndex;
        m_strName = Info.m_strName;
        UpdateData(FALSE);
    }

Conclusion

That's it. A Simple tutorial for serialization is complete. You have a program that can serialize data to the disk and retrieve it later. You didn't know that serialization was so easy. Did you? All Luck and have a nice time.

License

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Comments and Discussions

 
GeneralWriting to Text file .Unable to write if the file is open Pin
Divya Lalwani8-Mar-09 21:02
Divya Lalwani8-Mar-09 21:02 
Questionserializing file through HTTP? Pin
xxhimanshu30-Oct-03 19:39
xxhimanshu30-Oct-03 19:39 
Generalhelp Pin
annim annuar6-Oct-03 16:27
annim annuar6-Oct-03 16:27 
GeneralNice! Pin
Ravi Bhavnani3-Jun-03 2:51
professionalRavi Bhavnani3-Jun-03 2:51 
GeneralHelp Serializing files over HTTP?? Pin
xxhimanshu30-Oct-03 19:48
xxhimanshu30-Oct-03 19:48 
GeneralRe: Help Serializing files over HTTP?? Pin
Ravi Bhavnani31-Oct-03 2:53
professionalRavi Bhavnani31-Oct-03 2:53 
GeneralRe: Help Serializing files over HTTP?? Pin
xxhimanshu31-Oct-03 20:28
xxhimanshu31-Oct-03 20:28 
GeneralRe: Help Serializing files over HTTP?? Pin
Ravi Bhavnani1-Nov-03 5:16
professionalRavi Bhavnani1-Nov-03 5:16 
Generaldeleting record Pin
dudic20-Mar-03 9:10
dudic20-Mar-03 9:10 

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