Click here to Skip to main content
15,867,771 members
Articles / Programming Languages / XML

Yet Another XML Serialization Library for the .NET Framework

Rate me:
Please Sign up or sign in to vote.
4.92/5 (91 votes)
2 Oct 2012MIT24 min read 506.4K   207  
A flexible XML serialization library that lets developers design the XML file structure, and select the exception handling policy. YAXLib supports polymorphic serialization and serializing generic and non-generic collection classes and arrays.
// Copyright 2009 - 2010 Sina Iravanian - <sina@sinairv.com>
//
// This source file(s) may be redistributed, altered and customized
// by any means PROVIDING the authors name and all copyright
// notices remain intact.
// THIS SOFTWARE IS PROVIDED "AS IS", WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND,
// EXPRESS OR IMPLIED. USE IT AT YOUR OWN RISK. THE AUTHOR ACCEPTS NO
// LIABILITY FOR ANY DATA DAMAGE/LOSS THAT THIS PRODUCT MAY CAUSE.
//-----------------------------------------------------------------------

using System;
using System.Collections.Generic;
using System.Linq;
using System.Text;
using System.Reflection;
using System.Collections;

namespace DemoApplication
{
    public class GeneralToStringProvider
    {
        public static string GeneralToString(object o)
        {
            return GeneralToString(o, 0);
        }

        private static string CollectionToString(object collectionInstance, string propName, int layer)
        {
            //object collectionInstance = prop.GetValue(o, null);
            StringBuilder sb = new StringBuilder();
            if (collectionInstance == null)
            {
                if(String.IsNullOrEmpty(propName))
                    sb.AppendLayerFormatLine(layer, "[null]");
                else
                    sb.AppendLayerFormatLine(layer, "{0}: [null]", propName);
            }
            else
            {
                if (!String.IsNullOrEmpty(propName))
                {
                    string strSize = "";
                    if (collectionInstance.GetType().IsArray)
                    {
                        System.Array ar = collectionInstance as System.Array;
                        int rank = ar.Rank;
                        StringBuilder ars = new StringBuilder();
                        for (int i = 0; i < rank; i++)
                        {
                            if (i != 0)
                                ars.Append("*");
                            ars.Append(ar.GetLength(i));
                        }
                        strSize = String.Format("[size: {0}]", ars.ToString());
                    }

                    sb.AppendLayerFormatLine(layer, "{0}: {1}", propName, strSize);
                }

                foreach (object item in collectionInstance as IEnumerable)
                {
                    if (IsBasicType(item.GetType()) || item == null)
                    {
                        sb.AppendLayerFormatLine(layer + 1, "[{0}]", item == null ? "null" : item.ToString());
                    }
                    else
                    {
                        sb.AppendLayerFormatLine(layer + 1, "[");
                        sb.Append(GeneralToString(item, layer + 2));
                        sb.AppendLayerFormatLine(layer + 1, "]");
                    }
                }
            }
            return sb.ToString();
        }

        private static string NonGenericDictionaryToString(object dicInstance, string propName, int layer)
        {
            StringBuilder sb = new StringBuilder();
            if (dicInstance == null)
            {
                if (String.IsNullOrEmpty(propName))
                    sb.AppendLayerFormatLine(layer, "[null]");
                else
                    sb.AppendLayerFormatLine(layer, "{0}: [null]", propName);
            }
            else
            {
                if (!String.IsNullOrEmpty(propName))
                    sb.AppendLayerFormatLine(layer, "{0}:", propName);

                foreach (object pair in dicInstance as IEnumerable)
                {
                    if (pair == null)
                    {
                        sb.AppendLayerFormatLine(layer + 1, "[null]");
                    }
                    else
                    {
                        sb.AppendLayerFormatLine(layer + 1, "[");

                        object objKey = pair.GetType().GetProperty("Key").GetValue(pair, null);
                        object objValue = pair.GetType().GetProperty("Value").GetValue(pair, null);

                        if (objKey == null || IsBasicType(objKey.GetType()) )
                        {
                            sb.AppendLayerFormatLine(layer + 1, "Key: {0}",
                                objKey == null ? "[null]" : objKey.ToString()
                            );
                        }
                        else
                        {
                            sb.AppendLayerFormatLine(layer + 1, "Key: ");
                            sb.AppendLayerFormatLine(layer + 2, "[");
                            sb.Append(GeneralToString(objKey, layer + 3));
                            sb.AppendLayerFormatLine(layer + 2, "]");
                        }

                        if (objValue == null || IsBasicType(objValue.GetType()))
                        {
                            sb.AppendLayerFormatLine(layer + 1, "Value: {0}",
                                objValue == null ? "[null]" : objValue.ToString()
                            );
                        }
                        else
                        {
                            sb.AppendLayerFormatLine(layer + 1, "Value: ");
                            sb.AppendLayerFormatLine(layer + 2, "[");
                            sb.Append(GeneralToString(objValue, layer + 3));
                            sb.AppendLayerFormatLine(layer + 2, "]");
                        }

                        sb.AppendLayerFormatLine(layer + 1, "]");
                    }
                }
            }

            return sb.ToString();
        }


        private static string DictionaryToString(object dicInstance, string propName, int layer)
        {
            StringBuilder sb = new StringBuilder();
            if (dicInstance == null)
            {
                if(String.IsNullOrEmpty(propName))
                    sb.AppendLayerFormatLine(layer, "[null]");
                else
                    sb.AppendLayerFormatLine(layer, "{0}: [null]", propName);
            }
            else
            {
                if (!String.IsNullOrEmpty(propName))
                    sb.AppendLayerFormatLine(layer, "{0}:", propName);

                Type keyType, valueType;
                IsDictionary(dicInstance.GetType(), out keyType, out valueType);
                if (IsBasicType(keyType) && IsBasicType(valueType))
                {
                    object objKey, objValue;
                    foreach (object pair in dicInstance as IEnumerable)
                    {
                        if (pair == null)
                        {
                            sb.AppendLayerFormatLine(layer + 1, "[null]");
                        }
                        else
                        {
                            objKey = pair.GetType().GetProperty("Key").GetValue(pair, null);
                            objValue = pair.GetType().GetProperty("Value").GetValue(pair, null);
                            sb.AppendLayerFormatLine(layer + 1, "[{0} -> {1}]",
                                objKey == null ? "[null]" : objKey.ToString(),
                                objValue == null ? "[null]" : objValue.ToString()
                            );
                        }
                    }
                }
                else
                {
                    object objKey, objValue;
                    foreach (object pair in dicInstance as IEnumerable)
                    {
                        if (pair == null)
                        {
                            sb.AppendLayerFormatLine(layer + 1, "[null]");
                        }
                        else
                        {
                            sb.AppendLayerFormatLine(layer + 1, "[");

                            objKey = pair.GetType().GetProperty("Key").GetValue(pair, null);
                            objValue = pair.GetType().GetProperty("Value").GetValue(pair, null);

                            if (IsBasicType(keyType) || objKey == null)
                            {
                                sb.AppendLayerFormatLine(layer + 1, "Key: {0}",
                                    objKey == null ? "[null]" : objKey.ToString()
                                );
                            }
                            else
                            {
                                sb.AppendLayerFormatLine(layer + 1, "Key: ");
                                sb.AppendLayerFormatLine(layer + 2, "[");
                                sb.Append(GeneralToString(objKey, layer + 3));
                                sb.AppendLayerFormatLine(layer + 2, "]");

                            }

                            if (IsBasicType(valueType) || objValue == null)
                            {
                                sb.AppendLayerFormatLine(layer + 1, "Value: {0}",
                                    objValue == null ? "[null]" : objValue.ToString()
                                );
                            }
                            else
                            {
                                sb.AppendLayerFormatLine(layer + 1, "Value: ");
                                sb.AppendLayerFormatLine(layer + 2, "[");
                                sb.Append(GeneralToString(objValue, layer + 3));
                                sb.AppendLayerFormatLine(layer + 2, "]");
                            }

                            sb.AppendLayerFormatLine(layer + 1, "]");
                        }
                    }
                }
            }
            return sb.ToString();
        }

        private static string GeneralToString(object o, int layer)
        {
            StringBuilder sb = new StringBuilder();
            if (o == null)
            {
                sb.AppendLayerFormatLine(layer, "[null]");
                //sb.AppendLine("[null]");
            }
            else if (IsBasicType(o.GetType()))
            {
                sb.AppendLayerFormatLine(layer, o.ToString());
            }
            else if (IsDictionary(o.GetType()))
            {
                sb.Append(DictionaryToString(o, null, layer));
            }
            else if (IsCollection(o.GetType()))
            {
                sb.Append(CollectionToString(o, null, layer));
            }
            else if (IsIFormattable(o.GetType()))
            {
                sb.AppendLayerFormatLine(layer, o.ToString());
            }
            else
            {
                Type propType;
                foreach (var prop in o.GetType().GetProperties(BindingFlags.Instance | BindingFlags.Public))
                {
                    if (!(prop.CanRead))
                        continue;

                    propType = prop.PropertyType;
                    if (IsBasicType(propType))
                    {
                        sb.AppendLayerFormatLine(layer, "{0}: {1}", prop.Name, GetBasicPropertyValue(o, prop));
                    }
                    else if (IsDictionary(propType))
                    {
                        sb.Append(DictionaryToString(prop.GetValue(o, null), prop.Name, layer));
                    }
                    else if (IsCollection(propType))
                    {
                        sb.Append(CollectionToString(prop.GetValue(o, null), prop.Name, layer));
                    }
                    else if (IsNonGenericIDictionary(propType))
                    {
                        sb.Append(NonGenericDictionaryToString(prop.GetValue(o, null), prop.Name, layer));
                    }
                    else if (IsNonGenericIEnumerable(propType))
                    {
                        sb.Append(CollectionToString(prop.GetValue(o, null), prop.Name, layer));
                    }
                    else
                    {
                        object propValue = prop.GetValue(o, null);
                        if (propValue == null)
                        {
                            sb.AppendLayerFormatLine(layer, "{0}: [null]", prop.Name);
                        }
                        else
                        {
                            sb.AppendLayerFormatLine(layer, "{0}:", prop.Name);

                            sb.AppendLayerFormatLine(layer, "[");
                            sb.Append(GeneralToString(propValue, layer + 1));
                            sb.AppendLayerFormatLine(layer, "]");
                        }
                    }
                }
            }

            return sb.ToString();
        }

        private static bool IsDictionary(Type type)
        {
            if (type.IsGenericType)
                type = type.GetGenericTypeDefinition();

            if (type == typeof(Dictionary<,>))
                return true;

            return false;
        }

        /// <summary>
        /// Determines whether the specified type is a generic dictionary.
        /// </summary>
        /// <param name="type">The type to check.</param>
        /// <param name="keyType">Type of the key.</param>
        /// <param name="valueType">Type of the value.</param>
        /// <returns>
        /// 	<c>true</c> if the specified type is dictionary; otherwise, <c>false</c>.
        /// </returns>
        private static bool IsDictionary(Type type, out Type keyType, out Type valueType)
        {
            keyType = typeof(object);
            valueType = typeof(object);

            foreach (Type interfaceType in type.GetInterfaces())
            {
                if (interfaceType.IsGenericType &&
                    interfaceType.GetGenericTypeDefinition() == typeof(IDictionary<,>))
                {
                    Type[] genArgs = interfaceType.GetGenericArguments();
                    keyType = genArgs[0];
                    valueType = genArgs[1];
                    return true;
                }

            }

            return false;
        }

        private static bool IsNonGenericIDictionary(Type type)
        {
            if (type == typeof(IDictionary))
                return true;

            foreach (Type interfaceType in type.GetInterfaces())
            {
                if (interfaceType == typeof(IDictionary))
                {
                    return true;
                }

            }

            return false;

        }

        private static bool IsNonGenericIEnumerable(Type type)
        {
            if (type == typeof(IEnumerable))
                return true;

            foreach (Type interfaceType in type.GetInterfaces())
            {
                if (interfaceType == typeof(IEnumerable))
                {
                    return true;
                }
            }

            return false;
        }


        private static bool IsCollection(Type type)
        {
            if (type == typeof(string)) 
                return false;

            if (IsArray(type)) 
                return true;

            if (type.IsGenericType)
                type = type.GetGenericTypeDefinition();

            if (type == typeof(List<>) || type == typeof(HashSet<>) || type == typeof(IEnumerable<>))
                return true;

            return false;
        }

        private static bool IsIFormattable(Type type)
        {
            // is IFormattable
            // accept parameterless ToString
            // accept ctor of string
            foreach (Type interfaceType in type.GetInterfaces())
            {
                if (interfaceType == typeof(IFormattable))
                {
                    if (!HasSuitableProperties(type))
                    {
                        if (null != type.GetConstructor(new Type[] { typeof(string) }))
                        {
                            if (null != type.GetMethod("ToString", new Type[0]) &&
                                null != type.GetMethod("ToString", new Type[] { typeof(string) }))
                                return true;
                        }
                    }
                }
            }

            return false;
        }

        private static bool HasSuitableProperties(Type type)
        {
            var props = type.GetProperties(BindingFlags.Public | BindingFlags.Instance);
            foreach (var pi in props)
            {
                if (pi.CanRead && pi.CanWrite)
                {
                    var getPi = pi.GetGetMethod(false);
                    var setPi = pi.GetSetMethod(false);
                    if (setPi != null && getPi != null)
                        return true;
                }
            }

            return false;
        }

        /// <summary>
        /// Gets the type of the items of a collection type.
        /// </summary>
        /// <param name="type">The type of the collection.</param>
        /// <returns>the type of the items of a collection type.</returns>
        private static Type GetCollectionItemType(Type type)
        {
            Type itemType = typeof(object);

            if (type.IsInterface && type.GetGenericTypeDefinition() == typeof(IEnumerable<>))
            {
                itemType = type.GetGenericArguments()[0];
            }
            else if (type.IsInterface && type == typeof(IEnumerable))
            {
                itemType = typeof(object);
            }
            else
            {
                foreach (Type interfaceType in type.GetInterfaces())
                {
                    if (interfaceType.IsGenericType &&
                        interfaceType.GetGenericTypeDefinition() == typeof(IEnumerable<>))
                    {
                        itemType = interfaceType.GetGenericArguments()[0];
                    }
                }
            }

            return itemType;
        }



        private static string GetBasicPropertyValue(object o, PropertyInfo prop)
        {
            object value = prop.GetValue(o, null);
            return (value == null) ? "[null]" : value.ToString();
        }

        /// <summary>
        /// Determines whether the specified type is basic type. A basic type is one that can be wholly expressed
        /// as an XML attribute. All primitive data types and type <c>string</c> and <c>DataTime</c> are basic.
        /// </summary>
        /// <param name="t">The type</param>
        private static bool IsBasicType(Type t)
        {
            if (t == typeof(string) || t.IsPrimitive || t.IsEnum || t == typeof(DateTime))
                return true;
            else
                return false;
        }

        /// <summary>
        /// Determines whether the specified type is array.
        /// </summary>
        /// <param name="t">The type</param>
        /// <returns>
        /// 	<c>true</c> if the specified type is array; otherwise, <c>false</c>.
        /// </returns>
        private static bool IsArray(Type t)
        {
            return (t.BaseType == typeof(System.Array));
        }
    }

    public static class StringBuilderExtensions
    {
        public static StringBuilder AppendLayerFormatLine(this StringBuilder sb, int layer, string format, params object[] args)
        {
            return AppendLayerFormat(sb, layer, format + Environment.NewLine, args);
        }

        public static StringBuilder AppendLayerFormat(this StringBuilder sb, int layer, string format, params object[] args)
        {
            string strToAppend = String.Format(format, args);
            return sb.AppendFormat("{0}{1}", GetLayerPrefix(layer), strToAppend);
        }

        private static string GetLayerPrefix(int layer)
        {
            StringBuilder sb = new StringBuilder();

            for (int i = 0; i < layer; ++i)
                sb.Append("   ");

            return sb.ToString();
        }
    }
}

By viewing downloads associated with this article you agree to the Terms of Service and the article's licence.

If a file you wish to view isn't highlighted, and is a text file (not binary), please let us know and we'll add colourisation support for it.

License

This article, along with any associated source code and files, is licensed under The MIT License


Written By
Software Developer
Australia Australia
A software designer and developer

Comments and Discussions