What's the most efficient way to store objects in a SQLCe Database?

Question

I need to increase the performance of a compact framework application which uses a SQLCe database to persist cached objects between sessions of the application. Currently, objects are serialized into XML and stored in a SQLCe database, but having run a profiling tool it seems that there is quite an overhead in doing this. I was thinking of changing this to a binary serializer but does anyone know of any more efficient ways of storing these object for quick retrieval? Thanks.

Update: Just found out there's no binary serialization support in compact framework so not an option.

Answer 1

First you need to characterize where the time is spent. Is it in the serialization or the actual data insert? Without knowing that, you can't effectively try to improve the action. And, FYI, proto-buf provides binary serialization.