Class design problem - passing a class type?

Question

I have the following code in a method of a class:

XmlSerializer serializer = new XmlSerializer(typeof(FooClass));

How do I pass into the constructor or a parameter of the class - the foo class?

I think it has something to do with reflection as you can't pass as a parameter just a class name - so the following code makes some sort of sense (thanks to Aidan) -

XmlSerializer serializer = new XmlSerializer(Type.GetType("namespace.FooClass"));

Answer 1

Does this do what you want?

XmlSerializer serializer = new XmlSerializer(foo.GetType());

Answer 2

Add a type parameter to the method:

 public XmlSerializer Method<T>()
 {
    return new XmlSerializer(typeof(T));
 }

you would then call the method as Method<Foo>();

Answer 3

Consider this snippet of code:

Type t = foo.GetType();
XmlSerializer fooSerializer = MakeSerializer(t);

...

private XmlSerializer MakeSerializer(Type myType)
{
  XmlSerializer serializer = new XmlSerializer(myType);
  return serializer;
}

Answer 4

void serializeme(Object o) {
   Type t = o.GetType();
   XmlSerializer serializer = new XmlSerializer(t);
   ...
}

Answer 5

You would use reflection to achieve what (I believe) you want to do.

You would use the XmlSerializer(Type) override of the XmlSerializer constructor.

XmlSerializer serializer = new XmlSerializer(Type.GetType("namespace.Foo"));

or

XmlSerializer serializer = new XmlSerializer(fooInstance.GetType());

depending if you have an instance of the type on hand.

Answer 6

As far as I know you have to use a parameterless constructor with the XmlSerializer. So the only constructor of foo that XmlSerializer will use is this:

public foo()
{
}

Answer 7

If I understand your question correctly, you want this:

class YourClass {
   Type type;

   public YourClass(Type type) {
       this.type = type;
   }

   public XmlSerializer Method() {
       return new XmlSerializer(type);
   }
}

...

new YourClass(typeof(Foo));