How do I add an XML attribute using DataContract

Question

Hi

I have a simple class I'm serializing.

 [DataContract(Name = "Test", Namespace = "")]
 public class Test
 {
    [DataMember(Order = 0, Name = "Text")]
    public string Text { get; set; }

    public Test() {}
 }

This kicks out the following XML:

<Test>
   <Text>Text here</Text>
</Test>

What I want is:

<Test>
   <Text type="MyType">Text here</Text>
</Test>

How do I add attributes the the XML elements?

Thanks in advance.

Answer 1

Not exactly an answer, but you can try to implement IXmlSerializable to fully control output xml format.

Answer 2

You can't add attributes to a DataContract. You either have to use a class that Implements ISerializable or use the .Net XmlSerializer.

Answer 3

Hi,

I think this could do the trick :

[DataContract(Name = "Test", Namespace = "")]
public class Test
{
    [DataMember(Order = 0, Name = "Text")]
    public string Text { get; set; }

    [XmlAttribute("type")]
    public Type Type
    {
        get
        {
            return this.GetType();
        }
    }

    public Test() { }
}

Hope this helps, Regards.

---

EDIT: Forget this, things mixed up in my head and every synapses connections gone wrong there... (and anyway, I mixed DataContract and XML serialization attributes, and worst I was putting the attribute in the "Test" element instead of "Text" element). As other people said, with DataContract you will have to make your own serialization implementation with ISerializable