How can I control the name of generic WCF return types?

Question

I've got a WCF Web Service method whose prototype is:

[OperationContract]
Response<List<Customer>> GetCustomers();

When I add the service reference to a client, Visual Studio (2005) creates a type called "ResponseOfArrayOfCustomerrleXg3IC" that is a wrapper for "Response<List<Customer>>". Is there any way I can control the wrapper name? ResponseOfArrayOfCustomerrleXg3IC doesn't sound very appealing...

Answer 1

Yes. The OperationContractAttribute takes a parameter called Name. You could specify it like this:

[OperationContract(Name = "NameGoesHere")]
Response<List<Customer>> GetCustomers();

Answer 2

Please try this:

[OperationContract]
[return: MessageParameter(Name="YOURNAME")]
Response<List<Customer>> GetCustomers();

Answer 3

You can define your own name in the DataContract attribute like this:

[DataContract(Name = "ResponseOf{0}")]
public class Response<T>

Note that in your example the {0} will be replaced and your proxy reference type will be ResponseOfArrayOfCustomer.

More info here: WCF: Serialization and Generics