Is there a way to make DataContractSerializer output cleaner XML?

Question

Using the DataContractSerializer to serialize my object I get an output similar to

 <?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8" ?> 
 <AgentNotification xmlns:i="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema-instance" xmlns="http://schemas.datacontract.org/2004/07/The.name.space.Notifications"&gt;
  <_x003C_Created_x003E_k__BackingField i:nil="true" xmlns="http://schemas.datacontract.org/2004/07/The.name.space" /> 
  <_x003C_Id_x003E_k__BackingField i:nil="true" xmlns="http://schemas.datacontract.org/2004/07/The.name.space" />        
 <_x003C_Email_x003E_k__BackingField>[email protected]</_x003C_Email_x003E_k__BackingField> 
  <_x003C_Name_x003E_k__BackingField>Random Person</_x003C_Name_x003E_k__BackingField> 
 <_x003C_Policies_x003E_k__BackingField>
 <PolicyNotification>
  <_x003C_Created_x003E_k__BackingField i:nil="true" xmlns="http://schemas.datacontract.org/2004/07/The.name.space" /> 
  <_x003C_Id_x003E_k__BackingField i:nil="true" xmlns="http://schemas.datacontract.org/2004/07/The.name.space" /> 
  <_x003C_ConfirmationNumber_x003E_k__BackingField>Some number</_x003C_ConfirmationNumber_x003E_k__BackingField>   
  </PolicyNotification>
 <PolicyNotification>
  </_x003C_Policies_x003E_k__BackingField>  
  </AgentNotification>

Is there any way for it to output tags that are just

<Id>
<Name>

etc, without the need to cover my classes with attributes?

If there's not a way the output of this is guaranteed to be the same every time correct? So that if I use this to render my object graphs are XML to mash up with an X* document for file generation that I'll never run into an issue where my nodes change names and the document comes out blank correct?

Answer 1

The DataContractSerializer will serialize either all public properties (if you don't specify anything - possible as of .NET 3.5 SP1), or (the approach I prefer) anything you label with a [DataMember] attribute.

So the best you can do is mark your class with a [DataContract] attribute, and all the members (properties, fields, etc.) that you really want in your data contract with a [DataMember] attribute.

The DataContractSerializer doesn't really allow much more control than that - you can define quite clearly (using this explicit "opt-in" approach) what gets serialized, but you have little or no control over how it gets serialized.

But do you really need that? REALLY?

If so, you'll probably have to use the XmlSerializer for that serialization process instead - there you can get more control over how things are serialized (but as a drawback, the XmlSerializer will serialize every public property that's not explicitly marked with a [XmlIgnore] attribute - an "opt-out" scheme).

Check out Dan Rigsby's blog post on the differences between DataContractSerializer and XmlSerializer and what each of them has to offer.

Answer 2

Since I can't accept a comment as an answer, I am submitting this to respond No that is not possible to my question.

Answer 3

The long element names (such as, _x003C_Created_x003E_k__BackingField) are created by .NET when you use autoproperties.

If you changed them to properties with backing fields, they would instead use your backing field names. You can do that without adding any attributes to your code.

(Beyond that, simply adding a [DataContract] attribute to your class definition will tidy up your XML a lot -- though not completely.)