How to perform a deep copy of an object not marked as serializable (in C#)?

Question

I am attempting to create a Clipboard stack in C#. Clipboard data is stored in System.Windows.Forms.DataObject objects. I wanted to store each clipboard entry (IDataObject) directly in a Generic list. Due to the way Bitmaps (seem to be) stored I am thinking I need to perform a deep copy first before I add it to the list.

I attempted to use Binary serialization (see below) to create a deep copy but since System.Windows.Forms.DataObject is not marked as serializable the serialization step fails. Any ideas?

public IDataObject GetClipboardData()
{
    MemoryStream memoryStream = new MemoryStream();
    BinaryFormatter binaryFormatter = new BinaryFormatter();
    binaryFormatter.Serialize(memoryStream, Clipboard.GetDataObject());
    memoryStream.Position = 0;
    return (IDataObject) binaryFormatter.Deserialize(memoryStream);
}

Answer 1

I wrote the code below for another question and maybe it could come in useful for you in this scenario:

    public static class GhettoSerializer
    {
            // you could make this a factory method if your type
            // has a constructor that appeals to you (i.e. default 
            // parameterless constructor)
            public static void Initialize<T>(T instance, IDictionary<string, object> values)
            {
                    var props = typeof(T).GetProperties();

                    // my approach does nothing to handle rare properties with array indexers
                    var matches = props.Join(
                            values,
                            pi => pi.Name,
                            kvp => kvp.Key,
                            (property, kvp) =>
                                    new {
                                            Set = new Action<object,object,object[]>(property.SetValue), 
                                            kvp.Value
                                    }
                    );

                    foreach (var match in matches)
                            match.Set(instance, match.Value, null);
            }
            public static IDictionary<string, object> Serialize<T>(T instance)
            {
                    var props = typeof(T).GetProperties();

                    var ret = new Dictionary<string, object>();

                    foreach (var property in props)
                    {
                            if (!property.CanWrite || !property.CanRead)
                                    continue;
                            ret.Add(property.Name, property.GetValue(instance, null));
                    }

                    return ret;
            }
    }

However I don't think this will be the final solution to your problem though it may give you a place to start.

Answer 2

Look up the docks for Serializable and find the stuff about serialization helpers. You can wrap the bitmap in your own serialization code the integrates with the .net framework.