How can I convert a value type cast as an object to a string using XmlConvert?

Question

I'm looking for something equivalent to the code below but for any value type without having to encode a switch statement for each data type. The code below does not compile because XmlConvert.ToString() does not have an overload that accepts and object.

        int intValue = 10;
        object boxedValue = (object)intValue;
        string xmlValue = XmlConvert.ToString(boxedValue);

In other words, is there a better way than this:

public static string ToXmlString(Type type, object value) {

        switch(Type.GetTypeCode(type)) {
            case TypeCode.Int32:
                return XmlConvert.ToString((int) value);
            case TypeCode.DateTime:
                return XmlConvert.ToString((DateTime) value, XmlDateTimeSerializationMode.Unspecified);
            case TypeCode.Boolean:
                return XmlConvert.ToString((bool) value);

            // TODO:  Add case for all other value types!

            default:
                return value.ToString();
        }
    }

Answer 1

Just to throw this out there, are you attempting to convert a business object into XML?

Perhaps you might want to look at XmlSerialization. If you mark some attributes on your business object .Net will do all the fancy XML stuff for you :).

Also, is there any reason why you are boxing your value? XmlConvert.ToString() has 19 overloads, many of which take primitives.

Answer 2

All value types are inherently serializable. So you just need to use an XMLSerializer. Something like this would do it (based on your method):

public static string ToXmlString(Type type, object value)
{
    StringBuilder sb = new StringBuilder();
    System.Xml.XmlWriter writer = System.Xml.XmlWriter.Create(sb);
    System.Xml.Serialization.XmlSerializer serial = 
        new System.Xml.Serialization.XmlSerializer(type);
    serial.Serialize(writer, value);
}

Answer 3

Another option is to use Reflector to look at then make a copy of System.Xml.Linq.XContainer.GetStringValue (it's internal unfortunatly)