Can't access a Custom Serializable Class Object from project

I'm trying to use a Serializable Dictionary as a type in the project Settings.settings. I have found a solution for my issue.

http://stackoverflow.com/questions/1166496/key-value-storage-in-settings-file

I have created the SerializableDictionary class and compiled my project.

Issue: I'm not able to select this class as a type in the project Settings.settings

I have included a reference to the assembly where I created the class. Some of the classes in that assembly appear when I try to browse but not this SerializableDictionary. I also tried to type the full name of the class in the Selected Type box got an error : SerializableDictionary is not defined.

Can someone help please ?

using System;
using System.Collections.Generic;
using System.Text;
using System.Xml.Serialization;
namespace mynamespace
{
[XmlRoot("dictionary")]
public class SerializableDictionary<TKey, TValue> : Dictionary<TKey, TValue>, IXmlSerializable
{
#region IXmlSerializable Members
public System.Xml.Schema.XmlSchema GetSchema()
{
return null;
}
public void ReadXml(System.Xml.XmlReader reader)
{
XmlSerializer keySerializer = new XmlSerializer(typeof(TKey));
XmlSerializer valueSerializer = new XmlSerializer(typeof(TValue));
bool wasEmpty = reader.IsEmptyElement;
reader.Read();
if (wasEmpty)
return;
while (reader.NodeType != System.Xml.XmlNodeType.EndElement)
{
reader.ReadStartElement("item");
reader.ReadStartElement("key");
TKey key = (TKey)keySerializer.Deserialize(reader);
reader.ReadEndElement();
reader.ReadStartElement("value");
TValue value = (TValue)valueSerializer.Deserialize(reader);
reader.ReadEndElement();
this.Add(key, value);
reader.ReadEndElement();
reader.MoveToContent();
}
reader.ReadEndElement();
}
public void WriteXml(System.Xml.XmlWriter writer)
{
XmlSerializer keySerializer = new XmlSerializer(typeof(TKey));
XmlSerializer valueSerializer = new XmlSerializer(typeof(TValue));
foreach (TKey key in this.Keys)
{
writer.WriteStartElement("item");
writer.WriteStartElement("key");
keySerializer.Serialize(writer, key);
writer.WriteEndElement();
writer.WriteStartElement("value");
TValue value = this[key];
valueSerializer.Serialize(writer, value);
writer.WriteEndElement();
writer.WriteEndElement();
}
}
#endregion
}
}

The settings does not support generic classes. I have made the class non generic.

Now, I am able to pick this a class as a type :)

However, when adding an item to the settings it throwing an exception.

Properties.Settings.Default.userSetting.Add("Bird","Eagle");

It throws a null reference exception. Even though I have defined userSetting in the Settings.settings.

using System;
using System.Collections.Generic;
using System.Text;
using System.Xml.Serialization;
namespace mynamespace
{
[XmlRoot("dictionary")]
public class SerializableDictionary : Dictionary<string, string>, IXmlSerializable
{
#region IXmlSerializable Members
public System.Xml.Schema.XmlSchema GetSchema()
{
return null;
}
public void ReadXml(System.Xml.XmlReader reader)
{
XmlSerializer keySerializer = new XmlSerializer(typeof(string));
XmlSerializer valueSerializer = new XmlSerializer(typeof(string));
bool wasEmpty = reader.IsEmptyElement;
reader.Read();
if (wasEmpty)
return;
while (reader.NodeType != System.Xml.XmlNodeType.EndElement)
{
reader.ReadStartElement("item");
reader.ReadStartElement("key");
string key = (string)keySerializer.Deserialize(reader);
reader.ReadEndElement();
reader.ReadStartElement("value");
string value = (string)valueSerializer.Deserialize(reader);
reader.ReadEndElement();
this.Add(key, value);
reader.ReadEndElement();
reader.MoveToContent();
}
reader.ReadEndElement();
}
public void WriteXml(System.Xml.XmlWriter writer)
{
XmlSerializer keySerializer = new XmlSerializer(typeof(string));
XmlSerializer valueSerializer = new XmlSerializer(typeof(string));
foreach (string key in this.Keys)
{
writer.WriteStartElement("item");
writer.WriteStartElement("key");
keySerializer.Serialize(writer, key);
writer.WriteEndElement();
writer.WriteStartElement("value");
string value = this[key];
valueSerializer.Serialize(writer, value);
writer.WriteEndElement();
writer.WriteEndElement();
}
}
#endregion
}
}

1 Reply

Know the answer? Post it — somebody with the same question will find it here.

Simba White9y ago
The settings does not support generic classes. I have made the class non generic.
Now, I am able to pick this a class as a type :)

However, when adding an item to the settings it throwing an exception.

Properties.Settings.Default.userSetting.Add("Bird","Eagle");
It throws a null reference exception. Even though I have defined userSetting in the Settings.settings.
using System;
using System.Collections.Generic;
using System.Text;
using System.Xml.Serialization;

namespace mynamespace
{

[XmlRoot("dictionary")]
public class SerializableDictionary : Dictionary<string, string>, IXmlSerializable

{
    #region IXmlSerializable Members
    public System.Xml.Schema.XmlSchema GetSchema()
    {
        return null;
    }
    public void ReadXml(System.Xml.XmlReader reader)
    {
        XmlSerializer keySerializer = new XmlSerializer(typeof(string));
        XmlSerializer valueSerializer = new XmlSerializer(typeof(string));
        bool wasEmpty = reader.IsEmptyElement;
        reader.Read();

        if (wasEmpty)
            return;
        while (reader.NodeType != System.Xml.XmlNodeType.EndElement)
        {
            reader.ReadStartElement("item");
            reader.ReadStartElement("key");
            string key = (string)keySerializer.Deserialize(reader);
            reader.ReadEndElement();
            reader.ReadStartElement("value");
            string value = (string)valueSerializer.Deserialize(reader);
            reader.ReadEndElement();
            this.Add(key, value);
            reader.ReadEndElement();
            reader.MoveToContent();
        }
        reader.ReadEndElement();
    }
    public void WriteXml(System.Xml.XmlWriter writer)
    {
        XmlSerializer keySerializer = new XmlSerializer(typeof(string));
        XmlSerializer valueSerializer = new XmlSerializer(typeof(string));
        foreach (string key in this.Keys)
        {

            writer.WriteStartElement("item");
            writer.WriteStartElement("key");
            keySerializer.Serialize(writer, key);
            writer.WriteEndElement();
            writer.WriteStartElement("value");
            string value = this[key];
            valueSerializer.Serialize(writer, value);
            writer.WriteEndElement();
            writer.WriteEndElement();
        }
    }
    #endregion
}
}