How to save this object to file

[MrNorth]

Im my endeavour to create an object framework for a project, I have come to the conclusion that I need to add a "savefile" method to my CDocumentCollection class

This is a simple class.. it inherits collectionbase and contains an array with simple CDocument objects.

I want to do something like this

dim mycollection as new CDocumentCollection
 
mycollection.add(new CDocument("Doc1"))
mycollection.add(new CDocument("Doc3"))
mycollection.add(new CDocument("Doc14"))
mycollection.add(new CDocument("Doc156"))
 
mycollection.SaveToFile("c:\myfile.gps")

Is there an easy way to save the object hieararchy to binary file and an easy way to load it the same way? Im sure there are many programs in vb.net /C# that perform this simple thing... I just want to learn the "right" way to do it...

dim mycollection as new CDocumentCollection
mycollection = mycollection.LoadFromFile("c:\myfile.gps")

I have very little experience in these things, are there any patterns or rules to follow to make this a good design? I know a little about serialization... I have read it is a good way to save/load binary config files... can this help me? How do I proceed?

kind regards
Henrik

[<ABX]

How about Serializing the object?

http://www.codeproject.com/vb/net/es...Collection.asp

[MrNorth]

Great idea... however I get this error when trying to do just that

You must implement a default accessor on EasyPrinting.EasyPrinting.CDocumentCollection because it inherits from ICollection.


here is my class

public Class CDocumentCollection : Inherits CollectionBase
 
        Public Sub Add(ByVal item As CDocument)
            Me.List.Add(item)
        End Sub
 
        Public ReadOnly Property Item(ByVal index As Integer) As CDocument
            Get
                Return DirectCast(Me.List.Item(index), CDocument)
            End Get
 
        End Property
 
        Public WriteOnly Property Item(ByVal index As Integer, ByVal Document As CDocument) As CDocument
            Set(ByVal Value As CDocument)
                Me.List.Item(index) = Document
            End Set
        End Property
 
    End Class

Serializing is one of the areas of .net Im not so familiar with

kind regards
Henrik

[Edneeis]

Make sure that class has a default constructor (one with no parameters).