[2005/2008] Generic Xml Serialization Class

[bmahler]

This a little class I made that can be used to serialize any serializable type to xml. This will work with a single object or collections etc. I figured I would share it, so here you go.

Usage: Serializing

'Serailizing a collection
Dim data As New List(Of SerializableClass)
'Add items to the collection...
Serializer.SerailizeToXml(Of List(Of SerializableClass))("C:\output.xml", data)
 
'And for as single object
Dim sc As New SerializableClass
Serializer.SerailizeToXml(Of SerializableClass)("C:\output.xml", sc)

Usage: Deserialization

'Deserialize a collection
Dim results As List(Of SerializableClass)
results = Serializer.DeserializeFromXml(Of List(Of SerializableClass))("C:\output.xml")
 
'And for a single object
Dim sc As SerializableClass
sc = Serializer.DeserializeFromXml(Of SerializableClass)("C:\output.xml")

The Class

Imports System.Xml.Serialization
Imports System.IO
 
Public Class Serializer
    Public Shared Sub SerailizeToXml(Of T)(ByVal Path As String, ByVal Data As T)
        Dim fs As FileStream = File.Create(Path)
        Dim xs As New XmlSerializer(GetType(T))
        xs.Serialize(fs, Data)
        fs.Close()
        fs.Dispose()
    End Sub
 
    Public Shared Function DeserializeFromXml(Of T)(ByVal Path As String) As T
        If File.Exists(Path) Then
            Dim fs As FileStream = File.OpenRead(Path)
            Dim xs As New XmlSerializer(GetType(T))
            Dim result As T = CType(xs.Deserialize(fs), T)
            fs.Close()
            fs.Dispose()
            Return result
        End If
    End Function
End Class