如何序列化从C＃ASP.NET 3.5中的Web服务返回的对象列表？

Question

Here is the XML that I'd like the webservice to deliver:

<business>
  <locations>
    <location>location 1</location>
    <location>location 2</location>
  </locations>
</business>

However, instead the following is being returned:

<business>
  <locations>
    <location>
      <name>location 1</name>
    </location>
    <location>
       <name>location 2</name>
    </location>
  </locations>
</business>

Here is the code used:

    [WebMethod, ScriptMethod(ResponseFormat = ResponseFormat.Xml)]
    public Business GetBusiness()
    {
        var business = new Business();
        business.Locations = new List<Location>();
        business.Locations.Add(new Location { Name = "location 1" });
        business.Locations.Add(new Location { Name = "location 2" });
        return business;
    }

    [XmlType(TypeName = "business")]
    public class Business
    {
        [XmlArray(ElementName = "locations")]
        [XmlArrayItem(ElementName = "location")]
        public List<Location> Locations { get; set; }
    }

    [XmlType(TypeName = "location")]
    public class Location
    {
        [XmlElement(ElementName = "name")]
        public string Name { get; set; }
    }

How does one get the location string include the location tag instead of having a name tag?

TIA, George

Answer 1

You need to use the XmlTextAttribute on the Name member to treat it as the text of an XML element:

[XmlType(TypeName = "location")]
public class Location
{
    [XmlText()]
    public string Name { get; set; }
}

Answer 2

Why not just use a list of strings for locations instead of a list of location objects?

    [WebMethod, ScriptMethod(ResponseFormat = ResponseFormat.Xml)]
    public Business GetBusiness()
    {
        var business = new Business();
        business.Locations = new List<string>();
        business.Locations.Add("location 1");
        business.Locations.Add("location 2");
        return business;
    }

    [XmlType(TypeName = "business")]
    public class Business
    {
        [XmlArray(ElementName = "locations")]
        [XmlArrayItem(ElementName = "location")]
        public List<string> Locations { get; set; }
    }

    //[XmlType(TypeName = "location")]
    //public class Location
    //{
    //    [XmlElement(ElementName = "name")]
    //    public string Name { get; set; }
    //}

That results in the XML you're looking for.

Answer 3

You can control the serialization and deserialization process using a number of methods specified in MSDN: http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ty01x675%28v=vs.80%29.aspx

In your case you are serializing a list of locations, using the ElementName "location". If you were serializing a list of strings public List<string> Locations {get; set; } public List<string> Locations {get; set; } public List<string> Locations {get; set; } you would get the expected result. The Location object you use places an extra level in the hiearchy, thus is serialized on it's own with it's own properties (like name).

If you implement the ISerializable interface on the Locations class, you will be in full control of the generated XML output, and can simply pass back the contents of your 'Name' property.