JAXB Does not Marshall as Expected

Question

A buddy of mine asked me to post this question:

EDIT: He decided to post the question on his own here: JAXB Unmarshalls XML Incorrectly I tried to delete this question but couldn't.

I am trying to marshall a java class, called MyContainer . This class extends my another class, called Container . Container has a variable called: protected List<ResourceReference<Component>> child

The only variable MyContainer has is the one it inherits from Container . This List , however, will not marshall with JAXB when I have child listed as an XmlList .

It will marshall as an XmlElement , however this is not how I want the data displayed. When it is marshalled as an XmlElement , it lists the attributes in the List , but not 'heirarchially' It just lists the two elements as if they were properties of the class, as opposed to belonging to the child list.

How do I get Jaxb to marshall the List (Which is instantiated as an ArrayList) correctly?

EDIT: Here's an example: This is what I am getting:

<MyContainer name="Container Name">
    <booleanVal>false</booleanVal>
    <child id="Test Comp 1"/>
    <child id="Test Comp 2"/>
</and>

This is more what I expect:

<MyContainer name="Container Name">
    <booleanVal>false</booleanVal>
    <child> /// This would be the class variable of the extended Class, Container
        <ResourceRef id="Entry 1">
        <ResourceRef id="Entry 2">
    </child>
</and>

Admittly, my current results is probably from the List in Container being marked with the @XmlElement annotation. However, JAXB will not marshall anything else..

Answer 1

Annotate your list with @XmlElementWrapper . See javadoc .