How to XML serialization a Form?

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I am trying to XML serialize a Form in Windows Application.

I draw two buttons, and write lines as below, when running this snippet,
it shows the line of
"XmlSerializer xs = new XmlSerializer(typeof(Form));"
is error (the form type is not correct ?)

How can I correct it to let it work fine? Thanks.

C#

private void button2_Click(object sender, EventArgs e)
{
     Form SaveForm = new Form();
     SaveForm.Location = new Point(100, 100);
     FileStream fs = new FileStream("SaveForm.tmp",
                     FileMode.Create, FileAccess.Write);
     XmlSerializer xs = new XmlSerializer(typeof(Form));
     xs.Serialize(fs, SaveForm);
     fs.Close();
}

private void button3_Click(object sender, EventArgs e)
{
     Form SaveForm;
     FileStream fs = new FileStream("SaveForm.tmp", 
                     FileMode.Open, FileAccess.Read);
     XmlSerializer xs = new XmlSerializer(typeof(Form));
     SaveForm = (Form)xs.Deserialize(fs);
     fs.Close();
     SaveForm.BringToFront();
     SaveForm.Show();
}

Posted 17-Nov-10 0:12am

Sports Kuo

Updated 17-Nov-10 0:31am

Sandeep Mewara

v3

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Sandeep Mewara 17-Nov-10 6:31am

Use PRE tags to format the code part from next time. It makes the question readable.

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Dave Kreskowiak · Accepted Answer · 2010-11-17T15:53:00

OK, you still can't serialize a form.

You're going to implement a kind of Command pattern to keep track of the steps necessary to recreate what the user does. For example, if the user drops a panel control on the form, you create a Command object that contains the details of the type of control and its properties in a serializable collection. Then you send that command to your designer, which will actually create the panel with the proper properties and show it.

Dave Kreskowiak · Accepted Answer · 2010-11-17T04:30:00

Solution 1

You can't. The Form class is not Serializable. You'll have to save off the properties you want yourself. Why are you trying to serialize a Form anyway? There's no reason for it.

Posted 17-Nov-10 4:30am

Dave Kreskowiak

Comments

Sports Kuo 17-Nov-10 21:17pm

======================================= new comment
Thanks Dave of your answer.

In fact it's a long story, please see below in patient.
1. I am writing a windows application, the main form includes :
1.1 a ContentPanel. (in order to add system built-in toolstripcontainer, since it can automatically doing docking/floating/... issues)
1.2 on this ContentPanel, user will create several forms. (so I have to do "toolStripContainer1.ContentPanel.Controls.Add(form)" for all forms created by user)
1.3 on each form, user will select several objects (it's a panel with an image on it), so I have to do
"Form.Controls.Add(ControlPanel);" for all objects)
2. After creating several forms with objects, user may save all data into files, and will read it for next use,
so I have to display all forms with objects on main form as defined at last time.
3. The questions now are :
3.1 How can I save those huge data into file ?
3.2 Is there any simple serialization / deserialization way to save form objects and panel objects into file ? (so I do not need to get/set form/object related data so detailed)
3.3 Any suggestion or comments on all possible way to quick reach the purpose ?

How to XML serialization a Form?

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