Confusion around SOAPFormatter vs. XMLSerializer

[Aaron Anderson]

If I use SOAPFormatter when serializing my objects, all internal object data
gets serialized, but in a format I don't like and can't control. If I use
XMLSerializer to serialize my objects, I can control the format, but only
public properties are being written, ignoring other internal object data.

What am I doing wrong and how do I get out of this mess? Here's the sample
VB.NET code:

Imports System.IO
Imports System.Xml.Serialization

Module Module1

Sub Main()

'Create contact object and populate it with dummy data.
Dim myContact As New Contact(123)
myContact.FirstName = "Joe"
myContact.LastName = "Smo"
myContact.Address.AddressLine1 = "123 Main St."
myContact.Address.AddressLine2 = "Somewhere, TX 78745"

'Serialize using SOAPFormatter
'This serializes all internal data, but in a format I don't want.
Dim file As New FileStream("myContact.XML", FileMode.Create)
Dim formatter As New
System.Runtime.Serialization.Formatters.Soap.SoapFormatter()
formatter.Serialize(file, myContact)
file.Close()

'Serialize using XMLSerializer
'This gets me the format, but not the internal data.
Dim writer As New StreamWriter("myContact2.xml")
Dim serializer As New
System.Xml.Serialization.XmlSerializer(GetType(Contact))
serializer.Serialize(writer, myContact)

End Sub

End Module

Public Class <Serializable()> Contact


Private myFirstName As String
Private myLastName As String
Private myContactID As Integer
Private myAddress As Address

Public Overloads Sub new(ByVal contactID As Integer)
MyBase.New()
myContactID = contactID
myAddress = New Address()
End Sub
Public Overloads Sub new()
Call Me.New(0)
End Sub

Public Property <XMLAttributeAttribute()> FirstName() As String
Get
Return myFirstName
End Get
Set
myFirstName = value
End Set
End Property
Public Property <XMLAttributeAttribute()> LastName() As String
Get
Return myLastName
End Get
Set
myLastName = value
End Set
End Property
Public Property <XMLElementAttribute()> Address() As Address
Get
Return myAddress
End Get
Set
myAddress = value
End Set
End Property
Public Overrides Function ToString() As String
Return "myFirstName = " & myFirstName & ". myLastName = " &
myLastName
End Function
End Class

Public Class <Serializable()> Address
Implements System.Runtime.Serialization.ISerializable

Private myAddressLine1 As String
Private myAddressLine2 As String

Private Sub GetObjectData(ByVal info As
System.Runtime.Serialization.SerializationInfo, ByVal context As
System.Runtime.Serialization.StreamingContext) Implements
System.Runtime.Serialization.ISerializable.GetObjectData
Call info.AddValue("myAddressLine1", myAddressLine1)
End Sub

Public Property AddressLine1() As String
Get
Return myAddressLine1
End Get
Set
myAddressLine1 = value
End Set
End Property

Public Property AddressLine2() As String
Get
Return myAddressLine2
End Get
Set
myAddressLine2 = value
End Set
End Property

End Class

[acmclellen]

Hi Aaron
I'm new to all this too but have a stab at what I'm about to suggest and it could help you format your SOAP serializations. In the SoapFormatter class there's a property called SurrogateSelector that could help you. Have a look at the article "http://www.codeproject.com/dotnet/Surrogate_Serialization.asp" and let me know if it is what you are looking for.
Thanks.
Regards.
Craig