XmlSerializer - There was an error reflecting type

c# .net xml serialization .net-2.0
leora picture leora · Sep 13, 2008 · Viewed 241.8k times · Source

Using C# .NET 2.0, I have a composite data class that does have the [Serializable] attribute on it. I am creating an XMLSerializer class and passing that into the constructor:

XmlSerializer serializer = new XmlSerializer(typeof(DataClass));

I am getting an exception saying:

There was an error reflecting type.

Inside the data class there is another composite object. Does this also need to have the [Serializable] attribute, or by having it on the top object, does it recursively apply it to all objects inside?

Answer

Lamar picture Lamar · Sep 13, 2008

Look at the inner exception that you are getting. It will tell you which field/property it is having trouble serializing.

You can exclude fields/properties from xml serialization by decorating them with the [XmlIgnore] attribute.

XmlSerializer does not use the [Serializable] attribute, so I doubt that is the problem.

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