Serializing a class to a byte[]

Archive
1

I’m trying to serialize a class that I made to a byte array so that I can easily pass it over a network stream.
I am having an issue with the following exception when trying to serialize my object “System.NotImplementedException”.
It doesn’t provide anymore information about the exception.


[Serializable]
public class Payload
{
    private const int maxByteArrayLength = 4;
    private byte[] address = new byte[maxByteArrayLength];
    private DeviceType deviceType;
    private RequestFlag requestFlag;
    private int messageValue;
    private DateTime time;
    ...
}
...
private void SerializeMyObject(ref Payload ms, out byte[] data)
{
   data = Reflection.Serialize(ms, typeof(Payload));
}
private void DeserializeMyObject(out Payload ms, ref byte[] data)
{
    ms = (Payload)Reflection.Deserialize(data, typeof(Payload));
}

I would much appreciate any advice on how to serialize my object correctly.

EDIT: DeviceType & RequestFlag are both public enums.

2

Do a search from the top of the page for “serialization”. You will find lots of discussions.

3

You cannot directly serialize classes. You have to serialize the properties by hand.

This BitConverter can ba handy:

https://bitbucket.org/aalmada/hydramf/src/779d1c524a9c/HydraMF.Hardware/BitConverter.cs

4

@ JPenny1993 - Use:

payload = Reflection.Deserialize(ioBuffer, null) as Payload;

byte[] ioBuffer = Reflection.Serialize(Payload, null);

5

@ Robvan:

Your right. Interesting. I didn’t realize that serialization is available on the bigger GHI devices. I always stuck to BitConverters and thought that’s the only way.

6

Thanks RobvanSchelven;

The code you supplied works brilliantly on my Spider. I can’t say the same for the Netduino Plus which I am also using, but I now understand why. Sorry I didn’t specify the hardware I was using.

Thanks Peter B;

The BitConverter you linked me to looks like it is what will fix my issue.

7

@ JPenny1993 - FYI, I just posted some code that I use to serialize a class to a byte[]. See here: https://www.ghielectronics.com/community/forum/topic?id=14938