How can I deserialize an interface type?

Question

I serialize a class which includes a property called Model as IModel but when I try to Deserialize it I'm getting the following exception:

System.Runtime.Serialization.SerializationException: Type 'MYN.IModel' in Assembly 'MYN.Defs, Version=1.0.0.0, Culture=neutral, PublicKeyToken=null' is not marked as serializable.

It's binary serialization. Model marked as serializable. Obviously IModel is not.

So what's the solution, what am I doing wrong? Why does it try to seriliaze or deserialize an interface anyway?

P.S. Interface hasn't got an Enum in it.

Answer 1

It makes sense to get that error, because an IModel property could refer to different classes and there is no guarantee that they are all Serializable.

---

OK, I gave it a try and we have a:

Testcase error, it works on my computer.

interface IFoo { }

[Serializable]
class CFoo : IFoo   { }

[Serializable]
class Bar
{
    public IFoo Foo { get; set; }
}

And Bar Serializes and Deserializes fine.

Bar b = new Bar();
b.Foo = new CFoo();

using (var s = new System.IO.MemoryStream())
{
    var bf = new System.Runtime.Serialization.Formatters.Binary.BinaryFormatter();
    bf.Serialize(s, b);
    s.Position = 0;
    b = (Bar)bf.Deserialize(s);

    Console.WriteLine("OK");
}

So, what is different from your IModel and Model?