Naming Generic DataContracts in WCF

Question

I am using a Generic Class as a Response Data Contract. All is good and this is streamlining the design of my WCF service significantly.

Each request is given a standard response object with the following signature:

• Status (Enum)
• Message (String)
• Result (T)

Below is the Response Class:

[DataContract]
    public class Response<T>
    {
        public Response() {}

        public Response(T result)
        {
            this.result = result;
            if (result != null)
            {
                this.status = Status.StatusEnum.Success;
            }
            else
            {
                this.status = Status.StatusEnum.Warning;
            }
        }

        public Response(T result, Status.StatusEnum status)
        {
            this.status = status;
            this.message = message;
        }

        public Response(T result, Status.StatusEnum status, string message)
        {
            this.status = status;
            this.message = message;
            this.result = result;
        }

        [DataMember]
        public Status.StatusEnum status { get; set; }

        [DataMember]
        public string message { get; set; }

        [DataMember]
        public T result { get; set; }
    }

And this works brillantly. Only problem I have is that the WCF Client is given a really crappy name for this object "ResponseOfAccountnT9LOUZL"

Is there a way to get around this issue?

Should I be using this class as just a Abstract class which is inherited? I'd rather not have multiple classes cluttering my code.

Answer 1

Ok found the Answer

You can specify the Serialised version using the following syntax:

[DataContract(Name = "MyClassOf{0}{1}")]

class MyClass { }

So if I had a Class called Response which takes a Generic T parameter I would use

[DataContract(Name = "ResponseOfType{0}")]

class Response { }