Serialize char data type with XmlSerializer

Question

I have a class which has property whiches type is char as following

    [XmlRoot("Root")]
    public class TestClass
    {
        [XmlElement("Test", typeof(char))]
        public char TestProperty { get; set; }
    }

When value of TestProperty is 'N' and if I serialize TestClass it will produce following result:

    <Root>
        <Test>78</Test>
    </Root>

But what I want is to have following

    <Root>
        <Test>N</Test>
    </Root>

Is it possible without changing type of TestProperty to string?

Answer 1

Not AFAIK. You can cheat, though:

[XmlIgnore]
public char TestProperty { get; set; }

[XmlElement("Test"), Browsable(false)]
public string TestPropertyString {
    get { return TestProperty.ToString(); }
    set { TestProperty = value.Single(); }
}