Convert structure to byte array in .NET

Question

I wish to write a structure made up of fixed length strings to a file using My.Computer.FileSystem.WriteAllBytes or the like.

I am using a VB6 project with fixed length strings that I have converted in to VB.Net.

    Structure Record
        <VBFixedString(22),System.Runtime.InteropServices.MarshalAs(System.Runtime.InteropServices.UnmanagedType.ByValArray,SizeConst:=22)> Public tim() As Char
        <VBFixedString(130),System.Runtime.InteropServices.MarshalAs(System.Runtime.InteropServices.UnmanagedType.ByValArray,SizeConst:=130)> Public des() As Char
        <VBFixedString(2),System.Runtime.InteropServices.MarshalAs(System.Runtime.InteropServices.UnmanagedType.ByValArray,SizeConst:=2)> Public crlf() As Char
    End Structure

Still new to marshalling in C#, but how would I get this structure to an array of bytes to write to a file. Is there some marshalling trick or am I going to have to write a custom method?

As a side note, a structure is not a reference type. It's a value type. — Mehrdad Afshari
– Mehrdad Afshari, Commented Aug 17, 2009 at 18:25
Changed in title. I knew that but for some reason still wrote reference. — user142350
– user142350, Commented Aug 17, 2009 at 19:00

Mehrdad Afshari · Accepted Answer · 2009-08-17 16:34:02Z

5

Use serialization mechanisms provided by the .NET framework:

Dim formatter As New BinaryFormatter
formatter.Serialize(outputFileStream, objectInstance)

You should add <Serializable()> attribute to your type.

edited Aug 17, 2009 at 16:34

answered Aug 17, 2009 at 16:24

Mehrdad Afshari

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3 Comments

Charles Bretana Over a year ago

@dnh828, To add to @Mehrdad's answer, also make sure all the types in the object graph you are trying to convert are decorated with the [Serializable] attribute...

user142350 Over a year ago

How do I apply the serializable attribute to these fixed length strings?

Mehrdad Afshari Over a year ago

You don't need to. Just apply it to the Structure. Char arrays are serializable.

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