C# binary serialization error

Question

So here it goes,

I have the following JSON string:

{"sTest":"Hello","oTest":{"vTest":{},iTest:0.0}}

And I have de-serialize it using Newtonsoft.JSON as the following:

Dictionary<string, dynamic> obj = JsonConvert.DeserializeObject<Dictionary<string, dynamic>>(json)

The problem is, I have a requirement that requires me to serialize that object into a binary file using BinaryFormatter. And by doing the following:

Stream stream = new FileStream(System.Web.HttpContext.Current.Server.MapPath("~/_etc/") + "obj.dat", FileMode.Create, FileAccess.ReadWrite, FileShare.Read);
BinaryFormatter serializer = new BinaryFormatter();
serializer.Serialize(stream, e.props);
stream.Close();

I got an error saying:

Type 'Newtonsoft.Json.Linq.JObject' in Assembly 'Newtonsoft.Json, Version=6.0.0.0, Culture=neutral, PublicKeyToken=xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx' is not marked as serializable.

I have no idea how to continue. Is there something i'm missing? Any ideas? Thanks!

Jon Skeet · Accepted Answer · 2015-06-30 16:40:27Z

4

To use BinaryFormatter, you'll need to create serializable classes to match the data in your JSON. So for example:

// I'm hoping the real names are rather more useful - or you could use
// Json.NET attributes to perform mapping.
[Serializable]
public class Foo
{
    public string sTest { get; set; }
    public Bar oTest { get; set; }
}

[Serializable]
public class Bar
{
    public List<string> vTest { get; set; }
    public double iTest { get; set; }
}

Then you can deserialize from JSON to a Foo, and then serialize that instance.

edited Jun 30, 2015 at 16:40

answered Jun 30, 2015 at 16:25

Jon Skeet

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4 Comments

Galih Dono Prabowo Over a year ago

does that mean that i can't serialize dynamic object into binary file? is there another work around that allows me to do so? Anyways, many thanks, mate!

Jon Skeet Over a year ago

@GalihDonoPrabowo: Well there's no such thing as a "dynamic object" really - you're trying to serialize a JObject. The BinaryFormatter has no idea that your variable uses dynamic. Personally I'd recommend trying to get rid of the requirement - the .NET binary formatter is pretty fragile and annoying in various ways... if your real requirement is a compact representation, there are lots of other options. (And "binary file" doesn't imply "using .NET binary serializatoin" necessarily...)

dbc Over a year ago

Likely marking the class with [Serializable] would be simpler than implementing ISerializable.

Galih Dono Prabowo Over a year ago

Requirement dropped! Thanks a bunch guys! [^_^]

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