Applied XML Programming for Microsoft® .NET

Binary Data Serialization

There are basically two ways to serialize ADO.NET objects: using the object’s own XML interface, and using .NET Framework data formatters. So far, we have reviewed the DataSet object’s methods for serializing data to XML, and you’ve learned how to persist other objects like DataTable and DataView to XML. Let’s look now at what’s needed to serialize ADO.NET objects using the standard .NET Framework data formatters.

The big difference between methods like WriteXml and .NET Framework data formatters is that in the former case, the object itself controls its own serialization process. When .NET Framework data formatters are involved, any object can behave in one of two ways. The object can declare itself as serializable ...