Serialization with CodeDomSerializer - How to Initialize Manager Object?

Question

There are numerous examples on the web that show how to use the CodeDomSerializer. Most of them show how to override the Serialize and Deserialize methods of that class. The problem is that this Serialize method takes a manager argument of type IDesignerSerializationManager. I cannot figure out how to create an instance of that type...

Here's what I tried:

var root = new Form();
root.Controls.Add(new TextBox()
{
   Text = "hello"
});

Type rootSerializerType = Type.GetType("System.ComponentModel.Design.Serialization.RootCodeDomSerializer, System.Design, Version=1.0.5000.0, Culture=neutral, PublicKeyToken=b03f5f7f11d50a3a", true);

var rootSerializer = Activator.CreateInstance(
   rootSerializerType,
   BindingFlags.CreateInstance | BindingFlags.NonPublic | BindingFlags.Public | BindingFlags.Instance,
   null,
   null,
   null) as CodeDomSerializer;

IDesignerSerializationManager manager = new DesignerSerializationManager();
var serializationResult = (CodeTypeDeclaration)rootSerializer.Serialize(manager, root);

Because my manager object is not properly initialized, when I call the Serialize method as shown above, this exception is thrown:

[System.InvalidOperationException] "This method cannot be invoked because the serialization manager does not have an active serialization session."

I have googled and checked StackOverflow and I can't find any help on how to properly initialize the manager object ahead of my .Serialize invokation.

Any ideas?

Take a look at this post, you may find it useful: Hosting Windows Forms Designer - Serialize and Deserialize designer at runtime. — Reza Aghaei
– Reza Aghaei, Commented Dec 31, 2019 at 5:15

ceferrari · Accepted Answer · 2017-11-14 19:42:41Z

2

You need to create the section. Change last two lines to:

DesignerSerializationManager manager = new DesignerSerializationManager();
using (var session = manager.CreateSession())
{
    var serializationResult = (CodeTypeDeclaration)rootSerializer.Serialize(manager, root);
    // handle the result here
}

Use either the concrete class DesignerSerializationManager or var, because the IDesignerSerializationManager interface does not have the CreateSession method.

edited Nov 14, 2017 at 19:42

answered Nov 14, 2017 at 16:47

ceferrari

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8 Comments

Jazimov Over a year ago

That makes sense. But when I follow your instructions I get a "Object reference not set to an instance of an object." exception at the call to the .Serialize(manager, root) method. Any ideas?

ceferrari Over a year ago

Yeah. The root (second parameter) should be initialized before the call

Jazimov Over a year ago

Yes, the root in fact contains a fully-baked object of type System.Windows.Forms.Form. I checked in the debugger and manager and rootSerializer also are set to instances of an object.

ceferrari Over a year ago

Strange. When I test with "object root = new object();" it runs just fine. Could you try it please?

ceferrari Over a year ago

Cast the the result to CodeTypeDeclaration. I updated my answer to reflect this change

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