CODEWITHSUNDEEP
c#visual-studio-2008xml-serialization
Hemant
Hemant

Reputation: 19826

What is MyAssembly.XmlSerializers.dll generated for?

I am working on a project which generates an assembly. I just noticed that an additional assembly *.XmlSerializers.dll is being generated. Why this file is auto generated and what it is used for?

Upvotes: 135

Views: 63215

Answers (6)

Smells_like_Dynamite
Smells_like_Dynamite

Reputation: 23

I only have this when generating using a xmlRootAttrebute.

Not sure for your use-case but I used:

private static string ChangeRootName(string xmlString, string newRootName)
{
    var xmlDoc = new XmlDocument();
    xmlDoc.LoadXml(xmlString);

    // Create a new root element with the specified name
    XmlElement newRootElement = xmlDoc.CreateElement(newRootName);

    // Move all child nodes from the old root to the new root
    while (xmlDoc.DocumentElement.HasChildNodes)
    {
        newRootElement.AppendChild(xmlDoc.DocumentElement.FirstChild);
    }

    // Replace the old root with the new root
    xmlDoc.ReplaceChild(newRootElement, xmlDoc.DocumentElement);

    return xmlDoc.OuterXml;
}

And use the normal XmlSerialize and not have this issue.

Upvotes: 0

Grzenio
Grzenio

Reputation: 36639

In .NET implementation, the XmlSerializer generates a temporary assembly for serializing/deserializing your classes (for performance reasons). It can either be generated on the fly (but it takes time on every execution), or it can be pregenerated during compilation and saved in this assembly you are asking about.

You can change this behaviour in project options (tab Compile -> Advanced Compile Options -> Generate serialization assemblies, Auto or On, respectively). The corresponding element in the project file is GenerateSerializationAssemblies, for example, <GenerateSerializationAssemblies>Auto</GenerateSerializationAssemblies>.

Upvotes: 107

Malcolm
Malcolm

Reputation: 1259

The project only generates the project.XMLSerialisers.dll for web applications. For other applications you have to run sgen separately.

Upvotes: 4

jontsnz
jontsnz

Reputation: 857

FYI. The exact steps to stop the XmlSerializers.dll from being auto-generated are:

  1. In VS, right-click your project file and select "Properties"
  2. Click the "Build" tab
  3. Change the "Generate serialization assembly" dropdown from "Auto" to "Off"
  4. Rebuild and it will be gone

Upvotes: 61

abhilash
abhilash

Reputation: 5641

*.XmlSerializers.dll are generated using the Sgen.exe [XML Serializer Generator Tool]

See Sgen.exe on MSDN

Typically the Sgen.exe is used in Post Build events of Projects. See if your project has a post build event which generates the *.XmlSerializers.dll

Upvotes: 5

Alan Christensen
Alan Christensen

Reputation: 847

I think this is the JIT (Just in time) compilation of XML serialisers for performance reasons.

You get the same thing with RegEx instances using the RegexOptions.Compiled option turned on.

I'm no .NET CLR expert, sorry for lack of precise technical detail.

Upvotes: 6

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