Is List<T> is serializable by default when T is serializable?

Question

User-758219241 posted

there is a data contract (say, `EmployeeView`) in my WCF service. I have decorated it with `Serializable` attribute, and all members are marked as `DataMember`
A method in the WCF is returning `List<EmployeeView>`.
When I execute this method through WCF Test client or MVC app, it gets executed successfully, but while transferring result it is giving an error of `The underlying connection was closed: The connection was closed unexpectedly`. Is `List<EmployeeView>` not serialized though `EmployeeView` is marked as serialized?

Answer 1

User-837620913 posted

WCF serializes Lists<T> as arrays, so that should work. Make sure your DataContracts are setup correctly, like this:

[DataContract]
public class EmployeeList
{
    [DataMember]
    public int Count { get; set; }

    [DataMember]
    public List<EmployeeView> ListOfEmployees
    {
        { get; set; }
    }
}

[DataContract]
public class EmployeeView
{
    [DataMember]
    public string EmployeeName { get; set; }

    // more properties
}

You can run into problems if you are using inheritance. If that is an issue, use the KnownTypes attribute. See this article for details: http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/magazine/gg598929.aspx

Answer 2

User-758219241 posted

Hi Darrel,

Thanks for the link you provided, and I came across something which will be very much helpful for me.

however, I have tried adding "knowntype", but it didn't work.

Also, i tried removing inheritance in data contract and that too didn't work.

whatever attempt I do I get same error message saying, "The underlying connection was closed: The connection was closed unexpectedly."

I am clueless on this to be honest 

Answer 3

User-1000095884 posted

whatever attempt I do I get same error message saying, "The underlying connection was closed: The connection was closed unexpectedly."

To troubleshoot the issue, please enable tracing for your service and inspect the logs to help to dignose the problem.

http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ms733025.aspx

Best Regards.