serialization

[brain2cpu]

I want to serialize a private field of a class: ... private ArrayList items = null; ... XmlSerializer serializer = new XmlSerializer(typeof(MyClass)); TextWriter writer = new StreamWriter(path); serializer.Serialize(writer, this); writer.Close(); the items array is serialized only if change it to public, but I do not want to do this. items are presented by the class through some properties, each making some work before returns something; the basic form of items should not be visible. Any solution?

[turbochimp]

I'm not sure why you're using the XML serializer for this, but here goes... XML serialization is not designed to access private class members. If you want to force XML serialization to store private class mambers, you may be able to do so using the IXmlSerializable interface see here[^] for a little more info. If XML serialization is not a requirement, you might consider binary serialization. There's much better support for customizing the serialization process built into the framework (and documented). Good luck.

The most exciting phrase to hear in science, the one that heralds the most discoveries, is not 'Eureka!' ('I found it!') but 'That's funny...’

[brain2cpu]

I choose XML serialization because I need a text file, which can be edited if needed. If other methods give me a text format it would be OK.