Question about Serializing classes

[Simon]

I'm developing a new application and want to use serialization as a way to
save my data.
But as I add new variables to my classes, how will serializing cope with
that?
For example, suppose I have a class called Point which has 2 variables X and
Y.
I save a few jobs (by serializing), and then enhance my application by
adding a Z variable.
How will serializing behave when loading those jobs that were created before
Z was added?

 

[Jay B. Harlow [MVP - Outlook]]

Simon,
One of the following articles on serialization discusses how to version your
classes using serialization. I implement ISerializable and write a version
tag, then when I read I read the version tag to decide if the "new"
information is present or not.

http://msdn.microsoft.com/msdnmag/issues/02/04/net/
http://msdn.microsoft.com/msdnmag/issues/02/07/net/
http://msdn.microsoft.com/msdnmag/issues/02/09/net/

Hope this helps
Jay

 

[Simon]

It certainly does help.

Thanks

Simon,
One of the following articles on serialization discusses how to version your
classes using serialization. I implement ISerializable and write a version
tag, then when I read I read the version tag to decide if the "new"
information is present or not.

http://msdn.microsoft.com/msdnmag/issues/02/04/net/
http://msdn.microsoft.com/msdnmag/issues/02/07/net/
http://msdn.microsoft.com/msdnmag/issues/02/09/net/

Hope this helps
Jay