Identify XML Serialization rule(s) specified in a class

Is it possible to do the following :

Create an instance of SomeCLass in another part of my code AND

Using this newly created instance/object can I obtain the :

[System.Xml.Serialization.XmlElementAttribute("someClass")] XML Serialization rule

What I am Trying To Achieve :

1. Identify whether SomeCLass contains an XML Serialization rule on any property in it

2. If it does contain such a serialization rule, identify the rule.

    (i.e. whether its an ... XMLIgnore || XMLElement || XMLAttribute ... etc.)

---

The class referred to in the question :

    Class SomeClass
    {
            SomeOtherClass[] privtArr;

            [System.Xml.Serialization.XmlElementAttribute("SomeOtherClass")]
            public SomeOtherClass[] anInstance
            {
                get
                {
                   开发者_如何学运维 return this.privtArr;
                }
                set
                {
                    this.privtArr = value;
                }
            } 
    }

---

You don't need to create an instance; simply look at the Type, in particular GetFields() and GetProperties(). Loop over the public non-static fields/properties, and check Attribute.GetCustomAttribute(member, attributeType) - i.e.

public class Test
{
    [XmlElement("abc")]
    public int Foo { get; set; }
    [XmlIgnore]
    public string Bar { get; set; }

    static void Main()
    {
        var props = typeof (Test).GetProperties(
              BindingFlags.Public | BindingFlags.Instance);
        foreach(var prop in props)
        {
            if(Attribute.IsDefined(prop, typeof(XmlIgnoreAttribute)))
            {
                Console.WriteLine("Ignore: " + prop.Name);
                continue; // it is ignored; stop there
            }
            var el = (XmlElementAttribute) Attribute.GetCustomAttribute(
                   prop, typeof (XmlElementAttribute));
            if(el != null)
            {
                Console.WriteLine("Element: " + (
                  string.IsNullOrEmpty(el.ElementName) ?
                  prop.Name : el.ElementName));
            }
            // todo: repeat for other interesting attributes; XmlAttribute,
            // XmlArrayItem, XmlInclude, etc...
        }
    }
}

If you do need to create an instance, use new or Activator.CreateInstance.

---

You don't even need to instantiate SomeClass.

use Reflection to list (public) fields and properties of typeof(SomeClass). Then for each field/property, enumerate attributes and filter the ones you are interested in (such as XmlElement(), XmlAttribute(),...

Note however that the XmlSerializer serializes public fields and properties even if they don't have an XmlBlah attribute. They are serialized unless they are marked as [XmlIgnore()]. You should then lookup this attribute as well.

Of course, you may also be interested in Xml attributes at the class level.