Usage of Serialization Binder

  • Article

This sample shows how to use the SerializationBinder to change the version of a generic type when it is serialized.

Demonstrates

SerializationBinder, BinaryFormatter

Discussion

This sample shows how two entities that are targeting different versions of the .NET Framework can communicate using the binary formatter and the serialization binder.

The development of this sample has been done using .NET Remoting. The sample consists of a server targeting .NET Framework version 4, which implements a contract with generic types, and two different clients, one targeting .NET Framework 2.0 and another targeting .NET Framework 4.

The server attaches a SerializationBinder to the binary formatter to be able to change the version of the types accordingly on serialization, so both clients can deserialize those types properly.

To set up, build and run the sample

  1. To execute the client, right-click the solution, SBGenericsVTS (6 projects) and then select Properties.

  2. In Common Properties, select Startup Project, then select Multiple Startup Projects.

  3. Select Server first, then Client20 and then Client40. Select the Start action to these three projects and leave the rest set to None.

  4. Click OK and then press F5 to run the sample.