CA2239: Provide deserialization methods for optional fields

Cause

A type has a field that is marked with the System.Runtime.Serialization.OptionalFieldAttribute attribute and the type does not provide de-serialization event handling methods.

Rule Description

The OptionalFieldAttribute attribute has no effect on serialization; a field marked with the attribute is serialized. However, the field is ignored on de-serialization and retains the default value associated with its type. De-serialization event handlers should be declared to set the field during the de-serialization process.

How to Fix Violations

To fix a violation of this rule, add de-serialization event handling methods to the type.

When to Suppress Warnings

It is safe to suppress a warning from this rule if the field should be ignored during the de-serialization process.

Example

The following example shows a type with an optional field and de-serialization event handling methods.

Imports System
Imports System.Reflection
Imports System.Runtime.Serialization

<Assembly: AssemblyVersionAttribute("2.0.0.0")>
Namespace UsageLibrary

   <SerializableAttribute> _ 
   Public Class SerializationEventHandlers

      <OptionalFieldAttribute(VersionAdded := 2)> _ 
      Dim optionalField As Integer = 5

      <OnDeserializingAttribute> _ 
      Private Sub OnDeserializing(context As StreamingContext)
         optionalField = 5
      End Sub

      <OnDeserializedAttribute> _ 
      Private Sub OnDeserialized(context As StreamingContext)
         ' Set optionalField if dependent on other deserialized values. 
      End Sub 

   End Class 

End Namespace

using System;
using System.Reflection;
using System.Runtime.Serialization;

[assembly: AssemblyVersionAttribute("2.0.0.0")]
namespace UsageLibrary
{
   [SerializableAttribute]
   public class SerializationEventHandlers
   {
      [OptionalFieldAttribute(VersionAdded = 2)]
      int optionalField = 5;

      [OnDeserializingAttribute]
      void OnDeserializing(StreamingContext context)
      {
         optionalField = 5;
      }

      [OnDeserializedAttribute]
      void OnDeserialized(StreamingContext context)
      {
         // Set optionalField if dependent on other deserialized values.
      }
   }
}

Related Rules

CA2236: Call base class methods on ISerializable types

CA2240: Implement ISerializable correctly

CA2229: Implement serialization constructors

CA2238: Implement serialization methods correctly

CA2235: Mark all non-serializable fields

CA2237: Mark ISerializable types with SerializableAttribute

CA2120: Secure serialization constructors