Questions about XML serialization of Class Properties

Questions & Answers
1

I am currently teaching myself how to save data through C# in Unity using methods other than PlayerPrefs. I decided to start with XML. I first tried to serialiaze a number of properties within my TimeController class, which inherited from Monobehaviour. I then learned that you cannot serialize classes that inherit from monobehaviour. I then created a separate class to read the properties of the original class (TimeSaveData) that doesn’t inherit from monobehaviour. I then learned that you cannot serialize a class that has a public constructor, so I removed the TimeSaveData class’ public constructor and assigned the values of the properties manually

I now have the following approach:

//original class
public class TimeController : MonoBehaviour 
{	
	//the properties I want to save
	public int igCurrentTime{get; set;}	
	public int igTotalNumDaysPassed {get; set;}
	public int rwTimeOfSave{get; set;}
	
	public void SaveTimes()
	{
		//read real world time in minutes
		rwTimeOfSave = DateTime.Now.Minute;
		
		//Instance the TimeSaveData class and transfer the values of all properties
		TimeSaveData saveData = new TimeSaveData();
		saveData.igCurrentTime = igCurrentTime;
		saveData.igTotalNumDaysPassed = igTotalNumDaysPassed;
		saveData.rwTimeOfSave = rwTimeOfSave;
		
		//I have a seperate class with a generic method for creating XML save files
		SaveLoad.SaveFile(Path.DirectorySeparatorChar + this.ToString(), saveData);
	}
}

//Class created as a holder for all the properties I want to serialize
[XmlRoot]
public class TimeSaveData
{
	[XmlElement]
	public int igCurrentTime{get; set;}
	[XmlElement]
	public int igTotalNumDaysPassed {get; set;}
	[XmlElement]
	public int rwTimeOfSave{get; set;}
}

This seems like a cumbersome way of saving data. Am I approaching XML serialization the wrong way, or is the inability to serialize properties from classes that inherit from Monobehaviour just something that is accepted? If so, are there any better/more efficient methods for me to do what I’m trying to do?

Thanks for any responses in advance.

Matt

2

Use the DataContractSerializer instead

According to this page, DataContractSerializer is better than XmlSerializer as it doesn’t run into as many problems as XML serialization