Serialize Linq objects

If you are trying to serialize Linq objects then you will have to foolow these steps:

1. First, you have to mark your data context as serializable:

2. Then, in order to avoid errors like “circular reference was detected while serializing an object of type…”, you will have to set “Access” to “Internal” on your object’s relations (It is a compromise, but it needs to be done):

        

3. You can now use these methods:

public static string Serialize(object o)
	{
		XmlSerializer serizer = new XmlSerializer(o.GetType());
		StringBuilder sb = new StringBuilder();
		StringWriter sw = new StringWriter(sb);
		serizer.Serialize(sw, o);
		sw.Close();
		return sb.ToString();
	}

public static T Deserialize<T>(string xml)
	{
		XmlSerializer serizer = new XmlSerializer(typeof(T));
		StringReader sr = new StringReader(xml);
		return (T)serizer.Deserialize(sr);
	}

like this (example):

AddressBookDataContext data = new AddressBookDataContext();
string xml = LINQHelper.Serialize(data.AB_Offices.ToList());
//..
List< AB_Offices>list = LINQHelper. Deserialize<List<AB_Offices>>(xml);

It works!