How do I serialize an enum value as an int?

Question

I want to serialize my enum-value as an int, but i only get the name.

Here is my (sample) class and enum:

public class Request {
    public RequestTy         


        

Answer 1

Please see the full example Console Application program below for an interesting way to achieve what you're looking for using the DataContractSerializer:

using System;
using System.IO;
using System.Runtime.Serialization;

namespace ConsoleApplication1
{
    [DataContract(Namespace="petermcg.wordpress.com")]
    public class Request
    {
        [DataMember(EmitDefaultValue = false)]
        public RequestType request;
    }

    [DataContract(Namespace = "petermcg.wordpress.com")]
    public enum RequestType
    {
        [EnumMember(Value = "1")]
        Booking = 1,
        [EnumMember(Value = "2")]
        Confirmation = 2,
        [EnumMember(Value = "4")]
        PreBooking = 4,
        [EnumMember(Value = "5")]
        PreBookingConfirmation = 5,
        [EnumMember(Value = "6")]
        BookingStatus = 6
    }

    class Program
    {
        static void Main(string[] args)
        {
            DataContractSerializer serializer = new DataContractSerializer(typeof(Request));

            // Create Request object
            Request req = new Request();
            req.request = RequestType.Confirmation;

            // Serialize to File
            using (FileStream fileStream = new FileStream("request.txt", FileMode.Create))
            {
                serializer.WriteObject(fileStream, req);
            }

            // Reset for testing
            req = null;

            // Deserialize from File
            using (FileStream fileStream = new FileStream("request.txt", FileMode.Open))
            {
                req = serializer.ReadObject(fileStream) as Request;
            }

            // Writes True
            Console.WriteLine(req.request == RequestType.Confirmation);
        }
    }
}

The contents of request.txt are as follows after the call to WriteObject:

    2

You'll need a reference to the System.Runtime.Serialization.dll assembly for DataContractSerializer.