Xstream Implicit Map As Attributes to Root Element

Question

I am trying to find a solution to convert a map into root element attributes using XStream.

I do not think this is possible but here is what I have tried to far.

Answer 1

Create a converter that writes out the map and falls back on marshalling the object using a reflection converter:

static class MyConverter implements Converter {

    private final Map<String, String> attributes;

    private final Class<?> clazz;

    private final Mapper mapper;

    private final ReflectionProvider reflectionProvider;

    public MyConverter(Mapper mapper,
            ReflectionProvider reflectionProvider, Class<?> clazz,
            Map<String, String> attributes) {
        super();
        this.mapper = mapper;
        this.reflectionProvider = reflectionProvider;
        this.attributes = attributes;
        this.clazz = clazz;
    }

    @Override
    public boolean canConvert(Class cls) {
        return cls == clazz;
    }

    @Override
    public void marshal(Object value, HierarchicalStreamWriter writer,
            MarshallingContext context) {
        for (String key : attributes.keySet()) {
            writer.addAttribute(key, attributes.get(key));
        }

        Converter converter = new ReflectionConverter(mapper,
                reflectionProvider);
        context.convertAnother(p, converter);
    }

    @Override
    public Object unmarshal(HierarchicalStreamReader arg0,
            UnmarshallingContext arg1) {
        // TODO Auto-generated method stub
        return null;
    }

}

Retrieve the Mapper and ReflectionProvider instances from your XStream instance, and register a converter with all necessary setup:

    XStream xs = new XStream(new DomDriver());
    Mapper mapper = xs.getMapper();
    ReflectionProvider reflectionProvider = xs.getReflectionProvider();
    xs.alias("youralias", YourRoot.class);
    xs.registerConverter(new MyConverter(mapper, reflectionProvider,
            YourRoot.class, map));

    System.out.println(xs.toXML(yourRoot));