c# - Nested classes deserialized from flat XML -

if have xml file looks like

<foo>   <name>some data</name>   <bar_data>other data</bar_data>   <bar_moredata>more data</bar_moredata> </foo> 

and want turn in c# class looks like

public class foo {     public string name {get; set; }     public bar bar { get; set; } }  public class bar {     public string data { get; set; }     public string moredata { get; set; } } 

is there way accomplish simple data annotations (xmlroot, xmlelement, etc.) or option implement ixmlserializable?

edit: note, ever need deserialize data. xml 3rd party source , not need ever serialize foo in xml (if makes easier).

one option use xmlanyelementattribute below:

public class foo {     public string name { get; set; }     public bar bar { get; set; }      [xmlanyelementattribute]     public xmlelement[] barelements     {         { return null; }         set         {             bar = new bar();             var bartype = bar.gettype();             foreach (var prop in value)                 bartype.getproperty(prop.name.substring(4)).setvalue(bar, prop.innertext);         }     } }  public class bar {     public string data { get; set; }     public string moredata { get; set; } } 

when xmlserializer not recognize element adds property of type xmlelement[] marked xmlanyelementattribute. can process bar properties. used reflection there show idea.

another option deserialize twice , connect bar foo:

public class foo {     public string name { get; set; }     public bar bar { get; set; } }  [xmlroot("foo")] public class bar {     [xmlelement("bar_data")]     public string data { get; set; }     [xmlelement("bar_moredata")]     public string moredata { get; set; } }  var foo = (foo) new xmlserializer(typeof (foo)).deserialize(...); var bar = (bar) new xmlserializer(typeof (bar)).deserialize(...); foo.bar = bar 

yet option no intrusion classes being deserialized:

public class foo {     public string name { get; set; }     public bar bar { get; set; } }  public class bar {     public string data { get; set; }     public string moredata { get; set; } }  var fooserializer = new xmlserializer(typeof (foo)); fooserializer.unknownelement += (sender, e) => {     var foo = (foo) e.objectbeingdeserialized;     if(foo.bar == null)         foo.bar = new bar();     var propname = e.element.name.substring(4);     typeof(bar).getproperty(propname).setvalue(foo.bar, e.element.innertext); };  var fooinstance = fooserializer.deserialize(...); 

and if double deserialization or reflection problematic performance wise, create surrogate proxy class:

    [xmlroot("foo")]     public class foosurrogate     {         public string name { get; set; }         public string bar_data { get; set; }         public string bar_moredata { get; set; }          public foo tofoo()         {             return new foo             {                 name = name,                 bar = new bar                 {                     data = bar_data,                     moredata = bar_moredata                 }             };         }     }      var seializer = new xmlserializer(typeof (foosurrogate));     var foo = ((foosurrogate) seializer.deserialize(...)).tofoo();