serialization - How to serialize a derived type as its base type with WCF

Question

I have a common library with some objects in it. Then I have a service project that references the common library and creates some derived types from objects in the common library.

I want my service to serialize the derived types as their base types defined in the common library.

I cannot use KnownTypes on the objects in the common library because I don't want the common library referencing the service assemblies.

So how can I have wcf serialize the derived types as their base types?

I wish I could do something like...

[DataContract(SerializeAsType = typeof(BaseType))] public class DerivedType : BaseType { }

Is anything like this possible?

Answer 1

We have just "solved" this issue by setting inherited class [DataContract(Name="BaseClass")]. It works even if inherited class is internal and defined in another project.

Hope it helps.