How Can I Force Visual Studio to Automatically Generate XML Serialization Assemblies in .NET?

Automating XML Serialization Assembly Generation in .NET

.NET uses XML serialization assemblies to manage object serialization and deserialization. While these assemblies typically generate automatically, you might encounter FileNotFoundException errors during XML reading with XmlSerializer if they're missing. Manually creating the assembly using sgen.exe works, but automating this within Visual Studio is preferable.

The Challenge:

Visual Studio's "Generate Serialization Assembly" setting isn't always reliable. It uses the /proxytypes switch with sgen.exe, preventing assembly generation if no proxy types exist.

The Solution:

To reliably automate serialization assembly generation, bypass the /proxytypes switch. This is achieved by adding the SGenUseProxyTypes MSBuild property to your project file and setting it to false. This forces assembly generation regardless of proxy type presence.

Implementation Steps:

Edit your project's .csproj file (or equivalent) and add the following within the <propertygroup></propertygroup> sections for your Debug and Release configurations:

<PropertyGroup Condition="'$(Configuration)|$(Platform)' == 'Debug|x86'">
  <GenerateSerializationAssemblies>On</GenerateSerializationAssemblies>
  <SGenUseProxyTypes>false</SGenUseProxyTypes>
</PropertyGroup>
<PropertyGroup Condition="'$(Configuration)|$(Platform)' == 'Release|x86'">
  <GenerateSerializationAssemblies>On</GenerateSerializationAssemblies>
  <SGenUseProxyTypes>false</SGenUseProxyTypes>
</PropertyGroup>

Remember to adjust the x86 platform condition if necessary to match your project's target platform (e.g., AnyCPU). After this modification, Visual Studio will automatically generate the XML serialization assembly, preventing FileNotFoundException errors during serialization and deserialization.

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