XmlSerializer and nullable attributes

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I have a class with numerous Nullable<T> properties which I want to be serializable to XML as attributes. This is apparently a no-no as they are considered 'complex types'. So, instead I implement the *Specified pattern, where I create an addition *Value and *Specified property as follows:

[XmlIgnore]
public int? Age
{
    get { return this.age; }
    set { this.age = value; }
}

[XmlAttribute("Age")]
public int AgeValue
{
    get { return this.age.Value; }
    set { this.age = value; }
}

[XmlIgnore]
public bool AgeValueSpecified
{
    get { return this.age.HasValue; }
}

Which works fine - if the 'Age' property has a value, it is serialized as an attribute. If it doesn't have a value, it isn't serialized.

The problem is that, as I mentioned, a have a lot of Nullable-s in my class and this pattern is just making things messy and unmanageable.

I'm hoping there is a way to make Nullable more XmlSerializer friendly. Or, failing that, a way to create a Nullable replacement which is.

Does anyone have any ideas how I could do this?

Thanks.

2 Answers
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