Namespace for [DataContract]

Question

I can't find the namespace to use for [DataContract] and [DataMember] elements. According to what I've found, it seems that adding the following should be enough, but in my case it is not.

using System;
using System.Runtime.Serialization;

Here is a snippet of my code:

using System;
using System.Runtime.Serialization;

namespace MyNamespace {

    [DataContract]
    public class Tuple<T1, T2> {
            // A custom implementation of a Tuple
            //...
            //...
        }
}

And the error I get:

The type or namespace name 'DataContract' could not be found (are you missing a using directive or an assembly reference?)

Am I not using the right namespaces?

Solution 1

DataContractAttribute Class is in the System.Runtime.Serialization namespace.

You should add a reference to System.Runtime.Serialization.dll. That assembly isn't referenced by default though. To add the reference to your project you have to go to References -> Add Reference in the Solution Explorer and add an assembly reference manually.

Solution 2

In visual studio for .Net 4.0 framework,

1. Try to add new reference to project.
2. On .Net Tab, Search System.Runtime.Serialization.
3. Now, you can use using System.Runtime.Serialization. And the error will not be shown.

Solution 3

http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/system.runtime.serialization.datacontractattribute.aspx

DataContractAttribute is in System.Runtime.Serialization namespace and you should reference System.Runtime.Serialization.dll. It's only available in .Net >= 3

Solution 4

[DataContract] and [DataMember] attribute are found in System.ServiceModel namespace which is in System.ServiceModel.dll .

System.ServiceModel uses the System and System.Runtime.Serialization namespaces to serialize the datamembers.

Solution 5

I solved this problem by adding C:\Program Files (x86)\Reference Assemblies\Microsoft\Framework.NETFramework\v4.0\System.Runtime.Serialization.dll in the reference

View more solutions

Comments

[dudeNumber4]

Using VS 2017, compiler error, can't build, no message in errors list or any indication at all. No syntax coloring of DataContract, nothing.

[Sim Mak]

@dudeNumber4 Right click on your project Add/Reference. In the dialog find System.Runtime.Serialization and make checkbox cheked state. Then Press "Ok"

[marc_s]

....and that assembly isn't referenced by default, so you have to go to References -> Add Reference in Solution Explorer and add an assembly reference...

[Otiel]

That's it, I didn't have the reference in my solution! I thought that if a reference were needed, it would get me an error on the line using System.Runtime.Serialization;. I guess I was wrong :)

[Yatrix]

Ugh. Why on Earth doesn't it error on the using statement? That seems to make sense to me.

[Gui]

I guess that's because another dll is using that namespace (otherwise you would get an error)

[BobRodes]

Thank you! None of Microsoft's example doc mentions this.

[GreySage]

If you are using VisualStudio you'll need to exit VS and reopen it before it will recognize newly referenced packages.