[news.eclipse.tools.emf] Customizing serialization and de-serialization.

[minnist <minnist@xxxxxxx>]

Hi!

I am trying to customize the serialization and de-serialization of a given  
meta model in order to create XML code that adheres to a provided DTD.

Using annotations and customizing XMLSave I was able to generate the XML I  
need. The problem I am stuck with now is that I don't seem to be able  
properly re-load the XML.

I have a class System, itself contained by another class, which has an  
attribute #definition.

The XML code I need to generate looks like:
<...>
  <...></...>
  <system>TEXT</system>
</...>

Thus Because I don't want #definition to appear as tag <definition> in the  
XML code I overwrote XMLSave.saveElement():

protected void saveElement(EObject obj, EStructuralFeature structFeat) {
	EClass eClass = obj.eClass();
	EClassifier eType = structFeat.getEType();
	
	if (eClass.equals(SomePackage.eINSTANCE.getSystem())) {
		String str = extendedMetaData.getName(eClass);
		this.doc.startElement("system");
		this.doc.endContentElement(((System)obj).getDefinition());
	}
	else {
		super.saveElement(obj, structFeat);
	}
}


However when the XML code is de-serialized, the content between the  
<system></system> tags is ignored and #definition is not set. (Which, I  
guess, makes sense)


Thus my question is, what would be the best way to achieve the behaviour I  
need.

At the beginning I was hoping I could achieve everything I need to do  
using annotations. Then I was hoping I just need to modify  
createObject(EFactory factory, EClassifier type) . However I am not sure  
how/where to get the TEXT to set the #definition attribute.

Furthermore:
Is overwriting saveElement() actually the best way to generate the needed  
XML code. Can this be achieved using annotations as well? Or can at least  
system from <this.doc.startElement("system");> somehow be retrieved from  
the annotations? Every time I look at the xmlMap it is actually empty

Is there more information available about using annotations and  
XMLSave/XMLLoad and XMLHelper and so on to customize serialization and  
de-serialization.

I would appreciate any help
Lothar