/*
Simple C# serialization example for cs585
Demo program reads and writes a  file of Items.

Serialization must first write a file before it can read a file.

To run demo open a command prompt window and cd to the executable's 
directory.  Run the program.  You must first run with the "false" 
argument since no file exists.

SerializableDemo <file> [<bool>]

example:

SerializableDemo filename false    // create filename save items
SerializableDemo filename          // open filename read it and write it

To compile demo

Download files:  Item.cs, Items.cs, and SerializableDemo.cs to a subdirectory.
If you are using Visual Studio .NET 
  create a C# empty project or console application project
  select Project | add exisiting item  and add the 3 files to project
  if you have a console application you should remove form1.cs from project
  build the project
  
If you are using the command line to compile and have Visual Studio .NET
installed from start | programs | Visual Studio | tools select 
command prompt.  In the command prompt console window cd to your directory.

If you are using MS .NET Foundation Classes v1.1 in a command prompt
console window cd to the your directory.

Compile with the following line
csc * cs


Mike Barnes
11/15/03
*/

using System;
using System.Collections;
using System.IO;
using System.Runtime.Serialization;
using System.Runtime.Serialization.Formatters.Binary;

namespace serializableDemo {

public class SerializableDemo {

  Items items;

  public SerializableDemo() {
    items = new Items();
    }

  // open a file of items to read into a vector
  // show the vector of items read
  // write the vector of items to a file

  public static void Main (string [] args) {
    String fileName = null;

    SerializableDemo demo = new SerializableDemo();
    Console.WriteLine();
    switch (args.Length) {
      case 1 :
        fileName = args[0];
        demo.items.deSerialize(fileName);  // sets new collection
        demo.items.show();
        break;
      case 2 :
        fileName = args[0];
        demo.items.show();
        demo.items.serialize(fileName);
        break;
      default : 
        Console.WriteLine("Usage:");
        Console.WriteLine("SerializableDemo <file> [<bool>]");
        Console.WriteLine("  examples:");
        Console.Write("  SerializableDemo filename");
        Console.WriteLine("  // open filename read and show items");
        Console.Write("  SerializableDemo filename false");
        Console.WriteLine("  // create filename and save items");
        break;
      }
    }
  }
}