SaveSoapData - serializing an object to file in SOAP format

' Serialize an object to file in SOAP format.
Sub SaveSoapData(ByVal path As String, ByVal o As Object)
    ' Open a file stream for output.
    Dim fs As FileStream = New FileStream(path, FileMode.Create)
    ' Create a SOAP formatter for this stream.
    Dim sf As New SoapFormatter(Nothing, _
        New StreamingContext(StreamingContextStates.File))
    ' Serialize the array to the file stream, and close the stream.
    sf.Serialize(fs, o)
    fs.Close()
End Sub


' This sample procedure tests the reusable routine above.
' Note that you also need the LoadSoapData function, linked below.

Sub TestSoapSerialization()
    ' Create a hashtable object and fill it with some data.
    Dim ht As New Hashtable()
    ht.Add("One", 1)
    ht.Add("Two", 2)
    ht.Add("Three", 3)

    ' Save the hash table to disk in SOAP format.
    SaveSoapData("c:\hashtbl.xml", ht)

    ' Reload the file contents into another HashTable object.
    Dim ht2 As Hashtable
    ht2 = CType(LoadSoapData("c:\hashtbl.xml"), Hashtable)

    ' Display values.
    Dim de As DictionaryEntry
    For Each de In ht2
        Console.WriteLine("Key=" & de.Key.ToString & "   Value=" & _
            de.Value.ToString)
    Next
End Sub


' Note: This code is taken from Francesco Balena's
' "Programming Microsoft Visual Basic .NET" - MS Press 2002, ISBN 0735613753
' You can read a free chapter of the book at 
' http://www.vb2themax.com/HtmlDoc.asp?Table=Books&ID=101000