How to stream data structure or record through NetworkStream?

Question

I have the following data structure or record, which I need to stream to and from another machine through NetworkStream.

  TRemoteRecord = record
    command:TRemoteCommand;
    status:TRemoteStatus;
    signame:string;
    rvalue:double;
    ivalue:LongInt;
  end;

This is the way I am sending or writing data structure or record to the stream.

TheStream:NetworkStream;
 SignalClient:TcpClient;
 SignalServer:TcpServer;
 sb:TRemoteRecord;

 SignalClient.ConnectNew(LocalIPEdit.Text,Int32.Parse(ClientPort.Text));
 TheStream := new NetWorkStream(SignalClient.Connect.DataSocket);
 TheStream.Write(sb, 0 SizeOf(sb));

When I compile it, it raises an exception, "There is no overloaded write with these parameters."

How do you send and receive data structure or record through networkstream?

Thanks,

Answer 1

You need to serialize your Record first to a byte[].

This will get you started:

http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ms752244.aspx

Here are two methods to serialize and deserialize a given type: http://dooba.net/2009/07/02/c-sharp-and-serializing-byte-arrays/ [NB: Pay special attention to how you handle the string (it has variable size) and your custom types.]