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C# XNA 4.0 How to serialize a 2D array?

Started by Shawn Naef Mar 6, 2018 at 1:13 PM 44 replies 25.3k views
Original Post
Shawn Naef
Shawn Naef 

public struct SaveGame
    {
        // Player Variables
        public int PlayerScore;
        public int PlayerFuel;
        public int PlayerMaxFuel;
        public int PlayerPickTier;
        public int PlayerInvTier;
        public int PlayerFuelTier;
        public int PlayerMaxDepth;
        public int PlayerCoin;
        public int PlayerInv;
        public int PlayerMaxInv;
        public int PlayerDepth;
        public int PlayerPosition;
        // Player Inventory Variables
        public int PlayerInventoryCoalOre;
        public int PlayerInventoryCopperOre;
        public int PlayerInventoryTinOre;
        public int PlayerInventoryIronOre;
        public int PlaceHolder;
        // Player Statistics
        public int TotalMoneyAquired;
        public int TotalUpgradesAquired;
        public int TotalMovesMade;
        public int TotalFuelUsed;
        public int TotalBlocksMined;
        public int TotalDirtBlocksMined;
        public int TotalCoalOre;
        public int TotalCopperOre;
        public int TotalTinOre;
        public int TotalIronOre;
        // Game Map Array
        //public int[,] tileMap0;
    }

Save Game Container


Save Game Initate 


private void InitiateSave()
        {
            if (!Guide.IsVisible)
            {
                device = null;
                StorageDevice.BeginShowSelector(PlayerIndex.One, this.SaveToDevice, null);
            }
        }


Save Game Code 


void SaveToDevice(IAsyncResult result)
        {
            device = StorageDevice.EndShowSelector(result);
            if (device != null && device.IsConnected)
            {
                SaveGame SaveData = new SaveGame()
                {
                    // Player Variables
                    PlayerScore = PlayerScore,           
                    PlayerFuel = PlayerFuel,
                    PlayerMaxFuel = PlayerMaxFuel,
                    PlayerPickTier = PlayerPickTier,
                    PlayerInvTier = PlayerInvTier,
                    PlayerFuelTier = PlayerFuelTier,
                    PlayerMaxDepth = PlayerMaxDepth,
                    PlayerCoin = PlayerCoin,
                    PlayerInv = PlayerInv,
                    PlayerMaxInv = PlayerMaxInv,
                    PlayerDepth = PlayerDepth,
                    PlayerPosition = PlayerPosition,
                    // Player Inventory Variables
                    PlayerInventoryCoalOre = PlayerInventoryCoalOre,
                    PlayerInventoryCopperOre = PlayerInventoryCopperOre,
                    PlayerInventoryTinOre = PlayerInventoryTinOre,
                    PlayerInventoryIronOre = PlayerInventoryIronOre,
                    PlaceHolder = PlaceHolder,
                    // Player Statistics
                    TotalMoneyAquired = TotalMoneyAquired,
                    TotalUpgradesAquired = TotalUpgradesAquired,
                    TotalMovesMade =  TotalMovesMade,
                    TotalFuelUsed = TotalFuelUsed,
                    TotalBlocksMined = TotalBlocksMined,
                    TotalDirtBlocksMined = TotalDirtBlocksMined,
                    TotalCoalOre = TotalCoalOre,
                    TotalCopperOre = TotalCopperOre,
                    TotalTinOre = TotalTinOre,
                    TotalIronOre = TotalIronOre,
                    // Game Map Array
                    //tileMap0 = ,
                };
                IAsyncResult r = device.BeginOpenContainer(containerName, null, null);
                result.AsyncWaitHandle.WaitOne();
                StorageContainer container = device.EndOpenContainer(r);
                if (container.FileExists(filename))
                    container.DeleteFile(filename);
                Stream stream = container.CreateFile(filename);
                XmlSerializer serializer = new XmlSerializer(typeof(SaveGame));
                serializer.Serialize(stream, SaveData);
                stream.Close();
                container.Dispose();
                result.AsyncWaitHandle.Close();
                gameState = GameState.GameScreen;
            }
            else
            {
                gameState = GameState.GameMenuScreen;
            }
        }


2D Array I Wish To Include With The Above Save 



int[,] tileMap = new int[,]
        {
            { 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 2, 3, 1, 1, 1, 1, 4, 5, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 2, 3, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, },
            { 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, },
            { 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, },
            { 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, },
            { 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, },
            { 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, },
            { 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, },
            { 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, },
            { 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 11, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 6, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 7, 8, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, },
            { 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 0, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, },
            { 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, },
            { 10, 10, 10, 10, 0, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, },
            { 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, },
            { 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, },
            { 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, },
            { 10, 10, 10, 10, 0, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, },
            { 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, },
            { 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, },
            { 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, },
            { 10, 10, 10, 10, 0, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, },
            { 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, },
            { 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, },
            { 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, },
            { 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, },
            { 10, 10, 10, 10, 0, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, },
            { 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, },
            { 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, },
            { 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, },
            { 10, 10, 10, 10, 0, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, },
            { 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, },
            { 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, },
            { 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, },
            { 10, 10, 10, 10, 0, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, },
            { 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, },
            { 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, },
            { 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, },
            { 10, 10, 10, 10, 0, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, },
            { 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, },
            { 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, },
            { 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, },
            { 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, },
            { 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, },
            { 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, },
            { 10, 10, 10, 10, 0, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, },
            { 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, },
            { 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, },
            { 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, },
            { 10, 10, 10, 10, 0, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, },
            { 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, },
            { 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, },
            { 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, },
            { 10, 10, 10, 10, 0, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, },
            { 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, },
            { 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, },
            { 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, },
            { 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, },
            { 10, 10, 10, 10, 0, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, },
            { 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, },
            { 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, },
            { 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, },
            { 10, 10, 10, 10, 0, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, },
            { 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, },
            { 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, },
            { 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, },
            { 10, 10, 10, 10, 0, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, },
            { 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, },
            { 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, },
        };


I'm wondering if anyone can help me convert a 2D array into a format that is compatible with my serialization save. Thanks

Rutin
Rutin

I haven't used C# and .NET in awhile, especially XNA since it was dropped back in 2013 or was it 2014?... I would highly recommend moving to MonoGame which is a re-implementation of XNA, or another framework.

To answer your question, you can use XmlSerializer.

https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/dotnet/standard/serialization/introducing-xml-serialization

https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/dotnet/standard/serialization/examples-of-xml-serialization

Again, I haven't used C# in forever, but I recall you cannot use this method to serialize 2D arrays [ , ] but you can use them on jagged arrays [][].

https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/dotnet/csharp/programming-guide/arrays/jagged-arrays

This should be what you're looking for.


Programmer and 3D Artist
Shawn Naef
Shawn Naef

Well XNA is what I've learned to use and am still learning so. I tried porting a project over and it failed miserably and broke it some of the stuff i am using isn't even compatible. There is a way it needs to be unzipped into a single array and then serialized. . Now as for serialization I'm already exporting to an XML with the code above. Does anyone know to convert my array to 1D and save / opposite process for the load too?



@Rutin thanks for trying to help.

Shawn Naef
Shawn Naef

For the record the array has to be 2D and can not be jagged. This is a map for a vertical scrolling game and it renders tile by tile.

Rutin
Rutin

All you have to do is convert your 2D Array to a Jagged Array, then serialize it. When you're bringing it back, just convert your Jagged to a 2D Array.

Programmer and 3D Artist
Shawn Naef
Shawn Naef

Could you show me a sample of code?

Rutin
Rutin
33 minutes ago, Shawn Naef said:

Could you show me a sample of code?

I made a quick example showing how to load 2D into Jagged, and Jagged into 2D with console print. 


using System;
using System.Collections.Generic;
using System.Linq;
using System.Text;
using System.Threading.Tasks;

namespace ConsoleApplication1
{
    class Program
    {
        static void Main(string[] args)
        {
            // 2D Array
            int[,] my2DArray = new int[5, 5] {
                { 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 },
                { 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 },
                { 11, 12, 13, 14, 15 },
                { 16, 17, 18, 19, 20 },
                { 21, 22, 23, 24, 25 }
                };

            // Jagged Array
            int[][] myJaggedArray = new int[5][];
            for (int num = 0; num < 5; num++)
            {
                myJaggedArray[num] = new int[5];
            }

            // Load 2D into Jagged
            for (int col = 0; col < 5; col++)
            {
                for (int row = 0; row < 5; row++)
                {
                    myJaggedArray[col][row] = my2DArray[col, row];
                }
            }

            // Divider
            Console.WriteLine("=========== 2D ARRAY ============");

            // Print 2D Array
            for (int col = 0; col < 5; col++)
            {
                for (int row = 0; row < 5; row++)
                {
                    if (row != 4)
                    {
                        Console.Write(my2DArray[col, row] + ", ");
                    } else
                    {
                        Console.Write(my2DArray[col, row] + "\n");
                    }
                }
            }

            // Divider
            Console.WriteLine("\n\n\n===========JAGGED ARRAY============");


            // Print Jagged Array
            for (int col = 0; col < 5; col++)
            {
                for (int row = 0; row < 5; row++)
                {
                    if (row != 4)
                    {
                        Console.Write(myJaggedArray[col][row] + ", ");
                    }
                    else
                    {
                        Console.Write(myJaggedArray[col][row] + "\n");
                    }
                }
            }

            // Divider
            Console.WriteLine("=======================\n\n");

            // Load Jagged into 2D
            int[,] new2DArray = new int[5, 5];

            for (int col = 0; col < 5; col++)
            {
                for (int row = 0; row < 5; row++)
                {
                    new2DArray[col, row] = myJaggedArray[col][row];
                }
            }

            // Divider
            Console.WriteLine("=========== NEW 2D ARRAY ============");

            // Print 2D Array
            for (int col = 0; col < 5; col++)
            {
                for (int row = 0; row < 5; row++)
                {
                    if (row != 4)
                    {
                        Console.Write(new2DArray[col, row] + ", ");
                    }
                    else
                    {
                        Console.Write(new2DArray[col, row] + "\n");
                    }
                }
            }


            // Wait
            Console.ReadLine();

        }
    }
}


Programmer and 3D Artist
Shawn Naef
Shawn Naef

Maybe we can make this even easier. Why not convert my infinite to a jagged and i can just adjust the internal size as i expand it. ill post a sample of my writing code 



int tileMapWidth = tileMap.GetLength(1);
                int tileMapHeight = tileMap.GetLength(0);

                for (int x = 0; x < tileMapWidth; x++)
                {
                    for (int y = 0; y < tileMapHeight; y++)
                    {
                        int textureIndex = tileMap[y, x];
                        Texture2D texture = tileTextures[textureIndex];

                        spriteBatch.Draw(
                            texture,
                            new Rectangle(
                                x * tileWidth - cameraPositionX,
                                y * tileHeight - cameraPositionY,
                                tileWidth,
                                tileHeight),
                            Color.White);
                    }
                }


Spool
Spool

Does it need to be saved as Xml? Can you serialize it to binary and then just store it along side your save file? something like saveName.map or something?

Shawn Naef
Shawn Naef

I guess if it can be incorporated into my existing load code. The array is serving 2 purposes 1 it tells the engine which textures to draw so that i don't have to hard code it. Second I'm also using it to track "mined out 'air'" blocks as well as collision solely based on which tile the value of which is in the array.



To help give you an idea of how my code is being used and a better understanding. Here is a screenshot of my game.


n53afm.jpg

Spool
Spool

I use an Int32 array myself to represent Tiles in a Map. Its a pretty decent system. I use MsgPack to do my serialization. Its incredibly easy to use.


Serialize. I use a MapData struct which contains different information including the 2d array of Int32. 


using (FileStream stream = new FileStream(filepath, FileMode.OpenOrCreate)) {

  var serializer = SerializationContext.Default.GetSerializer<MapData>();
  serializer.Pack(stream, mapData);
}

Boom. Done.

Deserialize. 


using(FileStream stream = new FileStream(filepath,FileMode.Open)) {

  var serializer = SerializationContext.Default.GetSerializer<MapData>();
  mapData = serializer.Unpack(stream);
}


If you need/have a map editor or something you can just add the MsgPack.dll to your editor project and as long as you use the same file extensions and data type it should work with no trouble.


edit: added right code using MsgPack

Spool
Spool

You could Serialize your entire Save struct this was as well as long as your members are [Serializeable].

Wait one second. I grabbed the wrong code. That's System.Runtime.Serialization.Formatters.Binary serialization. One sec

Shawn Naef
Shawn Naef

Honestly though I know a fair bit about programming (Not beginner) but not exactly a pro. I have not used the binary system at all before. I do not even know what MsgPack is lol

What i know is mainly limited to C# XNA and ive been slowly adding to my knowledge i only recently made the breakthrough of learning how the draw and update loops work and then moved from hard coding to doing tilemaps (no redundant code). This form of saving files is all that i know at the moment. Also all save data is contained in a serialized struct look at my earlier post at the top.

Spool
Spool

Okay, well MsgPack is a library that handles Serialization the exact same way as Xml does (kinda) but instead of using Xml it uses a Binary Format. Its much smaller and faster. You can use whatever file extension you want. For instance all my Save files are SaveName.save


Here is a link to their site: https://msgpack.org/index.html


Its really easy to use as well. You just install the Nuget or add the Reference directly and add a using statement at the top and then use the code I have above. Boom done. Its really that simple. It converts directly to and from your object.

Just curious did you make your own UI system or using someone else's UI framework?

Shawn Naef
Shawn Naef

yeah that's not going to work with my setup I'm running an old version of studio 2010 to be compatible with XNA ;) the games will run on anything up to including windows 7 i know that eventually id want to learn monogame. i think the best way is like you said to use the save game struct however 2d arrays i don't believe can be saved the way i want without pre-processing im essentially looking for someone that can my code modify the parts and show me how it works.

Spool
Spool

What .Net version are you using?


I use Monogame


Spool
Spool

If you are using XNA 4.0 I believe that its targeting .Net 4, in which case you have access to System.Runtime.Serialization.Formatters.Binary Namespace. So you can use this.

Serialize: 


using (FileStream stream = new FileStream(filePath, FileMode.OpenOrCreate)) {

	BinaryFormatter bFormatter = new BinaryFormatter();
	bFormatter.Serialize(stream, mapData);
}

Deserialize: 


using (FileStream stream = new FileStream(filePath, FileMode.Open)) {

	BinaryFormatter bFormatter = new BinaryFormatter();
	mapData = (MapData)bFormatter.Deserialize(stream);
}


Shawn Naef
Shawn Naef

See my understanding is this is what I'm trying to do say we have a 2D array of 3x3 (3 arrays of 3 cells)

[0][1][2]

[1][2][3]

[2][3][4]


I'm trying to get

[0][1][2]

[3][4][5]

[6][7][8]


or

[Serialiazable]

[0]

[1]

[2]

.....



But try doing that with an array that is ---> 30 wide

by potentially 100s of thousands of levels down which would be alot of code.


Spool
Spool

use would look like this: 


//Add the dll
using System.Runtime.Serialization.Formatters.Binary;

//Save the game to Disk
private void WriteSave(SaveGame saveGame,string filePath) {

    try {

        using (FileStream stream = new FileStream(filePath,FileMode.OpenOrCreate)) {

            BinaryFormatter bFormatter = new BinaryFormatter();
            bFormatter.Serialize(stream, saveGame);
        }
    }
    catch(Exception ex) {

        
    }
}

//Load the game from disk
private SaveGame LoadSave(string filePath) {

    saveGame = new SaveGame();

    try {

        using (FileStream stream = new FileStream(filePath, FileMode.Open)) {

            BinaryFormatter bFormatter = new BinaryFormatter();
            saveGame = (SaveData)bFormatter.Deserialize(stream);
        }
    }
    catch(Exception e) {

    }

  	return saveGame;
}


You don't have to worry about how its saving it. Its all in Binary. Its just a file that contains your data. It serializes to and from your SaveData object for you. I use this myself for the exact same thing.

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