WCF - client deserialization

Question

Hi there I understand that with WCF you decorate a Service Contract and expose members with OperationContract. Question is: if you create an operation contract for a method like: public SomeClass MyMethod() I understand that you decorate the SomeClass with DataContract attributes. Question - how does the client know about SomeClass? Does SomeClass need to be defined in the client code as well?

Danatas Gervi · Answer

Normal 0 false false false EN-US X-NONE HE MicrosoftInternetExplorer4 /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:Table Normal; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-priority:99; mso-style-qformat:yes; mso-style-parent:; mso-padding-alt:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0cm; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; text-align:right; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:11.0pt; font-family:Calibrisans-serif; mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family:Times New Roman; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast; mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;} The answer – Yes. :) The client must have assembly with all operation contract methods defined. There is two ways: 1 You can implement all service methods and classes in separated assembly (something like common clases.dll) and both – the client and server will use it. 2 You can run you ready to work service on any place and use Add service reference  wizard in Visual Studio. For using this way you must have the MEX (metadata exchange) endpoint and binding set up correctly. 2a – you can get Operation contract methods and Data contract classes from compiled service assembly (also from add service reference wizard.