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Article ID: 316273 - Last Review: February 11, 2004 - Revision: 3.6
PRB: XML Web Service Created with ASP.NET Does Not Support Multidimensional Arrays
This article was previously published under Q316273
When you try to obtain a Web Services Description Language
(WSDL) document from a Web service by using a Web service method that contains
a return type or parameter type that is a multidimensional array, you receive
the following HTML error message:
Cannot serialize object
of type System.String[,]. Multidimensional arrays are not supported.
An exception is generated if you call the Web Service.
XML Web services that are created with ASP.NET do not
support multidimensional arrays.
Instead of using multidimensional arrays, use the following code to specify an array
of arrays (in other words, a jagged array):
Visual C# .NET example:
[WebMethod]
public string[][] ReturnMultiDimArray()
{
string [] y = {"ab","cd"};
string [] z = {"ef","gh"};
string [][] x = {y,z};
return x;
}
Visual Basic .NET example:
<WebMethod> Public Function ReturnMultiDimArray() As String()()
Dim y As String()
Dim z As String()
Dim x As String()() = New String()() {y, z}
Return x
End Function
This
behavior is by design.
Steps to Reproduce the Behavior
- Create an ASP.NET Web Service project.
- Paste the following Web service method in
WebService1.asmx.cs:
Visual C# .NET example:
[WebMethod]
public string[,] ReturnMultiDimArray()
{
string [,] x = new string[,] {{"ab"},{"cd"}} ;
return x;
}
Visual Basic .NET example:
<WebMethod> Public Function ReturnMultiDimArray() As String(,)
Dim x As String(,) = New String(,) {{}, {}}
Return x
End Function
- Build the Web Service.
- In Solution Explorer, right-click Service1.asmx.
- Try to obtain a WSDL document from a Web
Service.
APPLIES TO
- Microsoft ASP.NET 1.1
- Microsoft Web Services Enhancements for Microsoft .NET 1.1
- Microsoft Visual Studio .NET 2002 Professional Edition
- Microsoft ASP.NET 1.0
- Microsoft Web Services (included with the .NET Framework) 1.0
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