OpenSimulator talk:Xml Serialization

Diva's comments

• Objects vs. Templates:

I would like the new format to reflect two different intentions of external representations: (1) object serialization; (2) templates for object creation. Right now, only (1) is addressed. For addressing (2), all we need to do is to give new identifiers to the different parts of the objects. So during deserialization, identifiers should be assumed to be optional.

• Sub-classing SceneObjectGroup:

I'm working on simulations that involve subclassing SceneObjectGroup. The current serialization implementation doesn't work for them, because it always instantiates objects of type SceneObjectGroup. We should account for the sub-type of the object in the XML, and instantiate the right sub-type. Includes having to override the xml-related methods of SceneObject, so make those virtual.