ASP.NET Web API Controller Specific Serializer

Question

I\'ve a self host Web API with 2 controllers:

• For controller 1, I need default DataContractSerializer (I\'m exposing EF 5 POCO)
• For controller 2, I ne

Answer 1

Mark Jones' answer has a big downside: By clearing all formatters it is not possible to request different ContentTypes and make use of the relevant formatter.

A better way to enable the XMLSerializer per Controller is to replace the default formatter.

public class UseXMLSerializerAttribute : Attribute, IControllerConfiguration
{
    public void Initialize(HttpControllerSettings controllerSettings, HttpControllerDescriptor controllerDescriptor)
    {
        // Find default XMLFormatter
        var xmlFormatter = controllerSettings.Formatters.FirstOrDefault(c => c.SupportedMediaTypes.Any(x => x.MediaType == "application/xml"));

        if (xmlFormatter != null)
        {
            // Remove default formatter
            controllerSettings.Formatters.Remove(xmlFormatter);
        }

        // Add new XMLFormatter which uses XmlSerializer
        controllerSettings.Formatters.Add(new XmlMediaTypeFormatter { UseXmlSerializer = true });
    }
}

And use it like this:

[UseXMLSerializer]
public TestController : ApiController
{
    //Actions
}