Type Mismatch when Unserializing a TypedValue

Unfortunately, the code example I wrote in my previous post was not the correct solution.  That code will not throw errors but it creates a TypedValue object that does not contain the data that was in the source TypedValue.  In addition, using the UTF8Encoding to turn the binary array, from the serialize function, created a non-printable string that was not passing properly to the ExecuteVaultExtension function I was calling.

The big issue here is the lack of binary array support in VBScript.  After a lot of research, and trial and error, yesterday, I figured out a working solution encoding the serialize binary array in a Base64 encoding.  Decoding the Base64 using an ADODB.Stream object creates a true binary array that can then be used to unserialize the original serialized data.

All these problems are easily mitigated by using the Vault Application Framework, which I plan on migrating to, but I had to finish this up while I'm getting into that framework.

Dim oJobNumber : Set oJobNumber = PropertyValues.SearchForProperty(JOB_NUMBER_ID).Value
Dim oTypedValue : Set oTypedValue = CreateObject("MFilesAPI.TypedValue")
Dim sSerialized : sSerialized = SerializeObjectToBase64Encode(oJobNumber)
oTypedValue.Unserialize DeserializeObjectFromBase64Encode(sSerialized), False
Err.Raise MFScriptCancel, oTypedValue.DisplayValue

Function SerializeObjectToBase64Encode(ByRef oObject)
    Dim oByteStream : Set oByteStream = CreateObject("ADODB.Stream")
	With oByteStream
		.Open
		.Type = 1 '# adTypeBinary #
		.Write oObject.Serialize
		.Position = 0
	End With

	Dim oNode : Set oNode = CreateObject("Msxml2.DOMDocument.3.0").CreateElement("base64")
	oNode.dataType = "bin.base64"
	oNode.nodeTypedValue = oByteStream.Read
	SerializeObjectToBase64Encode = oNode.text
	
	Set oNode = Nothing
	Set oByteStream = Nothing
End Function

Function DeserializeObjectFromBase64Encode(ByVal vCode)
	Dim oNode : Set oNode = CreateObject("Msxml2.DOMDocument.3.0").CreateElement("base64")
	oNode.dataType = "bin.base64"
	oNode.text = vCode

    Dim oByteStream : Set oByteStream = CreateObject("ADODB.Stream")
	With oByteStream
		.Open
		.Type = 1 '# adTypeBinary #
		.Write oNode.nodeTypedValue
		.Position = 0
	End With

	DeserializeObjectFromBase64Encode = oByteStream.Read

	Set oNode = Nothing
	Set oByteStream = Nothing
End Function

Maybe this will help someone in the future. 

Heather

Unfortunately, the code example I wrote in my previous post was not the correct solution.  That code will not throw errors but it creates a TypedValue object that does not contain the data that was in the source TypedValue.  In addition, using the UTF8Encoding to turn the binary array, from the serialize function, created a non-printable string that was not passing properly to the ExecuteVaultExtension function I was calling.

The big issue here is the lack of binary array support in VBScript.  After a lot of research, and trial and error, yesterday, I figured out a working solution encoding the serialize binary array in a Base64 encoding.  Decoding the Base64 using an ADODB.Stream object creates a true binary array that can then be used to unserialize the original serialized data.

All these problems are easily mitigated by using the Vault Application Framework, which I plan on migrating to, but I had to finish this up while I'm getting into that framework.

Dim oJobNumber : Set oJobNumber = PropertyValues.SearchForProperty(JOB_NUMBER_ID).Value
Dim oTypedValue : Set oTypedValue = CreateObject("MFilesAPI.TypedValue")
Dim sSerialized : sSerialized = SerializeObjectToBase64Encode(oJobNumber)
oTypedValue.Unserialize DeserializeObjectFromBase64Encode(sSerialized), False
Err.Raise MFScriptCancel, oTypedValue.DisplayValue

Function SerializeObjectToBase64Encode(ByRef oObject)
    Dim oByteStream : Set oByteStream = CreateObject("ADODB.Stream")
	With oByteStream
		.Open
		.Type = 1 '# adTypeBinary #
		.Write oObject.Serialize
		.Position = 0
	End With

	Dim oNode : Set oNode = CreateObject("Msxml2.DOMDocument.3.0").CreateElement("base64")
	oNode.dataType = "bin.base64"
	oNode.nodeTypedValue = oByteStream.Read
	SerializeObjectToBase64Encode = oNode.text
	
	Set oNode = Nothing
	Set oByteStream = Nothing
End Function

Function DeserializeObjectFromBase64Encode(ByVal vCode)
	Dim oNode : Set oNode = CreateObject("Msxml2.DOMDocument.3.0").CreateElement("base64")
	oNode.dataType = "bin.base64"
	oNode.text = vCode

    Dim oByteStream : Set oByteStream = CreateObject("ADODB.Stream")
	With oByteStream
		.Open
		.Type = 1 '# adTypeBinary #
		.Write oNode.nodeTypedValue
		.Position = 0
	End With

	DeserializeObjectFromBase64Encode = oByteStream.Read

	Set oNode = Nothing
	Set oByteStream = Nothing
End Function

Maybe this will help someone in the future. 

Heather