Simple utility methods for reading/writing objects decorated with DataContractAttribute in XML format.

DataContractXml.cs

		public static bool Serialize<T>(T obj, Stream stream)
		{
			try
			{
				var xml = new XmlWriterSettings { Indent = true, Encoding = Encoding.UTF8 };
				var serializer = new DataContractSerializer(typeof(T));
				using (var writer = XmlWriter.Create(stream, xml))
				{
					serializer.WriteObject(writer, obj);
				}

				return true;
			}
			catch (Exception)
			{
				return false;
			}
		}

		public static bool Serialize<T>(T obj, string filename)
		{
			try
			{
				using (var stream = File.Open(filename, FileMode.Create, FileAccess.Write))
				{
					return Serialize(obj, stream);
				}
			}
			catch (Exception e)
			{
				return false;
			}
		}

		public static object Deserialize(Type type, string filename)
		{
			try
			{
				using (var stream = File.OpenRead(filename))
				{
					return Deserialize(type, stream);
				}
			}
			catch (Exception)
			{
				return null;
			}
		}

		public static object Deserialize(Type type, Stream stream)
		{
			try
			{
				var serializer = new DataContractSerializer(type);
				return serializer.ReadObject(stream);
			}
			catch (Exception)
			{
				return null;
			}
		}

		public static T Deserialize<T>(string filename)
		{
			try
			{
				using (var stream = File.OpenRead(filename))
				{
					return (T) Deserialize(typeof(T), stream);
				}
			}
			catch (Exception)
			{
				return default(T);
			}
		}

		public static T Deserialize<T>(Stream stream) => (T) Deserialize(typeof(T), stream);