Deserialize random/unknown types with XmlSerializer?

I don't know whether it is better or not but you may try DynamicObject approach. http://blogs.msdn.com/b/csharpfaq/archive/2009/10/19/dynamic-in-c-4-0-creating-wrappers-with-dynamicobject.aspx.

As you mentioned when you request for the service might return . So do you know if an request is made for a type then the service might return only certain types back?

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