[AXIS2-5109] optional attribute must not be serialized if not explicitly set

• Type: Bug
• Status: Open
• Priority: Critical
• Resolution: Unresolved
• Affects Version/s: 1.6.0
• Component/s: adb
• Environment: Linux 2.6.35.13-92.fc14.i686.PAE; Java(TM) SE Runtime Environment (build 1.6.0_23-b05)
• Assignee: Unassigned
• Reporter: Marco Benuzzi
• Created: 03/Aug/11 09:59
• Updated: 03/Aug/11 23:37

Description

All the attributes are serialized with default values even if they are not explicitly set.
This is a problem because the default value of an attribute is a contract between the client and the web service provider and the framework should not override it.

<xs:complexType name="Sample">
<xs:sequence />
<xs:attribute name="BooleanAttribute" type="xs:boolean" />
<xs:attribute name="IntAttribute" type="xs:int" use="required"/>
<xs:attribute name="StringAttribute" type="xs:string" use="optional"/>
</xs:complexType>

If I don't set any attribute the generated xml look like

<Sample BooleanAttribute="false" IntAttribute="0"/>

This is completely wrong because the default values for my optional attributes can be different.
It should be (please remember that - as per specification - all attributes are optional by default)

<Sample/>

The workaround for xs:int attribute is to explicitly set it to java.lang.Integer.MIN_VALUE because in serialization the code is
if (localAge != java.lang.Integer.MIN_VALUE) {
writeAttribute("",
"IntAttribute",
org.apache.axis2.databinding.utils.ConverterUtil.convertToString(localIntAttribute), xmlWriter);

But for xs:boolean attribute there is no workaround because in serialization the code is
if (true)

{ writeAttribute("", "BooleanAttribute", org.apache.axis2.databinding.utils.ConverterUtil.convertToString(localBooleanAttribute), xmlWriter); }