/// <summary>
/// Serializes the entire base message, including the 'length' field at the beginning.
/// </summary>
/// <remarks>The result can be directly sent over the network using stream protocol</remarks>
/// <returns>Serialized message as a byte array</returns>
/// <exception cref="Protocol.ProtoException">When serializing fails
/// (for example if some of the required fields are not set).</exception>
public byte[] SerializeMessageWithLength()
{
Buffer buf = new Buffer();
this.SerializeMessageData(buf);
int payloadSize = buf.Size;
if (payloadSize < 1)
{
return(new byte[0]);
}
// We append the header at the end of the 'buf' - just after the payload.
// We need it at the beginning, but until we actually serialize the data,
// we don't know what the payload size is. We could also put it in a separate Buffer,
// but we already have one that likely has some empty space left.
// We would have to move things around anyway.
Codec.AppendValue(buf, LengthFieldId, ( uint )payloadSize);
byte[] ret = new byte[buf.Size];
int idx = 0;
// Let's copy the header (which was appended to the end of 'buf')
// to the beginning of the buffer that we actually are about to return.
for (int i = payloadSize; i < buf.Size; ++i)
{
ret[idx++] = buf.Bytes[i];
}
// And now append the actual payload.
for (int i = 0; i < payloadSize; ++i)
{
ret[idx++] = buf.Bytes[i];
}
return(ret);
}
