import java.beans.XMLDecoder; import java.io.BufferedInputStream; import java.io.FileInputStream; import java.io.Serializable; public class Main { public static void main(String[] argv) throws Exception { XMLDecoder decoder = new XMLDecoder(new BufferedInputStream(new FileInputStream("Bean.xml"))); Bean bean = (Bean) decoder.readObject(); decoder.close(); System.out.println("ID = " + bean.getId()); } } class Bean implements Serializable { private Long id; public Long getId() { return id; } public void setId(Long id) { this.id = id; } } Here is our Bean.xml persistence file: <?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?> <java version="1.6.0_02" class="java.beans.XMLDecoder"> <object class="org.username.example.bean.BeanToXML"> <void property="id"> <long>1</long> </void> </object> </java>