Storing arbitrary type info in XML

[F i L]

I'm trying to store arbitrary D object information in an XML 
file, then load and create the objects it represents 
programmatically. For example, I have the file test.xml, which 
looks like:

     <!-- test.xml -->
     <scene>
       <main.Person name="Philip" age="24">
           <!-- nothing yet -->
       </main.Person>
     </scene>

and corresponds to the D file:

     // main.d
     import std.conv, std.stdio;
     import std.file, std.xml;

     class Person {
       string name;
       uint age;
     }

     void main() {
       // 1. read XML file, create Document
       // 2. create objects named in Document
       // 3. set objects data based on attributes
     }

currently I'm accomplishing this by using Object.factory() and 
casting it to Person to see if it's a person; then run each XML 
attribute through a switch statement which sets the Person fields 
accordingly.

I can generate all that, which makes it a bit more dynamic, but 
is that really the best way to go about this? It seems too rigid 
for my tastes (can't create structs) and, when lots of objects 
are potentially represented, slow as well.


I was thinking of using generated D files instead of XML which 
was an interesting concept except a bit limiting in other ways.

Does anyone have any thoughts on any of this. I'd love to know 
them if you do :)