diff --git a/pisi/xmlfile.py b/pisi/xmlfile.py
index 04c8213b..caccd166 100644
--- a/pisi/xmlfile.py
+++ b/pisi/xmlfile.py
@@ -299,6 +299,8 @@ class autoxml(type):
         return identifier_p
 
     def parse_spec(cls, token, spec):
+        """decompose member specification"""
+
         name = cls.mixed_case(token)
         token_type = spec[0]
         req = spec[1]
@@ -378,12 +380,18 @@ class autoxml(type):
                 else:
                     return None
 
-        def encode(xml, value):
-            pass
-
-        def format(l):
-            s = ''
-            return s
+        def encode(xml, obj):
+            if obj:
+                try:
+                    obj.encode(xml)
+                except Error:
+                    raise Error('Object cannot be encoded')                    
+            else:
+                if req == mandatory:
+                    raise Error('Mandatory argument not available')
+                
+        def format(obj):
+            return obj.format()
         
         return (init, decode, encode, format)
 
@@ -415,7 +423,13 @@ class autoxml(type):
             return l
 
         def encode(xml, l):
-            pass
+            if len(l) > 0:                
+                for elt in l:
+                    node = xml.newNode(path)
+                    encode_item(xml, node)
+            else:
+                if req is mandatory:
+                    raise Error('Mandatory list empty')
 
         def format(l):
             #print 'format:', name
diff --git a/tests/xmlfiletests.py b/tests/xmlfiletests.py
index b1191e05..a5870a7c 100644
--- a/tests/xmlfiletests.py
+++ b/tests/xmlfiletests.py
@@ -54,14 +54,17 @@ class XmlFileTestCase(unittest.TestCase):
         string = a.format()
         print '*', string
         #self.assert_(string.startswith('Name'))
-        outfn = '/tmp/a2.xml'
+        xml = xmlfile.XmlFile('A')
+        elta = a.encode(xml)
+        xml.writexml('/tmp/a.xml')
         xml = xmlfile.XmlFile('A')
         a2 = A()
         a2.name = "Baris Metin"
         a2.email = "baris@uludag.org.tr"
         a2.href = 'http://cekirdek.uludag.org.tr/~baris'
         a2.projects = [ 'pisi', 'tasma', 'plasma' ]
-        elt = a2.encode(xml)
+        elta2 = a2.encode(xml)
+        xml.writexml('/tmp/a2.xml')
         string = a2.format()
 
 suite = unittest.makeSuite(XmlFileTestCase)