Converts the given data element into a string representation.

        :param data_element: object implementing
            :class:`everest.representers.interfaces.IExplicitDataElement`
        :returns: string representation (using the MIME content type
            configured for this representer)

def data_to_string(self, data_element):
        """
        Converts the given data element into a string representation.

        :param data_element: object implementing
            :class:`everest.representers.interfaces.IExplicitDataElement`
        :returns: string representation (using the MIME content type
            configured for this representer)
        """
        stream = NativeIO()
        self.data_to_stream(data_element, stream)
        return stream.getvalue()