How can I de-serialize this json with C#?

Question

With C#, I try without success to de-serialize this json content :

{
    "code":200,
    "message":"OK",
    "name":"The name",
    "description":"The description",
    "tags":{
        "0.1.3":{
            "date":"2015-03-11",
            "author":"SOMEONE",
        },
        "0.1.2":{
            "date":"2015-03-11",
            "author":"SOMEONE",
        }
    }
}

You have noticed, there's a list of "tag" objects, but I have not a table.

Beginning of the target classes :

[DataContract]
public class Project
{
    [DataMember]
    public int code { get; set; }
    [DataMember]
    public string message { get; set; }
    [DataMember]
    public string name { get; set; }
    [DataMember]
    public string description { get; set; }

    [DataMember]
        **How can I handle tags entries ?**
}

[DataContract]
public class Tag
{
    [DataMember]
    public string date { get; set; }

    [DataMember]
    public string author { get; set; }
}

To Jodrell : Entire json content is not listed here, only the section for which I don't know how to make de-serialization. — P. Debrabant, Mar 18 '15 at 11:56
With the new info, I believe you can deserialize it using a `Dictionary`, but I'm not sure if it will automatically work — Arturo Torres Sánchez, Mar 18 '15 at 12:19

score 1 · Answer 1 · answered Mar 18 '15 at 12:29

1

If you're using JSON.NET, then you can have the following:

[DataContract]
public class Project
{
    [DataMember]
    public int code { get; set; }
    [DataMember]
    public string message { get; set; }
    [DataMember]
    public string name { get; set; }
    [DataMember]
    public string description { get; set; }

    [DataMember]
    public Dictionary<string, Tag> tags { get; set; }
}

[DataContract]
public class Tag
{
    [DataMember]
    public string date { get; set; }

    [DataMember]
    public string author { get; set; }
}

Which then you would use the following way (assuming responseString contains your JSON):

Project project = JsonConvert.DeserializeObject<Project>(responseString);

foreach (KeyValuePair<string, Tag> tag in project.tags)
{
    Debug.WriteLine("Version: {0}", tag.Key);
    Debug.WriteLine("Date: {0}", tag.Value.date);
    Debug.WriteLine("Author: {0}", tag.Value.author);
}

answered Mar 18 '15 at 12:29

Arturo Torres Sánchez

2,751
4
20
33

Unfortunately, I already tried the Dictionnary type but it's not working. The object's count = 0. – P. Debrabant Mar 18 '15 at 12:41
I don't use JsonConvert, only DataContractJsonSerializer. Is there a way to do the job without install the nuget package ? – P. Debrabant Mar 18 '15 at 12:50
@P.Debrabant, I'm sorry, I don't know how DataContractJsonSerializer works. I would still recommend JSON.NET, but it's up to you if you want to use it. – Arturo Torres Sánchez Mar 18 '15 at 12:53
The important line is: `settings.UseSimpleDictionaryFormat = true;` – Arturo Torres Sánchez Mar 18 '15 at 12:55
Thanks for the link, it solves my problem. If I use "settings.UseSimpleDictionaryFormat = true;" I get the Dictionnary entries. – P. Debrabant Mar 18 '15 at 13:19

score 0 · Answer 2 · answered Mar 18 '15 at 10:52

0

The JSON input is valid according to RFC 4627 (JSON specfication).

http://www.freeformatter.com/json-validator.html

answered Mar 18 '15 at 10:52

zchpit

3,071
4
28
43

score 0 · Answer 3 · answered Mar 18 '15 at 11:05

0

JSON sturcture is based on Key Value pair. Correct JSON format is like:

{
"object":{
    "DataMember1":"String content",
    "DataMember2":"String content",
    "DataMember3":"String content"
},
"object2":{
    "DataMember1":"String content",
    "DataMember2":"String content"
}

}

Goto basics

To check your json structure you can validate from click here

answered Mar 18 '15 at 11:05

ArjunArora

986
3
12
27

Yes, I know the basics and I have key + value pair. I check the entire format on a validator and it is correct. But how can I manage the content ? – P. Debrabant Mar 18 '15 at 12:00
@P.Debrabant You can use javascript serializer in c# code. For this create a DTO having data member with same as in your json structure. Then you deserialize the json text into class object. – ArjunArora Mar 18 '15 at 12:18
It's the problem. I can not figure how to handle tags objects. Could you complete the parent class I proposed in my updated post ? – P. Debrabant Mar 18 '15 at 12:21
[link] (http://www.tomasvera.com/programming/using-javascriptserializer-to-parse-json-objects/) @P.Debrabant – ArjunArora Mar 18 '15 at 12:21
' [DataContract] Class CombineClass { [DataMember] public Project objProject {get;set;} [DataMember] public List objTaglist {get;set;} } You Json should be wrapped like this { "objProject": { "code":200, "message":"OK", "name":"The name", "description":"The description" }, "objTag": { "date":"", "author":"" } } ' – ArjunArora Mar 18 '15 at 12:33

P.Petkov · Answer 4 · 2015-03-18T12:51:18.103

Hmm, I was able to deserialize:

Newtonsoft.Json.JsonConvert.DeserializeObject<Project>(json);

However, here is my class definition:

 public class Project
{

    public string code { get; set; }

    public string message { get; set; }

    public string name { get; set; }

    public string description { get; set; }

    public Dictionary<string,Tag> tags { get; set; }
}


public class Tag
{

    public string date { get; set; }

    public string author { get; set; }
}

score 0 · Answer 5 · answered Mar 18 '15 at 13:31

Thanks to Arturo Torres Sánchez. To get the "tag" entries, the declaration must be :

[DataContract]
public class Project
{
    [DataMember]
    public int code { get; set; }
    [DataMember]
    public string message { get; set; }
    [DataMember]
    public string name { get; set; }
    [DataMember]
    public string description { get; set; }
    [DataMember]
    public Dictionary<string, Tag> tags { get; set; }
}

And the most important, I must modify the default settings and use the new settings when I create the instance of DataContractJsonSerializer.

DataContractJsonSerializerSettings settings = 
            new DataContractJsonSerializerSettings();
settings.UseSimpleDictionaryFormat = true;

DataContractJsonSerializer serializer = 
            new DataContractJsonSerializer(typeof(Project), settings);

Project results = (Project)serializer.ReadObject(ms);

Without the settings.UseSimpleDictionaryFormat = true; tag's object count is 0.

How can I de-serialize this json with C#?

5 Answers5