C#: Insert a json object

Question

I have the following classes:

internal class RequestPayload1
{
    [DataMember]
    [JsonProperty(Required = Required.Always)]
    internal string Date { get; set; }

    [DataMember]
    [JsonProperty(Required = Required.Always)]
    internal string State { get; set; }

    [DataMember]
    [JsonProperty]
    internal string Properties { get; set; }
}

internal class RequestPayload2
{
    [DataMember]
    [JsonProperty(Required = Required.Always)]
    internal string Id { get; set; }

    [DataMember]
    [JsonProperty(Required = Required.Always)]
    internal string Name { get; set; }

    [DataMember]
    [JsonProperty]
    internal string Location { get; set; }
}

I created an object of the two classes EntityEvent1 and EntityEvent2 class like this:

RequestPayload1 payload1 = new RequestPayload1()
{
    Date = "date1",
    State = "state1",
    Properties = "properties1"
};

RequestPayload2 payload2 = new RequestPayload2()
{
    Id = "id1",
    Name = "name1",
    Location = "location1"
};

I have a class:

internal class RequestData
{
    [DataMember]
    [JsonProperty(Required = Required.Always)]
    internal string RequestHeader { get; set; }

    [DataMember]
    [JsonProperty(Required = Required.Always)]
    internal JObject RequestPayload { get; set; }
}

I need the RequestPayload to be set to either RequestPayload1 or RequestPayload2. That is the reason I used the type JObject for it. But when I serialize the payloads like this, the RequestPayload is getting the object in an invalid Json format. Mainly the double quotes replaced with single quotes:

string requestPayload1 = JsonConvert.SerializeObject(payload1);
RequestData requestData1 = new RequestData()
{
   RequestHeader = "requestHeader1",
   RequestPayload = new JObject(payload1);
};

string requestPayload2 = JsonConvert.SerializeObject(payload2);
RequestData requestData2 = new RequestData()
{
   RequestHeader = "requestHeader2",
   RequestPayload = new JObject(payload2);
}

requestData1 and requestData2 when deserialized are giving:

"Request": {
    "RequestHeader": "requestHeader1",
    "RequestPayload": {'Date':'date1','State':'state1', 'Properties':'properties1'}""
  }

"Request": {
    "RequestHeader": "requestHeader2",
    "RequestPayload": "{'Id':'id1','Name':'name1', 'Location':'location1'}"
  }

How can I change this so that requestData1 and requestData2 are:

"Request": {
    "RequestHeader": "requestHeader2",
    "RequestPayload": {
        "Date":"Date",
        "State":"state1",
        "Properties":"properties1"
    }
  }

"Request": {
    "RequestHeader": "requestHeader2",
    "RequestPayload": {
        "Id":"id1",
        "Name":"name1",
        "Location":"location1"
    }
  }

I probably have to change the type of RequestPayload to something other than JObject, but not sure which one.

This is the simplest solution that worked. Please write it as an answer. I will mark it as the solution. — Romonov, Dec 12 '15 at 01:03

score 1 · Accepted Answer · edited May 23 '17 at 11:52

If it can be either, it might not be best practice, someone might correct me on this.

If you create an interface for your RequestPayloads called: IRequestPayload It can be empty.

Inherit from the interface like so:

public interface IRequestPayload{}

internal class RequestPayload1 : IRequestPayload
{
    [DataMember]
    [JsonProperty(Required = Required.Always)]
    internal string Date { get; set; }

    [DataMember]
    [JsonProperty(Required = Required.Always)]
    internal string State { get; set; }

    [DataMember]
    [JsonProperty]
    internal string Properties { get; set; }
}

internal class RequestPayload2 : IRequestPayload
{
    [DataMember]
    [JsonProperty(Required = Required.Always)]
    internal string Id { get; set; }

    [DataMember]
    [JsonProperty(Required = Required.Always)]
    internal string Name { get; set; }

    [DataMember]
    [JsonProperty]
    internal string Location { get; set; }
}

Then instead of JObject, use IRequestPayload

internal class RequestData
{
    [DataMember]
    [JsonProperty(Required = Required.Always)]
    internal string RequestHeader { get; set; }

    [DataMember]
    [JsonProperty(Required = Required.Always)]
    internal IRequestPayload RequestPayload { get; set; }
}

Sorry, interfaces don't serialize correctly if I recall, here is a solution: https://stackoverflow.com/a/18147504/1888402

EDIT

You could also use a base class in a similar way to the interface, you're then associating your request payload classes with a parent class i.e. BaseRequestPayload and then use that for your type.

I'm glad to hear it @Romonov! – ZeroBased_IX Dec 14 '15 at 17:09 — ZeroBased_IX, Dec 14 '15 at 17:09

C#: Insert a json object

1 Answers1