C# Converting mixed JSON into an object

Question

Yo Guys,

I'm currently trying to pass some mixed JSON, and was wondering if it was possible to do anything like the following?

struct example_data 
{
    public Dictionary<string, List<string>> information {get; set;}
}

class TestClass
{
    static void Main(string[] args)
    {
        string test_string = @"{'EventSpecificInformation':
                                   {
                                   'measure':'' 
                                   ,'Long name':'test_name' 
                                   ,'Short name':'test_s_name' 
                                   ,'Description':''
                                   ,'Status':'Real (Imported)'
                                   ,'Viewers':['Everyone']
                                   ,'Modifiers':['Supervisor only']
                                   ,'calculation':''
                                   }
                               }"

        example_data deserialized_entry = JsonConvert.DeserializeObject<example_data>(test_string)
    }
}

As you would expect the above code snippet fails, but I was hoping I could avoid wrapping each JSON entry in a JSON array or having to create a custom JSON reader in C#.

Any advice on the matter would be greatly appreciated.

check this out https://stackoverflow.com/a/8972079/7968203, should do what you want if i understand you correctly — Isparia, Feb 14 '20 at 15:22
or this https://stackoverflow.com/questions/22410511/how-can-i-deserialize-json-containing-delimited-json — nilsK, Feb 14 '20 at 15:23
`test_string = test_string.Replace("'", "\"");` Also, you're missing a `;` at the end of `test_string` assignment. You need to replace `'` with `"`, it will then be valid. — Trevor, Feb 14 '20 at 15:26
@Çöđěxěŕ - The semi-colon is a typo, and this string is read fine, even with single quotes. — Andy, Feb 14 '20 at 15:37
@Andy it's not valid `json`... didn't say it *couldn't be read*. — Trevor, Feb 14 '20 at 15:40
@Andy We refer to JSON that contains objects and arrays as simply "JSON". — , Feb 14 '20 at 15:53

score 3 · Accepted Answer · answered Feb 14 '20 at 15:33

Sounds like what you're looking for is to parse a JSON string into a dynamic object, like so:

dynamic myObject = JsonConvert.DeserializeObject(@"{'EventSpecificInformation':
                               {
                               'measure':'' 
                               ,'Long name':'test_name' 
                               ,'Short name':'test_s_name' 
                               ,'Description':''
                               ,'Status':'Real (Imported)'
                               ,'Viewers':['Everyone']
                               ,'Modifiers':['Supervisor only']
                               ,'calculation':''
                               }
                           }");

string desc = myObject.EventSpecificInformation.Description;
string longName = myObject.EventSpecificInformation["Long name"];

This is likely your best option if you don't have an explicit static model for your JSON input. For properties without a space in their name you can reference them directly using member access syntax, for those with a space you can reference them using indexer access syntax.

This is what I ended up doing, thanks for your suggestion! Sorry, it took me so long to update. Marking your answer as correct! — Andy, Apr 02 '20 at 15:41

Trevor · Answer 2 · 2020-02-14T15:47:39.453

As you would expect the above code snippet fails

string test_string = @"{'EventSpecificInformation':
                               {
                               'measure':'' 
                               ,'Long name':'test_name' 
                               ,'Short name':'test_s_name' 
                               ,'Description':''
                               ,'Status':'Real (Imported)'
                               ,'Viewers':['Everyone']
                               ,'Modifiers':['Supervisor only']
                               ,'calculation':''
                               }
                           }"

In the above you're clearly missing an ending ; at test_string assignment, this wont compile, fix this first (I'm sure it's a type-o). Next, this isn't valid json, you see all the ' in that json, it should be quotes: ". So in short, just replace the bad characters...

 string test_string = @"{'EventSpecificInformation':
                               {
                               'measure':'' 
                               ,'Long name':'test_name' 
                               ,'Short name':'test_s_name' 
                               ,'Description':''
                               ,'Status':'Real (Imported)'
                               ,'Viewers':['Everyone']
                               ,'Modifiers':['Supervisor only']
                               ,'calculation':''
                               }
                           }".Replace("'", "\"");

Note - As far as deserializing your json, create a new question with what you've tried (after fixing this), what isn't working and expected output; you've multiple issues, let's address one at a time.

It parses fine. I was hoping I could take my non-array objects, and have C# just make a size one list with the entry. — Andy, Feb 14 '20 at 15:39
Shouldn't `JsonConvert.DeserializeObject("{'a':'aa','b':'bb'}")` successfully deserialize ? Correct me i am wrong, but Single Quotes should not be a problem — Anu Viswan, Feb 14 '20 at 15:48
@AnuViswan yes, it will deserialize `'`, the problem is it's not valid `json`, it fails all RFC's... If trying to deserialize into a type, it will fail. — Trevor, Feb 14 '20 at 15:56
@Andy to make the size one list, you need to use a Custom JsonConverter which does the same. Please check my answer. — Anu Viswan, Feb 14 '20 at 16:01
@Çöđěxěŕ How about deserializing to `Dictionary>`, with help of a JsonConverter which Converts Single objects to Array ? Could you pls check my answer ? — Anu Viswan, Feb 14 '20 at 16:03

score 0 · Answer 3 · answered Feb 14 '20 at 15:35

You can push the results to Dictionary

string test_string = @"{'EventSpecificInformation':
                        {
                        'measure':'' 
                        ,'Long name':'test_name' 
                        ,'Short name':'test_s_name' 
                        ,'Description':''
                        ,'Status':'Real (Imported)'
                        ,'Viewers':['Everyone']
                        ,'Modifiers':['Supervisor only']
                        ,'calculation':''
                        }
                    }".Replace("'", "\""); 

var results = JsonConvert.DeserializeObject<Dictionary<string, Dictionary<string, object>>>(test_string);

Anu Viswan · Answer 4 · 2020-02-14T15:53:33.540

Assuming that you do not want to use a static model,the problem with the code is that it doesn't match signature of your Json. The Json comprises of a Dictionary<string,Dictionary<string,List<string>>. However, there is another concern.

Some of the values in inner Dictionary is not List<string>. Instead, they are strings. For example,

'Short name':'test_s_name'

For this purpose you need to use a a Custom JsonConverter which if the values is not a array, converts the single string value to list. For example, consider the following Custom JsonConverter.

class SingleOrArrayConverter<T> : JsonConverter
{
public override bool CanConvert(Type objectType)
{
return (objectType == typeof(List<T>));
}

public override object ReadJson(JsonReader reader, Type objectType, object existingValue, JsonSerializer serializer)
{
JToken token = JToken.Load(reader);
if (token.Type == JTokenType.Array)
{
return token.ToObject<List<T>>();
}
return new List<T> { token.ToObject<T>() };
}

public override bool CanWrite
{
get { return false; }
}

public override void WriteJson(JsonWriter writer, object value, JsonSerializer serializer)
{
throw new NotImplementedException();
}
}

Now, you could deserialize your Json as

string test_string = @"{'EventSpecificInformation':
                                   {
                                   'measure':'' 
                                   ,'Long name':'test_name' 
                                   ,'Short name':'test_s_name' 
                                   ,'Description':''
                                   ,'Status':'Real (Imported)'
                                   ,'Viewers':['Everyone']
                                   ,'Modifiers':['Supervisor only']
                                   ,'calculation':''
                                   }
                               }";

var deserialized_entry = JsonConvert.DeserializeObject<Dictionary<string,Dictionary<string, List<string>>>>(test_string,new SingleOrArrayConverter<string>());

Output

C# Converting mixed JSON into an object

4 Answers4