How can I deserialize this json data with JSON.Net?

Question

I'm not sure how to define the data property to deserialize the following json data...

{
"response": {
    "total_rows": 39,
    "data": [
      [
        "XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXBs2VI",
        "a7ac4aa7-7211-4116-be57-0c36fc2abeee",
        "AAAAAA",
        "Crn Burnley & Victoria St",
        "Richmond",
        "VIC",
        "3121",
        "555-555-555",
        null,
        "Real Estate & Home Improvement > Storage",
        null,
        null,
        -37.8114511488511,
        145.009782837163
      ],
      [ .. ]
      [ .. ]
      ....
    },
    status = "ok"
}

so I had ..

public class ResultData
{
    public Response Response { get; set; }
    public string Status { get; set; }
}

and....

public class Response
{
    public int total_rows { get; set; }
    public IList<string> data { get; set; }
}

but that was throwing an exception, saying "Can't cast float to string" . SO it was trying to add those last two floats, into the List<> .. but failed.

How can I fix this, please? (I can't control the json output).

Cheers :)

Update

It looks like the content of the data json property is a fixed size array with fixed object types. So is there a way i could define that, in my .NET code so JSON.NET knows how to exactly deserialize it? Do I need to make a custom json deserializer for that json property?

Answer 1

If you're using .NET 4.0 then you might like to consider using dynamic when dealing with JSON.

I posted some code that shows one way of setting that up on another question .

In your example you would be able to do:

var serializer = new JavaScriptSerializer();
serializer.RegisterConverters(new[] { new DynamicJsonConverter() });

dynamic obj = serializer.Deserialize(json, typeof(object));

if (obj.status != "ok")
    throw new OopsException();

int rowCount = obj.total_rows;

foreach (var row in obj.data) {
    string code1 = row[0];
    string code2 = row[1];
    string code3 = row[2];
    string address = row[3];
    string suburb = row[4];
    string state = row[5];
    string postcode = row[6];
    string phone = row[7];
    string something1 = row[8];
    string name = row[9];
    string something2 = row[10];
    string something3 = row[11];
    decimal longitude = row[12];
    decimal latitude = row[13];

    // TODO use above values
}

Answer 2

You have string and numbers in your array. You have to use object instead of string has the list type.

public class Response
{
    public int total_rows { get; set; }
    public IList<object> data { get; set; }
}

Answer 3

Ok - not sure if this is the best way to do it .. but ... I got it working by doing this...

public class Response
{
    [JsonProperty(PropertyName = "total_rows")]
    public int TotalRows { get; set; }
    public IList<MyPoco> Data { get; set; }
}

Now, the data property will NOT get autopopulated by the JSON library ... which is 100% fine.

I then do this...

RestResponse<ResultData> response = client.Execute<ResultData>(restRequest);

ResultData data = response.Data;

if (data != null)
{
    // Now the Data property will be null, so we need to parse that badboy.
    JObject linqData = JObject.Parse(response.Content);
    var array = linqData["response"]["data"] as JArray;
    if (array != null)
    {
        data.Response.Data = 
            (from x in array
            select new MyPoco
                        {
                            SubjectKey = x[0].Value<string>(),
                            UUid = x[1].Value<string>(),
                            Name = x[2].Value<string>(),
                            Address = x[3].Value<string>(),
                            City = x[4].Value<string>(),
                            Territory = x[5].Value<string>(),
                            Postcode = x[6].Value<string>(),
                            Telephone = x[7].Value<string>(),
                            Category = x[9].Value<string>(),
                            Website = x[10].Value<string>(),
                            Email = x[11].Value<string>(),
                            Latitude = x[12].Value<float>(),
                            Longitude = x[13].Value<float>()
                        }).ToList();
    }
}

So - I don't let the JSON library to the auto-extraction for that one List of List-Objects .. but I use some Linq-To-Json and extract those bad boys.

Not completely happy .. but it works.

HTH someone out there in the interwebs.

Now have a random cute meow-pic.

Answer 4

It looks like you have a list of lists. In that case, it should be:

public class Response
{
    public int total_rows { get; set; }
    public IList<IList<object>> data { get; set; }
}