Data List - User Defined List - Single Item Value - Store as String Instead of Array

[prjseal]

I don't know if this is a bug or by design, but when i was using the user defined data source with a button picker as a single choice only, not multiple, it was storing the value as a json array instead of just a single string value. Then when I came to use that value as a name template in a nested content item I got ["myvalue"] instead of myvalue which made it look rubbish.

I then decided to use the Umbraco built in radio button list instead and it worked.

So my question is, when it is a single item can you store it as a single string rather than a json array?

[leekelleher]

@prjseal Thank you for raising this. It's the list-editor that manages the multiple/single state of the value(s), so in this case it's the Buttons editor that uses an array.

The reason for this is for compatibility, between the other list-editors and if the configuration options are changed (e.g. if someone enabled the "Multiple selection?" option). Otherwise I'd be adding much more code to keep checking if the value was a string or array.

There is some automagic stuff going on at ValueConverter/ModelsBuilder level on whether to use a single or IEnumerable<>, but at database/backoffice level, it's down to however the property-editor deals with it.

For your NestedContent name template, could you have appended [0], to get the first value from the array?

[leekelleher]

Closing this ticket, as it was done by design and not easily reworked.

[prjseal]

Thanks for replying Lee, I was away at the weekend so didn't have chance to reply to you. This all makes sense.