Nested Collections Supported?

[sononc]

I have an odd implementation that needs to take advantage of nested collections. I have the following scenario.

Dictionary<string, string> col1. col1.Key = Id col1.Value = a JSON string of an object[]

The object array stores 2 values. [0] = int [1] = List<string>

When deserializing the object[] I receive an error stating "Object must implement IConvertible."

Both List <string> and object[] work individually. So, I assume that the issue is with the nesting?

Should the above scenario be possible?

[mgholam]

Post a sample of the c# class and your json output.

[sononc]

Thank you for the fast reply. I may have my nesting description a little off, but here is the code.

Dictionary<string, string> col1 = new Dictionary<string, string>();
Dictionary<string, object[]> col2 = new Dictionary<string, object[]>();
col2.Add("Test1", new object[] { 2121000130, new List<string> { "blue", "green", "yellow" } });
col2.ToList().ForEach(x =>
{
    col1.Add(x.Key, JSON.ToJSON(x.Value));
});
string col1json = JSON.ToJSON(col1);
Console.WriteLine(col1json);

var col1Back = JSON.ToObject<Dictionary<string, string>>(col1json);
Dictionary<string, object[]> col2Back = new Dictionary<string, object[]>();
col1Back.ToList().ForEach(x =>
{
    var data = JSON.ToObject<object[]>(x.Value);
    col2Back.Add(x.Key, data);
});
Console.WriteLine(JSON.ToNiceJSON(col2Back));

The error throws on var data = JSON.ToObject<object[]>(x.Value);

[mgholam]

I don't understand what you are trying to do.

[mgholam]

In any case check out v2.4.0.3

[sononc]

I'm having to store this data in a system that I have no control over. The final data must be stored as a string. I am storing the col1 collection as a JSON string in that final system. Due to the nature of how this .dll gets loaded into a 3rd part software, I must use generic .NET collections and object types.

As such, I take the col1, store as JSON into the destination system. When I want to access that data, I pull the string out, convert back to col1 via fastJSON. This works without issue. I then need to take col1 and convert it back to col2 and access the object[] data. When attempting to convert back to col2, it throws an error on the object[] because of the List.

If we remove col1 from the problem, and focus on col2 (code below) the list does not come back as a list and instead is an object[]

Dictionary<string, object[]> col2 = new Dictionary<string, object[]>();
            col2.Add("Test1", new object[] { 2121000130, new List<string> { "blue", "green", "yellow" } });
            string col2json = JSON.ToJSON(col2);
            Console.WriteLine(col2json);

            var col2Back = JSON.ToObject<Dictionary<string, object[]>>(col2json);
            Console.WriteLine(JSON.ToNiceJSON(col2Back));
            col2Back.ToList().ForEach(x => 
            { 
                List<string> val = (List<string>)x.Value[1];
                Console.WriteLine(JSON.ToNiceJSON(val));
            });

[sononc]

Just saw your new post. I will take a look at that update quick.

[sononc]

The update has fixed the initial issue. Now, the secondary issue is that the List<string> is not able to be converted back to a list. It is seen as a List<object>.

I can live with this. However, is this the intent that it would come back as an object instead of a string List?

[mgholam]

In the absence of type information (nested or otherwise), arrays in json are seen as List<object> by the deserializer.

[sononc]

I can make that work for my needs. Thank you! Do you know when the update will be placed into NuGet? Also, thank you so much for the fast turn around!!!

[mgholam]

done.

[sononc]

thank you so much!