We Keep Coding

How to extract data from JSON array

I know its an array, but I am completely new to JSON and need help comprehending how this is structured, here is my attempt at extracting data:
String JSonString = readURL("//my URL is here");
JSONArray s = JSONArray.fromObject(JSonString);
JSONObject Data =(JSONObject)(s.getJSONObject(0));
System.out.println(Data.get("RecycleSiteUrl"));
I want to extract RecycleSiteUrl based on SiteId
My JSON data that I have goes like this :
[
{
"SiteId": 1,
"RecycleLogoUrl": "https://static-contrado.s3-eu-west- 1.amazonaws.com/cms/recyclecarelabel/d867c499-abc0-4ade-bc1a-f5011032c3e0132901511939451201.jpeg",
"RecycleSiteUrl": "bagsoflove.co.uk/recycling",
"Culture": "en-GB"
},
{
"SiteId": 10,
"RecycleLogoUrl": "https://static-contrado.s3-eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/cms/recyclecarelabel/95d28588-33e3-420c-8b24-4a8095c0f6ac132901511364264751.jpeg",
"RecycleSiteUrl": "contrado.co.uk/recycling",
"Culture": "en-GB"
}]
I dont really have a strong grasp of this stuff so all the help is appreciated.

you can try this, it doesn't need to create any classes
var jsonParsed=JArray.Parse(json);
var siteId=10;
var recycleSiteUrl = GetRecycleSiteUrl(jsonParsed,siteId); // contrado.co.uk/recycling
public string GetRecycleSiteUrl(JArray jArray, int siteId)
{
return jArray.Where(x=> (string) x["SiteId"] == siteId.ToString()).First()["RecycleSiteUrl"].ToString();
}
or using json path
string recycleSiteUrl= (string)jsonParsed
.SelectToken("$[?(#.SiteId=="+siteId.ToString()+")].RecycleSiteUrl");

using Newtonsoft.Json;
using System.Linq;
public void Method()
{
var yourSearchParameter = 10;
string jsonStr = readURL("//my URL is here");
var obj = JsonConvert.DeserializeObject<List<RecycleSite>>(jsonStr);
var siteUrl = obj.SingleOrDefault(q => q.SiteId == yourSearchParameter).RecycleSiteUrl;
/* Do something with the siteUrl */
}
public class RecycleSite
{
public int SiteId { get; set; }
public string RecycleLogoUrl { get; set; }
public string RecycleSiteUrl { get; set; }
public string Culture{ get; set; }
}

using Newtonsoft.Json;
using System;
using System.Collections.Generic;
public Class Site
{
public string GetRecycleSiteUrl(int siteId, string jsonArray)
{
var siteInfos = JsonConvert.DeserializeObject<List<SiteInfo>>(jsonArray);
string recycleSiteUrl = siteInfos.FirstOrDefault(info => info.SiteId == siteId).RecycleSiteUrl;
return recycleSiteUrl;
}
}
public class SiteInfo
{
public int SiteId { get; set; }
public string RecycleLogoUrl { get; set; }
public string RecycleSiteUrl { get; set; }
public string Culture { get; set; }
}
You can create Site object and access GetRecycleSiteUrl method by passing respective parameter values.

How can I parse some JSON dynamically without knowing JSON values?

So I am using TDAmeritrade API to receive stock data with a C# Winforms program on Visual Studio. It takes the user input stock symbol and searches for the info. I am using HttpClient and Newtonsoft.Json and have been able to successfully perform the GET request and receive a JSON string back, but I do not know how to get all of the information I need out of it.
Here is the JSON:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1TpAUwjyqrHArEXGXMof_K1eQe0hFoaw5/view?usp=sharing
Above is the JSON string sent back to me then formatted. My goal is to record information for each price in "callExpDateMap.2021-02-19:11" and "callExpDateMap.2021-03-19:39". The problem is that for each different stock, the dates that show up in "callExpDateMap" are going to be different.
client.DefaultRequestHeaders.Authorization = new AuthenticationHeaderValue("Bearer", token);
var response = await client.GetAsync(url);
var info = await response.Content.ReadAsStringAsync();
dynamic config = JsonConvert.DeserializeObject<dynamic>(info, new ExpandoObjectConverter());
return config;
This is the code I have right now. I know the last for statement is not correct. How can I parse to the specific sections I want (callExpDateMap.expirationdate.StrikePrice) and get the information needed from each without knowing the dates and Strike prices beforehand? Is there a way to innumerate it and search through the JSON as if it were all a bunch of arrays?

The code below is perhaps not the most elegant nor complete, but I think it will get you going. I would start by using the JObject.Parse() from the Newtonsoft.Json.Linq namespace and take it from there.
JObject root = JObject.Parse(info);
string symbol = root["symbol"].ToObject<string>();
foreach (JToken toplevel in root["callExpDateMap"].Children())
{
foreach (JToken nextlevel in toplevel.Children())
{
foreach (JToken bottomlevel in nextlevel.Children())
{
foreach (JToken jToken in bottomlevel.Children())
{
JArray jArray = jToken as JArray;
foreach (var arrayElement in jArray)
{
InfoObject infoObject = arrayElement.ToObject<InfoObject>();
Console.WriteLine(infoObject.putCall);
Console.WriteLine(infoObject.exchangeName);
Console.WriteLine(infoObject.multiplier);
}
}
}
}
}
public class InfoObject
{
public string putCall { get; set; }
public string symbol { get; set; }
public string description { get; set; }
public string exchangeName { get; set; }
// ...
public int multiplier { get; set; }
// ...
}

This is official documentation of Newtonsoft method you are trying to use.
https://www.newtonsoft.com/json/help/html/Overload_Newtonsoft_Json_JsonConvert_DeserializeObject.htm
If an API's method returns different json propeties and you cannot trust it's property names all the times, then you can try using a deserialize method that returns .Net object, for example: JsonConvert.DeserializeObject Method (String)
https://www.newtonsoft.com/json/help/html/M_Newtonsoft_Json_JsonConvert_DeserializeObject.htm
That method's signature is this:
public static Object DeserializeObject(string value)
Parameter is: value of type json string.
Return Value is: Object of type object.
If you do not want an Object, then you can of course use a .Net type you have. Such as this method:
JsonConvert.DeserializeObject Method (String)
Any property that you have in both (the .net type and json object) will get populated. If .net type has properties that do not exist in json object, then those will be ignored. If json object has properties that do not exist in.net, then those will be ignored too.
Here's an example of a .Net type
using Microsoft.VisualStudio.TestTools.UnitTesting;
using Newtonsoft.Json;
using Newtonsoft.Json.Linq;
using Newtonsoft.Json.Serialization;
using System.Collections.Generic;
using System.IO;
using System.Text;
namespace MyNameSpace
{
public class TDAmeritradeStockData
{
[JsonProperty("symbol")]
public string Symbol { get; set; }
[JsonProperty("status")]
public string Status { get; set; }
[JsonProperty("callExpDateMap")]
public object CallExpDateMap { get; set; }
//...
//...
public CallExpDateMapType[] CallExpDateMapList { get; set; }
}
public class CallExpDateMapType
{
[JsonProperty("expirationdate")]
public string Expirationdate { get; set; }
[JsonProperty("StrikePrice")]
public List<StrikePriceType> StrikePriceList { get; set; }
}
public class StrikePriceType
{
public string StrikePrice { get; set; }
public List<StrikePricePropertiesType> StrikePricePropertiesList { get; set; }
}
public class StrikePricePropertiesType
{
[JsonProperty("putCall")]
public string PutCall { get; set; }
[JsonProperty("symbol")]
public string Symbol { get; set; }
[JsonProperty("description")]
public string Description { get; set; }
[JsonProperty("exchangeName")]
public string ExchangeName { get; set; }
[JsonProperty("bid")]
public double Bid { get; set; }
[JsonProperty("ask")]
public double Ask { get; set; }
//...
//...
}
[TestClass]
public class TestTestTest
{
[TestMethod]
public void JsonTest()
{
var jsondata = ReadFile("data.json");
var model = JsonConvert.DeserializeObject<TDAmeritradeStockData>(jsondata);
JObject jObject = (JObject)model.CallExpDateMap;
var count = ((JObject)model.CallExpDateMap).Count;
model.CallExpDateMapList = new CallExpDateMapType[count];
var jToken = (JToken)jObject.First;
for (var i = 0; i < count; i++)
{
model.CallExpDateMapList[i] = new CallExpDateMapType
{
Expirationdate = jToken.Path,
StrikePriceList = new List<StrikePriceType>()
};
var nextStrikePrice = jToken.First.First;
while (nextStrikePrice != null)
{
var nextStrikePriceProperties = nextStrikePrice;
var srikePriceList = new StrikePriceType
{
StrikePrice = nextStrikePriceProperties.Path,
StrikePricePropertiesList = JsonConvert.DeserializeObject<List<StrikePricePropertiesType>>(nextStrikePrice.First.ToString())
};
model.CallExpDateMapList[i].StrikePriceList.Add(srikePriceList);
nextStrikePrice = nextStrikePrice.Next;
}
jToken = jToken.Next;
}
Assert.IsNotNull(model);
}
private string ReadFile(string fileName)
{
using (var fileStream = new FileStream(fileName, FileMode.Open, FileAccess.Read))
{
var data = new StringBuilder();
using (var streamReader = new StreamReader(fileStream))
{
while (!streamReader.EndOfStream) data.Append(streamReader.ReadLine());
streamReader.Close();
}
fileStream.Close();
return data.ToString();
}
}
}
}

Converting JSON array

I am attempting to use the Newtonsoft JSON library to parse a JSON string dynamically using C#. In the JSON is a named array. I would like to remove the square brackets from this array and then write out the modified JSON.
The JSON now looks like the following. I would like to remove the square bracket from the ProductDescription array.
{
"Product": "123",
"to_Description": [
{
"ProductDescription": "Product 1"
}
]
}
Desired result
{
"Product": "123",
"to_Description":
{
"ProductDescription": "Product 1"
}
}
I believe I can use the code below to parse the JSON. I just need some help with making the modification.
JObject o1 = JObject.Parse(File.ReadAllText(#"output.json"));

The to_Description property starts off as List<Dictionary<string,string>> and you want to take the first element from the List.
So, given 2 classes
public class Source
{
public string Product {get;set;}
public List<Dictionary<string,string>> To_Description{get;set;}
}
public class Destination
{
public string Product {get;set;}
public Dictionary<string,string> To_Description{get;set;}
}
You could do it like this:
var src = JsonConvert.DeserializeObject<Source>(jsonString);
var dest = new Destination
{
Product = src.Product,
To_Description = src.To_Description[0]
};
var newJson = JsonConvert.SerializeObject(dest);
Note: You might want to check there really is just 1 item in the list!
Live example: https://dotnetfiddle.net/vxqumd

You do not need to create classes for this task. You can modify your object like this:
// Load the JSON from a file into a JObject
JObject o1 = JObject.Parse(File.ReadAllText(#"output.json"));
// Get the desired property whose value is to be replaced
var prop = o1.Property("to_Description");
// Replace the property value with the first child JObject of the existing value
prop.Value = prop.Value.Children<JObject>().FirstOrDefault();
// write the changed JSON back to the original file
File.WriteAllText(#"output.json", o1.ToString());
Fiddle: https://dotnetfiddle.net/M83zv3

I have used json2csharp to convert the actual and desired output to classes and manipulated the input json.. this will help in the maintenance in future
First defined the model
public class ToDescription
{
public string ProductDescription { get; set; }
}
public class ActualObject
{
public string Product { get; set; }
public List<ToDescription> to_Description { get; set; }
}
public class ChangedObject
{
public string Product { get; set; }
public ToDescription to_Description { get; set; }
}
Inject the logic
static void Main(string[] args)
{
string json = "{\"Product\": \"123\", \"to_Description\": [ { \"ProductDescription\": \"Product 1\" } ]} ";
ActualObject actualObject = JsonConvert.DeserializeObject<ActualObject>(json);
ChangedObject changedObject = new ChangedObject();
changedObject.Product = actualObject.Product;
changedObject.to_Description = actualObject.to_Description[0];
string formattedjson = JsonConvert.SerializeObject(changedObject);
Console.WriteLine(formattedjson);
}

Why not:
public class EntityDescription
{
public string ProductDescription { get; set; }
}
public class Entity
{
public string Product { get; set; }
}
public class Source : Entity
{
[JsonProperty("to_Description")]
public EntityDescription[] Description { get; set; }
}
public class Target : Entity
{
[JsonProperty("to_Description")]
public EntityDescription Description { get; set; }
}
var raw = File.ReadAllText(#"output.json");
var source = JsonConvert.DeserializeObject<Source>(raw);
var target = new Target { Product = source.Product, Description = source.Description.FirstOrDefault() };
var rawResult = JsonConvert.SerializeObject(target);
Update For dynamic JSON
var jObject = JObject.Parse(File.ReadAllText(#"output.json"));
var newjObject = new JObject();
foreach(var jToken in jObject) {
if(jToken.Value is JArray) {
List<JToken> l = jToken.Value.ToObject<List<JToken>>();
if(l != null && l.Count > 0) {
newjObject.Add(jToken.Key, l.First());
}
} else {
newjObject.Add(jToken.Key, jToken.Value);
}
}
var newTxt = newjObject.ToString();

Problems deserializing List of objects

I am having trouble deserializing a list of objects. I can get just one object to serialize into an object but cannot get the list. I get no error it just returns an empty List. This is the XML that gets returned:
<locations>
<location locationtype="building" locationtypeid="1">
<id>1</id>
<name>Building Name</name>
<description>Description of Building</description>
</location>
</locations>
This is the class I have and I am deserializing in the GetAll method:
[Serializable()]
[XmlRoot("location")]
public class Building
{
private string method;
[XmlElement("id")]
public int LocationID { get; set; }
[XmlElement("name")]
public string Name { get; set; }
[XmlElement("description")]
public string Description { get; set; }
[XmlElement("mubuildingid")]
public string MUBuildingID { get; set; }
public List<Building> GetAll()
{
var listBuildings = new List<Building>();
var building = new Building();
var request = WebRequest.Create(method) as HttpWebRequest;
var response = request.GetResponse() as HttpWebResponse;
var streamReader = new StreamReader(response.GetResponseStream());
TextReader reader = streamReader;
var serializer = new XmlSerializer(typeof(List<Building>),
new XmlRootAttribute() { ElementName = "locations" });
listBuildings = (List<Building>)serializer.Deserialize(reader);
return listBuildings;
}
}

Try this:
[XmlRoot("locations")]
public class BuildingList
{
public BuildingList() {Items = new List<Building>();}
[XmlElement("location")]
public List<Building> Items {get;set;}
}
Then deserialize the whole BuildingList object.
var xmlSerializer = new XmlSerializer(typeof(BuildingList));
var list = (BuildingList)xmlSerializer.Deserialize(xml);

I know this is an old(er) question, but I struggled with this today, and found an answer that doesn't require encapsulation.
Assumption 1: You have control over the source Xml and how it is constructed.
Assumption 2: You are trying to serialise the Xml directly into a List<T> object
You must name the Root element in the Xml as ArrayOfxxx where xxx is the name of your class (or the name specified in XmlType (see 2.))
If you wish your xml Elements to have a different name to the class, you should use XmlType on the class.
NB: If your Type name (or class name) starts with a lowercase letter, you should convert the first character to uppercase.
Example 1 - Without XmlType
class Program
{
static void Main(string[] args)
{
//String containing the xml array of items.
string xml =
#"<ArrayOfItem>
<Item>
<Name>John Doe</Name>
</Item>
<Item>
<Name>Martha Stewart</Name>
</Item>
</ArrayOfItem>";
List<Item> items = null;
using (var mem = new MemoryStream(Encoding.Default.GetBytes(xml)))
using (var stream = new StreamReader(mem))
{
var ser = new XmlSerializer(typeof(List<Item>)); //Deserialising to List<Item>
items = (List<Item>)ser.Deserialize(stream);
}
if (items != null)
{
items.ForEach(I => Console.WriteLine(I.Name));
}
else
Console.WriteLine("No Items Deserialised");
}
}
public class Item
{
public string Name { get; set; }
}
Example 2 - With XmlType
class Program
{
static void Main(string[] args)
{
//String containing the xml array of items.
//Note the Array Name, and the Title case on stq.
string xml =
#"<ArrayOfStq>
<stq>
<Name>John Doe</Name>
</stq>
<stq>
<Name>Martha Stewart</Name>
</stq>
</ArrayOfStq>";
List<Item> items = null;
using (var mem = new MemoryStream(Encoding.Default.GetBytes(xml)))
using (var stream = new StreamReader(mem))
{
var ser = new XmlSerializer(typeof(List<Item>)); //Deserialising to List<Item>
items = (List<Item>)ser.Deserialize(stream);
}
if (items != null)
{
items.ForEach(I => Console.WriteLine(I.Name));
}
else
Console.WriteLine("No Items Deserialised");
}
}
[XmlType("stq")]
public class Item
{
public string Name { get; set; }
}

Not sure how Building corresponds with the location you have in your xml, but to me it makes more sense if they're named equivalently. Instead of using a List use a LocationList, and it becomes:
[Serializable()]
[XmlRoot("locations")]
public class LocationCollection{
[XmlElement("location")]
public Location[] Locations {get;set;}
}
[Serializable()]
[XmlRoot("location")]
public class Location
{
[XmlElement("id")]
public int LocationID { get; set; }
[XmlAttribute("locationtype")]
public string LocationType {get;set;}
[XmlElement("name")]
public string Name { get; set; }
[XmlElement("description")]
public string Description { get; set; }
[XmlElement("mubuildingid")]
public string MUBuildingID { get; set; }
}
You can then deserialize as follows:
var request = WebRequest.Create(method) as HttpWebRequest;
var response = request.GetResponse() as HttpWebResponse;
var streamReader = new StreamReader(response.GetResponseStream());
TextReader reader = streamReader;
var serializer = new XmlSerializer(typeof(LocationCollection),
new XmlRootAttribute() { ElementName = "locations" });
var listBuildings = (LocationCollection)serializer.Deserialize(reader);
return listBuildings;

I know, old question, but came across it when faced by a similar issue.
Building on #ricovox's answer and in context of the OP's question, this is the model I would use to serialize his xml:
[Serializable, XmlRoot("locations")]
public class BuildingList
{
[XmlArrayItem("location", typeof(Building))]
public List<Building> locations { get; set; }
}
[Serializable]
public class Building
{
public int LocationID { get; set; }
public string Name { get; set; }
public string Description { get; set; }
public string MUBuildingID { get; set; }
public List<Building> GetAll()
{
...
}
}
The OP's mistake was to create the list item as the root

Use [XMLArray] for collection properties.

How to get JSON String value?

var responseFromServer =
// lines split for readability
"{\"flag\":true,\"message\":\"\",\"result\":{\"ServicePermission\":true,"
+ "\"UserGroupPermission\":true}}";
var serializer = new System.Web.Script.Serialization.JavaScriptSerializer();
var responseValue = serializer.DeserializeObject(responseFromServer);
responseFromServer value is get a webservice, and then how to get the JSON string value, such as "flag"，"Servicepermission"？？
affix: i'm sorry, using c# to do this.

Note: The JavaScriptSerializer is actually the slowest JSON Serializer I've ever benchmarked. So much so I've had to remove it from my benchmarks because it was taking too long (>100x slower).
Anyway this easily solved using ServiceStack.Text's JSON Serializer:
var response = JsonSerializer.DeserializeFromString<Dictionary<string,string>>(responseFromServer);
var permissions = JsonSerializer.DeserializeFromString<Dictionary<string,string>>(response["result"]);
Console.WriteLine(response["flag"] + ":" + permissions["ServicePermission"]);
For completeness this would also work with ServiceStack.Text.JsonSerializer:
public class Response
{
public bool flag { get; set; }
public string message { get; set; }
public Permisions result { get; set; }
}
public class Permisions
{
public bool ServicePermission { get; set; }
public bool UserGroupPermission { get; set; }
}
var response = JsonSerializer.DeserializeFromString<Response>(responseFromServer);
Console.WriteLine(response.flag + ":" + response.result.ServicePermission);

if u are using jQuery u can do this
var json=jQuery.parseJSON(responseFromServer);
//acess
alert(json.ServicePermission);
if you are asing microsoft ajax do this
var json=Sys.Serialization.JavaScriptSerializer.deserialize(responseFromServer,true);
//acess
alert(json.ServicePermission);
in c# like php i have'nt seen any method that converts json to object on the fly. To do conversions in c# you must first create a class for this.
For your case you can do like this
//define classes
public class Response
{
public bool flag { get; set; }
public string message { get; set; }
public Permisions result { get; set; }
}
public class Permisions
{
public bool ServicePermission { get; set; }
public bool UserGroupPermission { get; set; }
}
var responseFromServer =
// lines split for readability
"{\"flag\":true,\"message\":\"\",\"result\":{\"ServicePermission\":true,"
+ "\"UserGroupPermission\":true}}";
var serializer = new System.Web.Script.Serialization.JavaScriptSerializer();
var responseValue = serializer.Deserialize<Response>(responseFromServer);
//access
responseValue.result.ServicePermission