How to get HttpClient Json serializer to ignore null values - c#

I'm currently working with a console app which I'm using the HttpClient to interact with an Apache CouchDB database. I'm using this article: http://www.asp.net/web-api/overview/web-api-clients/calling-a-web-api-from-a-net-client
I'd like to ignore the null properties in my class when I'm serializing and sending a document to my database via the PostAsJsonSync but I'm not sure how:
public static HttpResponseMessage InsertDocument(object doc, string name, string db)
{
HttpResponseMessage result;
if (String.IsNullOrWhiteSpace(name)) result = clientSetup().PostAsJsonAsync(db, doc).Result;
else result = clientSetup().PutAsJsonAsync(db + String.Format("/{0}", name), doc).Result;
return result;
}
static HttpClient clientSetup()
{
HttpClientHandler handler = new HttpClientHandler();
handler.Credentials = new NetworkCredential("**************", "**************");
HttpClient client = new HttpClient(handler);
client.BaseAddress = new Uri("*********************");
//needed as otherwise returns plain text
client.DefaultRequestHeaders.Accept.Add(new MediaTypeWithQualityHeaderValue("application/json"));
return client;
}
Here's the class I'm serializing....
class TestDocument
{
public string Schema { get; set; }
public long Timestamp { get; set; }
public int Count { get; set; }
public string _rev { get; set; }
public string _id { get; set; } - would like this to be ignored if null
}
Any help much appreciated.

Assuming that you are using Json.NET to serialize your object, you should use the NullValueHandling property of the JsonProperty attribute
[JsonProperty(NullValueHandling=NullValueHandling.Ignore)]
Check out this great article and the online help for more details

If you need this behavior for all the properties of all the classes you're going to send (which is exactly the case that has led me to this question), I think this would be cleaner:
using ( HttpClient http = new HttpClient() )
{
var formatter = new JsonMediaTypeFormatter();
formatter.SerializerSettings.NullValueHandling = Newtonsoft.Json.NullValueHandling.Ignore;
TestDocument value = new TestDocument();
HttpContent content = new ObjectContent<TestDocument>( value, formatter );
await http.PutAsync( url, content );
}
This way there's no need to add attributes to your classes, and you still don't have to serialize all the values manually.

use HttpClient.PostAsync
JsonMediaTypeFormatter jsonFormat = new JsonMediaTypeFormatter();
jsonFormat.SerializerSettings.DefaultValueHandling = Newtonsoft.Json.DefaultValueHandling.Ignore;
jsonFormat.SerializerSettings.NullValueHandling = Newtonsoft.Json.NullValueHandling.Ignore;
HttpResponseMessage res = c.PostAsync<T>(url, TObj, jsonFormat).Result;

I'm not sure you can do that with the PutAsJsonAsync as you have it right now. Json.NET can do this though, if you're able to use it, and a NuGet package exists if it helps. If you can use it, I'd rewrite the InsertDocument function to look like:
public static HttpResponseMessage InsertDocument(object doc, string name, string db)
{
HttpResponseMessage result;
string json = JsonConvert.SerializeObject(doc, Formatting.Indented, new JsonSerializerSettings { NullValueHandling = NullValueHandling.Ignore });
if (String.IsNullOrWhiteSpace(name)) result = clientSetup().PostAsync(db, new StringContent(json, null, "application/json")).Result;
else result = clientSetup().PutAsync(db + String.Format("/{0}", name), new StringContent(json, null, "application/json")).Result;
return result;
}

Related

How to Seriailize an c# object into Json, while using httpClient?

I have a little program which should communicate with "Slack". In an older Version I used "Dictionary<string, string>" and then put them into UrlEncodedContent - which worked fine.
Now I am trying to create a Json-object, using Newtonsoft's Nuget-package and (in my opinion) formatting my object the way they say on their website.
Problem is, when I try to make a simple request, my program just runs to one specific line in the code(var response = await _httpClient.SendAsync(request);) and then it just ends. It doesn't throw an exception or display any kind of message, it simply ends on this line. I went through my code step by step while debugging, that's how I know it ends on exactly this line. And I just don't know why!
Now my code:
First, my object...
namespace BPS.Slack
{
public class JsonObject
{
//generally needed parameters
[JsonProperty("ok")]
public bool ok { get; set; }
[JsonProperty("error")]
public string error { get; set; }
[JsonProperty("channel")]
public string channel { get; set; }
[JsonProperty("token")]
private string token = "xoxp-MyToken";
[JsonProperty("as_user")]
public bool as_user = false;
[JsonProperty("username")]
public string username { get;set; }
//--------------------------------
//only needed for textmessages
[JsonProperty("text")]
public string text { get; set; }
//--------------------------------
//for posting messages with data attached
[JsonProperty("initial_comment")]
public string initial_comment { get; set; }
[JsonProperty("file")]
public string file { get; set; }
[JsonProperty("channels")]
public string channels { get; set; }
//--------------------------------
//for getting the latest message from a channel
[JsonProperty("count")]
public string count = "1";
[JsonProperty("unreads")]
public bool unreads = true;
}
}
now the client:
namespace BPS.Slack
{
public class BpsHttpClient
{
private readonly HttpClient _httpClient = new HttpClient { };
public Uri UriMethod { get; set; }
public BpsHttpClient(string webhookUrl)
{
UriMethod = new Uri(webhookUrl);
}
public async Task<HttpResponseMessage> UploadFileAsync(MultipartFormDataContent requestContent)
{
HttpRequestMessage request = new HttpRequestMessage(HttpMethod.Get, UriMethod);
request.Content = requestContent;
var response = await _httpClient.SendAsync(request);
return response;
}
}
}
and the main
namespace TestArea
{
class MainArea
{
public static void Main( string[] args)
{
try
{
Task.WhenAll(SendMessage());
}
catch(Exception ass)
{
Console.WriteLine(ass);
Console.ReadKey();
}
}
private static async Task SendMessage()
{
var client = new BpsHttpClient("https://slack.com/api/im.history");
JsonObject JO = new JsonObject();
JO.channel = "DCW21NBHD";
var Json = JsonConvert.SerializeObject(JO);
var StringJson = new StringContent(Json, Encoding.UTF8);
MultipartFormDataContent content = new MultipartFormDataContent();
content.Add(StringJson);
var Response = await client.UploadFileAsync(content);
string AnswerContent = await Response.Content.ReadAsStringAsync();
Console.WriteLine(AnswerContent);
Console.ReadKey();
}
}
}
I had the same problem in my older version, BUT only as I wanted to DEserialize an answer I got from Slack. It had to do with my object I tried do deserialize the answer into. But this time I can not figure out what's wrong. But, as I said, I do not have any experience with using serialized objects as Json-property to send requests... anyone has an idea what is wrong with my code?
EDIT: This problem is kinda solved. But there is a follow up problem.
Okay, I found out that the reason for the abprubt termination was the
Task.WhenAll(SendMessage());
it should be
Task.WaitAll(SendMessage()); Why??? Somebody said I should use WhenAll, but obviously it doesn't work properly in this case...
Now I get a response from Slack, but now a different problem has arisen. When I use this method:
public async Task<HttpResponseMessage> UploadFileAsync(MultipartFormDataContent requestContent)
{
HttpRequestMessage request = new HttpRequestMessage(HttpMethod.Post, UriMethod);
request.Content = requestContent;
var response = await _httpClient.SendAsync(request);
return response;
}
I allways get the answer:
{"ok":false,"error":"invalid_form_data"}
so I tried to explicitly tell it the 'mediaType', I tried "application/json" and others, but with all of them I get the same error. Here is the full method that calls the upper mehtod:
private static async Task SendMessage()
{
var client = new BpsHttpClient("https://slack.com/api/chat.postMessage");
JsonObject JO = new JsonObject();
JO.channel = "DCW21NBHD";
JO.text = "This is so much fun :D !";
var Json = JsonConvert.SerializeObject(JO, new JsonSerializerSettings { NullValueHandling = NullValueHandling.Ignore });
var StringJson = new StringContent(Json, Encoding.UTF8, "application/json");
var requestContent = new MultipartFormDataContent();
requestContent.Add(StringJson);
var Response = await client.UploadFileAsync(requestContent);
string AnswerContent = await Response.Content.ReadAsStringAsync();
}
When I use this method:
public async Task<HttpResponseMessage> SendMessageAsync(FormUrlEncodedContent content)
{
var response = await _httpClient.PostAsync(UriMethod, content);
return response;
}
so bascially I am passing "FormUrlEncodedContent" instead of "MultipartFormDataContent" in this, and then I get the response I want and can work wiht it. BUT this i of little use to me since I have to use "MultipartFormDataContent" to be able to send files with my requests.
Anyone have an idea what is failing here? Why does it not like the one content-type but the other one? I'd be gratefull for tipps and ideas!
You are serializing your object to Json and then adding it to a Multipart body, that's quite strange. Unless you're uploading binary data (eg Files), there is no need to use MultipartFormDataContent.
You are can directly post your JsonObject serialized as JSON:
public async Task<HttpResponseMessage> PostJsonAsync(StringContent content)
{
var response = await client.PostAsync(url, content);
return response;
}
var client = new BpsHttpClient("https://slack.com/api/im.history");
JsonObject JO = new JsonObject();
JO.channel = "DCW21NBHD";
var Json = JsonConvert.SerializeObject(JO);
var StringJson = new StringContent(Json, Encoding.UTF8);
var Response = await client.PostJsonAsync(content);
Also this is should be POST on the UploadFileAsync function.
HttpRequestMessage request = new HttpRequestMessage(HttpMethod.Get, UriMethod);
so I figured out that in the Main() the problem was this:
Task.WhenAll(SendMessage());
I should instead use:
Task.WaitAll(SendMessage());
Anyone who has more knowledge on this, please elaborate why!

C# Api controller not receiving json parameter

I am trying to create a basic test web api, and use a standard controller to test call it.
When I run it, by putting
http://localhost:55144/home/testapi
it'll run the catcher function and completely ignore the parameter.
Then, the catcher will happily return a value, which can be seen in the calling code.
I have tried various combinations of putting [FromBody], changing the type of the parameter in TestApiMethod, and seeing if making a list or array makes any difference.
I've noticed a couple of weird things:
- I'm not using the parameter in the code of TestApiMethod, but Visual Studio is not giving me an unused variable warning.
- If I make the type of the parameter testString a string or even an int, the code below will route to the catcher. If I make it some variation of a model or a Jobject, it will not. It gets as far as running
HttpResponseMessage response = await client.PostAsJsonAsync("api/activity", sendData);
then just returns to the web page.
Here's the code:
Models
public class testStringModel
{
public string testString { get; set; }
}
public class apiResponse
{
public string response { get; set; }
}
Home controller calling Api:
public void TestApi()
{
Task myTask = testApiCall();
}
private async Task<string> testApiCall()
{
HttpClient client = new HttpClient();
client.BaseAddress = new Uri("http://localhost:55144");
client.DefaultRequestHeaders.Accept.Clear();
client.DefaultRequestHeaders.Accept.Add(
new MediaTypeWithQualityHeaderValue("application/json"));
testStringModel data = new testStringModel { testString = "cheese" };
string jsonData = JsonConvert.SerializeObject(data);
var sendData = new StringContent(jsonData, Encoding.UTF8, "application/json");
//var sendData = new Dictionary<string, string>
//{
// {"testString", "cheese"}
//};
HttpResponseMessage response = await client.PostAsJsonAsync("api/activity", sendData);
string responseBodyAsText = await response.Content.ReadAsStringAsync();
dynamic stuff = JObject.Parse(responseBodyAsText);
string finalResponse = stuff.response;
return finalResponse;
}
}
The api:
namespace ApplicationActivity
{
public class ActivityController : ApiController
{
[System.Web.Http.HttpPost]
public HttpResponseMessage Catcher()
{
apiResponse apiResponseObject = new apiResponse();
apiResponseObject.response = "You have somehow wound up in the catcher";
string json = JsonConvert.SerializeObject(apiResponseObject);
HttpResponseMessage response = Request.CreateResponse(HttpStatusCode.OK, "value");
response.Content = new StringContent(json, Encoding.Unicode, "application/json");
response.Headers.CacheControl = new CacheControlHeaderValue()
{
MaxAge = TimeSpan.FromMinutes(20)
};
return response;
}
[System.Web.Http.HttpPost]
public HttpResponseMessage TestApiMethod(string testString)
{
apiResponse apiResponseObject = new apiResponse();
apiResponseObject.response = "OK from test";
string json = JsonConvert.SerializeObject(apiResponseObject);
HttpResponseMessage response = Request.CreateResponse(HttpStatusCode.OK, "value");
response.Content = new StringContent(json, Encoding.Unicode, "application/json");
response.Headers.CacheControl = new CacheControlHeaderValue()
{
MaxAge = TimeSpan.FromMinutes(20)
};
return response;
}
}
}
Please will you tell me what I'm doing wrong with my code, how to fix it and what is happening when the code doesn't get to the catcher?
Thanks.
It turns out that I was using an older version of visual studio and as a result the whole thing got really confused with whether is was running .net core or not.
Upgrading to the latest and making sure the latest .net core is installed solved most of my troubles

MVC Api Controller Serielized parameters

I am doing an MVC 5 Application, and I am calling a API controller method that is in another Solution.
I am using HttpClient(). and I am calling PostAsJsonAsync with some parameters, an instance of a class.
It looks like this.
string apiUrl = "localhost:8080/api/";
ContactWF contactWF = new contactWF();
contactWF.contact_id=0;
contactWF.UserOrigin_id=20006
contactWF.ProcessState_id=2;
using (HttpClient client = new HttpClient())
{
client.BaseAddress = new Uri(apiUrl);
client.DefaultRequestHeaders.Accept.Clear();
client.DefaultRequestHeaders.Accept.Add(new System.Net.Http.Headers.MediaTypeWithQualityHeaderValue("application/json"));
HttpResponseMessage response = await client.PostAsJsonAsync(apiUrl + "Contact/Method", contactWF);
if (response.IsSuccessStatusCode)
{
return response.Content.ReadAsAsync<int>().Result;
}
}
My API controller method is like this.
[ActionName("Method")]
[HttpGet]
public int Method([FromBody] ContactWF userwf)
{
return 10;
}
It Works fine...
My problem is when I try Serialized the parameter class instance
I replace line
HttpResponseMessage response = await client.PostAsJsonAsync(apiUrl + "Contact/Method", contactWF);
with this one
string jsonData = JsonConvert.SerializeObject(contactWF);
HttpResponseMessage response = client.PostAsJsonAsync("api/Contact/Method", jsonData).Result;
I've got an Error:405...
It looks like the Json string it is not recognize as a Parameter.
My Json string looks like this.
"{\"Contact_id\":0,\"Description\":null,\"ProcessState_id\":2,\"Type_id\":0,\"Object_id\":0,\"Parent_id\":null}"
that is ContactWD class converter to json.
What´s wrong?
Method PostAsJsonAsync serialize parameter object himself, so it serialized your json string again.
If you need serialize object himself for some reason, then use method HttpClient.PostAsync
string jsonData = JsonConvert.SerializeObject(contactWF);
var stringContent = new StringContent(jsonData, Encoding.UTF8, "application/json");
HttpResponseMessage response = await client.PostAsync("api/Filler/CountMensajeByUser", stringContent);
Change verb to HttpPost in your api controller
[ActionName("Method")]
[HttpPost]
public int Method([FromBody] ContactWF userwf)
{
return 10;
}
Update
You don't need to serialize object in PostAsJsonAsync
HttpResponseMessage response = client.PostAsJsonAsync("api/Contact/Method", contactWF).Result;
Take a look at sample code from microsoft
https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/aspnet/core/mvc/controllers/testing
internal class NewIdeaDto
{
public NewIdeaDto(string name, string description, int sessionId)
{
Name = name;
Description = description;
SessionId = sessionId;
}
public string Name { get; set; }
public string Description { get; set; }
public int SessionId { get; set; }
}
//Arrange
var newIdea = new NewIdeaDto("Name", "", 1);
// Act
var response = await _client.PostAsJsonAsync("/api/ideas/create", newIdea);
// Assert
Assert.Equal(HttpStatusCode.BadRequest, response.StatusCode);

Object null in WebApi method after PostAsJsonAsync

I am posting an object to a WebApi method. I'm using PostAsJsonAsync to do this.
public async Task<HttpResponseMessage> PostAsync(string token, ServiceCall call)
{
var client = new HttpClient();
client.SetBearerToken(token);
var response = await client.PostAsJsonAsync(Uri + "id/nestedcall", call);
return response;
}
The object call that I'm passing is not null when I post it.
[HttpPost]
[Route("id/nestedcall")]
public async Task<IHttpActionResult> NestedCall([FromBody]ServiceCall call)
{
// call is null here
}
However it is null in my API method. I can't seem to work out why as all of the examples I've followed use this format.
Why isn't the call object being picked up by the web api?
Edit
Here is the ServiceCall object. It is in a separate class library and a reference is included in both the web application and the API.
public class ServiceCall
{
public ServiceCall(Service service, string grantType)
{
ClientId = service.Id;
ClientSecret = service.Secret;
Uri = service.Uri;
Scope = service.Scope;
GrantType = grantType;
}
public ServiceCall(string clientid, string clientsecret, string uri, string scope, string grantType)
{
ClientId = clientid;
ClientSecret = clientsecret;
Uri = uri;
Scope = scope;
GrantType = grantType;
}
public string ClientId { get; set; }
public string ClientSecret { get; set; }
public string Uri { get; set; }
public string Scope { get; set; }
public string GrantType { get; set; }
}
I have seen Object null in WebApi method after PostAsJsonAsync due to serialization.
Better to use PostAsync like below :
var obj = new MyClass()
{
MyProperty = 11
};
using (var client = new HttpClient())
{
string inputJson = Newtonsoft.Json.JsonConvert.SerializeObject(obj);
HttpContent inputContent = new StringContent(inputJson, Encoding.UTF8, "application/json");
HttpResponseMessage response1 = client.PostAsync("http://localhost:60909/api/home/Test", inputContent).Result;
if (response1.IsSuccessStatusCode)
{
}
}
Using Prefix Stackify I was able to diagnose that the serialiser was throwing an exception:
Newtonsoft.Json.JsonSerializationException: Unable to find a constructor to use for type Core.Models.ServiceCall. A class should either have a default constructor, one constructor with arguments or a constructor marked with the JsonConstructor attribute. Path 'ClientId', line 1, position 12.
at Newtonsoft.Json.Serialization.JsonSerializerInternalReader.CreateNewObject
at Newtonsoft.Json.Serialization.JsonSerializerInternalReader.CreateObject
at Newtonsoft.Json.Serialization.JsonSerializerInternalReader.CreateValueInternal
at Newtonsoft.Json.Serialization.JsonSerializerInternalReader.Deserialize
However, very helpfully, rather than tell me that an exception occurred the controller simply gave me a null object.
As hinted by the exception the solution is to add a default constructor (or at least one the serialiser can understand).
public ServiceCall()
{
}
looks like the JSON serialization may be failing. BTW, remove that [FromBody] and try without it like below. PostAsJsonAsync method serializes the ServiceCall object to JSON and then sends the JSON payload in a POST request.
public async Task<IHttpActionResult> NestedCall(ServiceCall call)
{
// your code
}
I run into exactly the same problem and had to do this to solve it:
using (var client = new HttpClient())
{
client.SetBearerToken(token);
var content = new StringContent(JsonConvert.SerializeObject(call), Encoding.UTF8, "application/json");
var response = await client.PostAsJsonAsync(Uri + "id/nestedcall", content);
return response;
}

web api receive object with null variables

I have webforms asp and web api. In web forms I try send to web api object of class this way:
HttpClient client = HttpClientHeader("", login, ClassMd5Calc.CalculateMd5Hash(password));
client.DefaultRequestHeaders.Accept.Add(new MediaTypeWithQualityHeaderValue("application/json"));
UserTariff userTariff = new UserTariff();
userTariff.Login = "some value";
userTariff.Password = "some value";
userTariff.TariffName = "some value";
var json = new JavaScriptSerializer().Serialize(userTariff);
StringContent content = new StringContent(json);
content.Headers.ContentType = new MediaTypeHeaderValue("text/json");
HttpResponseMessage response = client.PostAsync("api/ChangeTariff/", content).Result;
This is my class (exist in data contract solution, so both project are use this class).
[Serializable]
public class UserTariff
{
public String Login { get; set; }
public String Password { get; set; }
public String TariffName { get; set; }
public decimal Balance { get; set; }
}
My web api receive package, but all field are null. What's wrong? How it's fix?
public class ChangeTariffController : ApiController
{
public void Post([FromBody] UserTariff mes)
{
//mes exist, but his property are null: mes.Login=null; mes.Password=null and e.t.c. but need value: "some value"
UPDATE 1.
I also tryed this code, but it show same error:
var content = new ObjectContent<UserTariff>(new UserTariff(), new JsonMediaTypeFormatter());
content.Headers.ContentType = new MediaTypeHeaderValue("text/json");
HttpResponseMessage response = client.PostAsync("api/ChangeTariff/", content).Result;
You can set the object content instead of the string content and should be using json media type formatter. This should fix the null bound variable in web api.
Also, use the newton soft json lib to convert the object to json.

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