Serializing an object containing a Dictionary such that the Dictionary keys/values are rendered as part of the containing object

Question

I have a class as follows:

public class Usage
{
    public string app { get; set; }

    public Dictionary<string, string> KVPs { get; set; }
}

When I use this code:

var json = new JavaScriptSerializer().Serialize(usage);

it gives me this JSON:

{"app":"myapp", "KVPs":{"k1":"v1", "k2":"v2"}}

I'd like it to return something like this instead:

{"app":"myapp", "k1":"v1", "k2":"v2"}

Is there a way to do this? I am currently using the JavaScriptSerializer. If there is a way to do this using JSON.Net, I would be willing to switch to that.

oh, Sorry, I original use JaveScriptSerializer, try to replace it with JSON.net. Thanks — toosensitive, Feb 28 '14 at 21:10

score 9 · Accepted Answer · answered Feb 28 '14 at 21:59

If you want to use JSON.Net and you're willing to change the type of your dictionary from Dictionary<string, string> to Dictionary<string, object>, then one easy way to accomplish this is to add the [JsonExtensionData] attribute to your dictionary property like this:

public class Usage
{
    public string app { get; set; }

    [JsonExtensionData]
    public Dictionary<string, object> KVPs { get; set; }
}

Then you can serialize your object like this:

string json = JsonConvert.SerializeObject(usage);

This will give you the JSON you want:

{"app":"myapp","k1":"v1","k2":"v2"}

And the bonus is, you can deserialize the JSON back to your Usage class just as easily if needed. Any properties in the JSON that do not match to members of the class will be placed into the KVPs dictionary.

Usage usage = JsonConvert.DeserializeObject<Usage>(json);

score 2 · Answer 2 · answered Feb 28 '14 at 21:07

2

not pretty but this would work...

usage.KVPs["app"] = usage.app;
json = new JavaScriptSerializer().Serialize(usage.KVPs)

answered Feb 28 '14 at 21:07

Robert Levy

28,747
6
62
94

thanks. That will work – toosensitive Feb 28 '14 at 21:12
please click the little checkmark icon if this is the answer you want to accept – Robert Levy Feb 28 '14 at 21:24

Serializing an object containing a Dictionary such that the Dictionary keys/values are rendered as part of the containing object

2 Answers2

Linked