Can't parse JSON in C#?

Question

I am trying to read a local .json file using StreamReader:

My code:

using (var jsonReader = new StreamReader(pathToMyJsonFile)) 
{
     string json = jsonReader.ReadToEnd();
     dynamic array = JsonConvert.DeserializeObject(json);
     foreach (var item in array)
     {
         Console.WriteLine(item.fuzzy);
     }

}

My json:

[
    {
        "fuzzy": "12345",
        "name": "{jon-errand}",
        "email": "person@gmail.com",
        "lights": "red",
        "friends": "Elizabeth",
        "traits": {
            "Hair": "brown",
            "Eyes": "yellow"
        }
    }
]

I get the exception: Error reading JArray from JsonReader. Current JsonReader item is not an array: StartObject. I have tried looking at the SO answer posted here but I am sure my json is a real array. Without changing the above json, how can I read this json file in a useful way so I can pull out specific fields? Such as getting the email field as person@gmail.com?

possible duplicate of [Deserialize json object into dynamic object using Json.net](http://stackoverflow.com/questions/4535840/deserialize-json-object-into-dynamic-object-using-json-net) — Liam, Jul 08 '14 at 15:32
This code works fine for me for everything except the very first version of Json.NET on NuGet (3.5.8) - and that throws a different exception. — Joe Enos, Jul 08 '14 at 15:41

EZI · Accepted Answer · 2014-07-08T15:33:39.037

5

var obj  = JsonConvert.DeserializeObject<List<Item>>(File.ReadAllText(pathToMyJsonFile));

And your classes

public class Traits
{
    public string Hair { get; set; }
    public string Eyes { get; set; }
}

public class Item
{
    public string fuzzy { get; set; }
    public string name { get; set; }
    public string email { get; set; }
    public string lights { get; set; }
    public string friends { get; set; }
    public Traits traits { get; set; }
}

EDIT

dynamic array = JsonConvert.DeserializeObject(File.ReadAllText(pathToMyJsonFile));

foreach (var item in array)
{
    Console.WriteLine(item.name + " " + item.traits.Hair);
}

edited Jul 08 '14 at 15:33

answered Jul 08 '14 at 15:28

EZI

15,209
2
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Json.Net should handle dynamic's fine. http://stackoverflow.com/questions/4535840/deserialize-json-object-into-dynamic-object-using-json-net – Liam Jul 08 '14 at 15:30
Is there any way to do this without making additional classes? – user3772119 Jul 08 '14 at 15:31
@Liam Of course, But getting help from compiler can be better in most cases. – EZI Jul 08 '14 at 15:35
How does your edit differ from the code in the question? – svick Jul 08 '14 at 15:36
what's the difference between your answer and the OPs? They seem practically identical? – Liam Jul 08 '14 at 15:36
1

Thanks for the help! You may want to clarify in your answer that the code above and below the `EDIT` are mutually exclusive and work independent of each other. – user3772119 Jul 08 '14 at 15:55

score -1 · Answer 2 · answered Jul 08 '14 at 15:34

-1

You can deserialize in JArray

JArray array = JsonConvert.DeserializeObject<JArray>(json);
foreach (var item in array)
{
    Console.WriteLine(item["fuzzy"]); // Prints 12345
}

answered Jul 08 '14 at 15:34

Alexandre Pepin

1,816
3
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Can't parse JSON in C#?

2 Answers2