Deserialize malformed JSON with JSON.NET

Question

I have a snippet of JSON that looks like this:

{"123":{"name":"test","info":"abc"}}

The 123 is an ID and can change on each request. This is beyond my control.

I want to Deserialize the JSON using JSON.NET. I have tried:

 User u = JsonConvert.DeserializeObject<User>(json);

However, this does not work unless I define the JsonProperty attribute like so:

[JsonProperty("123")]
public string ID { get; set; }

But of course I cannot actually do this because the ID 123 will change on every request.

How can I read the ID property using JSON.NET and apply it to the ID class?

It would work with a `KeyValuePair`. You could try deserializing it in a temporary `object` buffer and then map it to your `User` instance. — Andrei V, Jun 15 '15 at 13:11
It's not malformed; just awkwardly formed. Basically it's a KVP of where user has properties 'name' and 'info' — Dave Lawrence, Jun 15 '15 at 13:15
I thought , In your class structure must be defined first class RootObject . In class Rootobject , u have to declare all json attribute as get set method. — Anurag Jain, Jun 15 '15 at 13:16
As pointed out, `KeyValuePair` does not work. Using a `Dictionary` instead, as per @YuvalItzchakov's answer, will do the trick. — Andrei V, Jun 15 '15 at 13:25

score 5 · Accepted Answer · answered Jun 15 '15 at 13:22

5

Try this:

var json = "{\"123\":{\"name\":\"test\",\"info\":\"abc\"}}";

var rootObject = JsonConvert.DeserializeObject<Dictionary<string, User>>(json);
var user = rootObject.Select(kvp => new User 
                                    { ID = kvp.Key, 
                                      Name = kvp.Value.Name, 
                                      Info = kvp.Value.Info 
                                    }).First();

This does have some unnecessary overhead, but considering the circumstances, it would do.

answered Jun 15 '15 at 13:22

Yuval Itzchakov

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Agreed but works - thank you. – Barry Kaye Jun 15 '15 at 13:30
This solution is actually beautifull! Worked perfectly for me, even when the Value part is an array of objects! – awerdan Oct 21 '20 at 02:53

stefankmitph · Answer 2 · 2015-06-15T13:39:17.367

2

I'd do it this way:

dynamic result = JsonConvert.DeserializeObject(json);

var myObject = result as JObject;
var properties = myObject.Properties();
var property = properties.FirstOrDefault(); // take first element 
string name = property.Name;

foreach (var item in properties)
{
    var jProperty = item as JProperty;
    var nestedJson = jProperty.Value.ToString();
    dynamic nestedResult = JsonConvert.DeserializeObject(nestedJson); // or put it into a model/data structure
}

edited Jun 15 '15 at 13:39

answered Jun 15 '15 at 13:17

stefankmitph

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Thanks - interesting but tricky to get at the actual user data now. – Barry Kaye Jun 15 '15 at 13:29
1

i know... but you can deserialize the nested object also... updated my answer. – stefankmitph Jun 15 '15 at 13:39

score 0 · Answer 3 · answered Jun 15 '15 at 13:14

0

How about having JSON formed as follows (if at all changing JSON schema is allowed):

{
    "ID": "123",
    "Properties":{"name":"test","info":"abc"}
}

This way it must be possible.

answered Jun 15 '15 at 13:14

Mahesha999

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Sorry not allowed - I did bold it in the question ;-) – Barry Kaye Jun 15 '15 at 13:15

Deserialize malformed JSON with JSON.NET

3 Answers3