Parse json's element that can be different types using gson

Question

I have a json object that inside can have a property that can be array or a boolean value. So my question is how can I parse this json without having issues while parsing it?

Here is what im talking about:

 {
        "offerId": "24",
        "image1": "1452678081_56961bc195cf8.jpg",
        "image2": "1452678081_56961bc195f38.jpg",
        "image3": "1452678081_56961bc196124.jpg",
        "featured": false,
        "hide_button": false,
        "categoryId": "1",
        "locations": [
            {
                "address": "Problemveien 13, 0313 Oslo",
                "long": "10.722052800000029",
                "latitude": "59.9409999"
            },
            {
                "address": "Akersgata 68, 0180 Oslo",
                "long": "10.744572199999993",
                "latitude": "59.9174608"
            },
            {
                "address": "Trimveien 4, 0372 Oslo",
                "long": "10.724201200000039",
                "latitude": "59.9466293"
            },
            {
                "address": "Sandakerveien 116, 0484 Oslo",
                "long": "10.769448300000022",
                "latitude": "59.9483484"
            },
            {
                "address": "Vulkan 15, 0178 Oslo",
                "long": "10.75169040000003",
                "latitude": "59.9223593"
            }
        ]
    }

and this is how the object looks when it doesnt have the locations array inside:

{
        "offerId": "25",
        "image1": "1452678113_56961be1d6774.jpg",
        "image2": "1452678113_56961be1d694f.jpg",
        "image3": "1452678113_56961be1d6ae0.jpg",
        "featured": false,
        "hide_button": false,
        "categoryId": "1",
        "locations": false
    }

So once again, how can I parse the locations element because it can be a boolean or a array? Is there a way to parse this using google gson?

Thanks

That doesnt really sound valid as a concept. So not sure why they have done that. They should have left locations as an empty array. — IAmGroot, Jun 01 '16 at 21:00
to my knowledge no. not with gson. As it maps to a defined object, which would have to be 1 not 2 types — IAmGroot, Jun 01 '16 at 21:41
possible duplicate: http://stackoverflow.com/questions/16992891/gson-deserialize-json-with-varying-value-types — Emma, Jun 02 '16 at 00:14

score 0 · Answer 1 · answered Jun 02 '16 at 00:21

0

I don't understand what you want, however try this. It can parse any json objects, but you have to check type and cast when get locations.

class JavaBean {
    Object locations;
}

answered Jun 02 '16 at 00:21

sakony

88
1
9

score 0 · Answer 2 · answered Jun 02 '16 at 06:11

Create classes like below

public class Location {
    String address;
    String long; // change the name of variable here and in json as well.
    String latitude;
}

public class MyClass {
    String offerId;
    String image1;
    String image2;
    String image3;
    boolean featured;
    boolean hide_button;
    String categoryId;
    List<Location> locations;
}

And you will be able to parse with Gson.

Note

I suggest you to rename the property long in your location object as long is a keyword in java and the ide will throw error.
I also suggest you to make the location array as empty json array instead of sending false or Gson will throw an exception.

Hope this will help you.

Parse json's element that can be different types using gson

2 Answers2