Deserialize JSON, sometimes value is an array, sometimes "" (blank string)

Question

I am trying to deserialize a field:

"presenters":[{...},{...}]

but some of the rows come back with only:

"presenters":""

When the serializer gets to the row with that empty string I get:

Error converting value "" to type 'System.Collections.Generic.List`1[DataPrototype.Model.Presenter]'.

Am I right in thinking that I need a JsonConverter that will change the empty string into an empty List?

Well, it would be better if you simply didn't get schizophrenic data to begin with. — Etienne de Martel, Jan 01 '11 at 00:21
possible duplicate of [Deserializing JSON when sometimes array and sometimes object](http://stackoverflow.com/questions/5224697/deserializing-json-when-sometimes-array-and-sometimes-object) — Robert MacLean, Aug 03 '12 at 12:27

score 4 · Accepted Answer · answered Jan 01 '11 at 04:58

4

Yes.

Inside the JsonConverter test the token type from the JsonReader.

If it is a string then return null.

If it is the start of an array then use the JsonReader and JsonSerializer passed to the converter method to deserialize the array.

answered Jan 01 '11 at 04:58

James Newton-King

1 Answers1