Coldfusion - Using CFIF with JSON Data

Question

I'm working with a web API, which is returning the following data (this is a cfdump of the cfhttp.filecontent);

{"id":"xxx","service1":["xxx"],"service2":["xxx"]}

I need to be able to read this and determine if a service is on the list. For example,

<cfscript>
pdata = deserializeJSON(cfhttp.FileContent);
</cfscript>

<cfif IsDefined(pdata.service1)>Do something</cfif>

However, I'm receiving an error with the above code. I've only recently started working with JSON, and so far I've had reasonable success - but I'm stuck with this!

Any pointers much appreciated!

Fortunately this problem was easier to spot than others. But in future, always post the error message. It will take far less time to get an answer when people do not have to "guess" what the problem is.. — Leigh
– Leigh, Commented Oct 5, 2012 at 21:48
It's recommended practice to use StructKeyExists instead of IsDefined. <cfif StructKeyExists(pdata, "service1")>...</cfif> — duncan
– duncan, Commented Oct 8, 2012 at 9:27

mawburn · Accepted Answer · 2012-10-08 18:02:36Z

2

It should be IsDefined("pdata.service1")

With isDefined() CF needs to know the name of the variable you are asking about. A name is a string, so you pass in a string.

I found it to be a little counter-intuitive at first, but JasonDean put it into perspective in the comments.

edited Oct 8, 2012 at 18:02

answered Oct 5, 2012 at 21:15

mawburn

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4 Comments

Lee Over a year ago

Thanks! That's a sure sign I've been looking at this too long, you are indeed correct - I was missing the quotations.

mawburn Over a year ago

No worries, don't forget to accept. :) It happens to me alot, CF error handling is pretty descriptive most of the time and can tell you what's wrong.

Jason Dean Over a year ago

I don't think it is counter-intuitive at all. With isDefined() CF needs to know the name of the variable you are asking about. A name is a string, so you pass in a string. How could it expect a variable to be passed in? If the variable doesn't exist, how can it be passed in? It's all in how you think about it.

mawburn Over a year ago

@JasonDean Thanks, I never thought of it that way but it makes sense. I wasn't formally trained in CF, just thrown into the deep end. I added that information to the answer.

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