Convert Generic list to Json for Datatables grid

Question

I am using Datatables grid in my MVC application to show the data. I'm not getting how to convert the Var which contains the generic list to JSON which in turn will be the input for Datatables.

Here is the JSON format for Datatables:

return Json(new 
{
  aaData = new[] {
    new [] { "Trident", "Internet Explorer 4.0", "Win 95+", "4", "X" },
    new [] { "Gecko", "Firefox 1.5", "Win 98+ / OSX.2+", "1.8", "A" },
    new [] { "Webkit", "iPod Touch / iPhone", "iPod", "420.1", "A" },
  }
}, JsonRequestBehavior.AllowGet);

But the above one is hardcoded one, I'm getting generic list in runtime, how to iterate and change to JSON format like above.

Here is my code.

public void GetReport()
        {
            var ReportData = _homeService.GetReportDatafromDB();

            if (ReportData .Count > 0)
            {
               //Dont no how to convert for JSON data format here
            }
       }

I think theres a serializeJSON class or whatever available for C#/vb, may be worth looking into, its what i use for my ashx handlers to generate datatables json — Jay Rizzi
– Jay Rizzi, Commented May 29, 2013 at 2:50

Tomer Peled · Accepted Answer · 2013-01-17 07:00:32Z

3

Using the foreach syntax it will look something like this:

var aaData = new List<string[]>();
foreach(var l in ReportData){
    aaData.Add(new [] {l.Property1, l.Property2, l.Property3, l.Property4});
}

var thisIsYourResult = aaData.ToArray();

answered Jan 17, 2013 at 7:00

Tomer Peled

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1 Comment

Naruto Over a year ago

Hi, Thanks it got worked... thanks lot... i did the way u suggested but one change what i did is, if i call new it was throwing an error saying no best data type found for implicit array, so i just changed to new string[] {...}, it worked thank u so much..

Tomer Peled · Accepted Answer · 2013-01-17 06:06:46Z

1

This is an example of how to get your desired format:

for the ease of the exercise lets use a "Model" as the data object class:

public class Model{
    public string Property1{get;set;}
    public string Property2{get;set;}
    public string Property3{get;set;}
    public string Property4{get;set;}
}

Then you just need to go over it and create your desired json structure:

var ReportData = new List<Model>{
new Model{Property1 = "Trident", Property2 = "Internet Explorer 4.0", Property3 = "Win 95+", Property4 = "4"},
new Model{Property1 = "Gecko", Property2 = "Firefox 1.5", Property3 = "Win 98+ / OSX.2+", Property4 = "1.8"}
};

var aaData = ReportData.Select(l => new [] {l.Property1, l.Property2, l.Property3, l.Property4} ).ToArray();

answered Jan 17, 2013 at 6:06

Tomer Peled

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5 Comments

Naruto Over a year ago

I'm not getting select method on List object :(. anything we need to extend for list?

Tomer Peled Over a year ago

You need to return the JSON value in the same way as you did in your code: return Json( new {aaData = aaData})

Tomer Peled Over a year ago

The Select method is part of the LINQ infra, you should add "using System.Linq". But you don't have to use this LINQ syntax, you can also use a simple foreach loop instead.

Naruto Over a year ago

could you pls post how to do using foreach, i'm not getting.. mean time i will try.. thanks for reply

Naruto Over a year ago

thanks for the list code, i m trying.. will get back to u thanks very much

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