Using Web API by Generating Entity Framework scaffolding API Controller Error

Question

I have the fowling models:

public class Order 
{ 
    public int OrderId { get; set; } 
    //
    public virtual ICollection<Client> Clients { get; set; } 
} 

public class Client 
{ 
    public int ClientId { get; set; } 
    public string ClientName { get; set; } 
    public virtual Order Order { get; set; } 
}

When I use Web Api by generating an EF scaffolding API controller, it didn't work. The error is below:

Self referencing loop detected for property 'Order' with type 
'System.Data.Entity.DynamicProxies.Order_A97AC61AD05BA6A886755C779FD3F96E86FE903ED7C9BA9400E79162C11BA719'. 
Path '[0].Order[0]'

Can anyone help me solve the problem?

The problem may be the serializer, you need to disable that. — Lin
– Lin, Commented Nov 9, 2013 at 21:15

Lin · Accepted Answer · 2013-11-09 21:19:15Z

The serializer can't handle circular references. You can disable it in the data context class:

public YourDbContext() : base("name=YourConnectionString") 
 { 
     Database.SetInitializer(new CircularReferenceDataInitializer()); 
     this.Configuration.LazyLoadingEnabled = false; 
     this.Configuration.ProxyCreationEnabled = false; 
 }

Like this, the navigation property won't be lazy loaded. If you want to use lazy loading, you can try the following:

1) dealing with circular reference by ignoring it. Add the below code in your WebApiConfig.cs file.

config.Formatters.JsonFormatter.SerializerSettings.ReferenceLoopHandling = Newtonsoft.Json.ReferenceLoopHandling.Ignore;

2)Preserve circular reference by adding the below code in your WebApiConfig.cs file.

 config.Formatters.JsonFormatter.SerializerSettings.ReferenceLoopHandling = Newtonsoft.Json.ReferenceLoopHandling.Serialize; 
 config.Formatters.JsonFormatter.SerializerSettings.PreserveReferencesHandling = Newtonsoft.Json.PreserveReferencesHandling.Objects;

hope it helps.

Collectives™ on Stack Overflow

Using Web API by Generating Entity Framework scaffolding API Controller Error

1 Answer 1

Comments

Your Answer

Hot Network Questions

Collectives™ on Stack Overflow

1 Answer 1

Comments

Your Answer

Sign up or log in

Post as a guest

Related