How to convert a JSON object containing an array to C# Dictionary<string,string>?

Question

I am sending a request to a WebAPI using following code:

client.PostAsync(baseAddress + path, new FormUrlEncodedContent(JsonConvert.DeserializeObject<Dictionary<string,string>>(form)))

where client is an object of HttpClient class. This code is executed for all the requests to the WebApi. I am trying to send following data to the API:

{
    "code":"GUEST",
    "category":"Indian",
    "sections":["01000000-0000-0000-0000-000000000000","02000000-0000-0000-0000-000000000000"],
    "date":"0001-01-01T00:00:00",
    "time":"0001-01-01T00:00:00",
    "quantity":1.0,
    "price":0.0,
    "discount":0.0,
    "paymentMethod":"ID",
    "paymentMethodID":null,
    "ticketNo":null
}

Now because the FormUrlEncodedContent accepts only the Dictionary<string,string> object, I am converting this JSON into that type using NewtonSoft's JSON.NET method JsonConvert.DeserializeObject. But at the point where sections array starts, it is showing me this error message: Unexpected character encountered while parsing value:[. Path 'sections'.

So, what approach should I follow if I want to use the same code for this kind of JSON data?

You won't be able to send this as FormUrlEncodedContent. Can't you simply send the json as a body of your post request, not URL-encoded? — Pac0
– Pac0, Commented Nov 15, 2018 at 8:59
@Pac0 Actually the API only accepts in this format. I tried other ways but no luck. Also, other methods are passing the data in the same way. — Aishwarya Shiva
– Aishwarya Shiva, Commented Nov 15, 2018 at 9:14

Tomas Chabada · Accepted Answer · 2018-11-15 09:49:08Z

2

If you for any reason need to send all values as strings, then you must convert array of strings to string before deserializing it to Dictionary<string, string>.

It can be done like this:

var json = "{\"code\":\"GUEST\",\"category\":\"Indian\",\"sections\":[\"01000000-0000-0000-0000-000000000000\",\"02000000-0000-0000-0000-000000000000\"],\"date\":\"0001-01-01T00:00:00\",\"time\":\"0001-01-01T00:00:00\",\"quantity\":1.0,\"price\":0.0,\"discount\":0.0,\"paymentMethod\":\"ID\",\"paymentMethodID\":null,\"ticketNo\":null}";

var jObject = JObject.Parse(json);
jObject["sections"] = JsonConvert.SerializeObject(jObject["sections"].ToObject<string[]>());

var result = JsonConvert.DeserializeObject<Dictionary<string, string>>(jObject.ToString());

That way you will get result:

edited Nov 15, 2018 at 9:49

answered Nov 15, 2018 at 9:13

Tomas Chabada

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1 Comment

Aishwarya Shiva Over a year ago

Thanks :) This worked. Although I modified the logic to incorporate this. But it's working fine now.

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