Convert XML to Json Array when only one object

Question

I am currently using Newtonsoft to convert some xml to json to return from a RestExtension.

My xml is in the form of

<Items>
  <Item>
    <Name>name</Name>
    <Detail>detail</Detail>    
  </Item>
  <Item>
    <Name>name</Name>
    <Detail>detail</Detail>    
  </Item>
</Items>

I convert this to json using

JsonConvert.SerializeXmlNode(xmldocument);

This works fine if there is more than one item.

I get this - an array of items in json (which is what I need):

{"Items":{"Item":[{"Name":"name","Detail":"detail"},{"Name":"name","Detail":"detail"}]}}

But when there is only one it quite understandably converts like this (not an array):

 {"Items":{"Item":{"Name":"name","Detail":"detail"}}}

My app developer who is reading this needs the json to return an array of items regardless or whether there is one or more.

Is there a way of tricking it into thinking it's an array or can someone suggest another way of doing this?

Sorry What do you want to be an array not sure I followed the question properly — ZoomVirus
– ZoomVirus, Commented Oct 28, 2014 at 15:57
sorry I've edited to hopefully make it clearer. I need an array of items. — Bex
– Bex, Commented Oct 28, 2014 at 15:59
@DJkraze he has done the conversion he just needs needs it it a different format — ZoomVirus
– ZoomVirus, Commented Oct 28, 2014 at 16:01
@DJKRAZE, the link you sent is exactly what I am doing. I just need it differently. Unless I am totally missing the point, please either explain or be kind enough to retract your down vote. — Bex
– Bex, Commented Oct 28, 2014 at 16:05
ok can you do something like the following since I can't tell which format is correct or not from your question XmlNote myXmlNode = JsonConvert.DeserializeXmlNode(yourJsonString); // or .DeserilizeXmlNode(myJsonString, "root"); // if yourJsonString does not have a root string jsonString = JsonConvert.SerializeXmlNode(myXmlNode); — MethodMan
– MethodMan, Commented Oct 28, 2014 at 16:05

meda · Accepted Answer · 2014-10-28 16:11:03Z

17

Read this documentation about Serialize Xml Node

You can force JSON Array this way

var xml = @"<Items xmlns:json='http://james.newtonking.com/projects/json' >
             <Item json:Array='true'>
                <Name>name</Name>
                 <Detail>detail</Detail>    
            </Item>
            </Items>";

DEMO

answered Oct 28, 2014 at 16:11

meda

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4 Comments

Bex Over a year ago

that's great! Would you happen to know how you'd generate that with XElement as it doesn't like the ":"?

Bex Over a year ago

thanks I understand now.have put a post below how I'd do it with XElement rather than xmltextwritera and XDocument

iGanja Over a year ago

This is a little difficult to do once the XML document is already in memory. However the namespace can be added to the node directly using the XmlNode.Attributes.Append(XMLAttribute) method. You will get: <Item json:Array='true' xmlns:json='james.newtonking.com/projects/json'> which will also work.

user7518s Over a year ago

@meda How do you keep the json:Array attibutes when converting xml to json and then again to xml and back to json? Question: stackoverflow.com/q/48763666/7392294

Bex · Accepted Answer · 2014-10-29 09:21:12Z

4

In case it helps anyone, further to meda's reply. Here's how you make this work with XElement rather than xmlTextWriter and XDocument

XNamespace ns = "http://james.newtonking.com/projects/json";
var items = new XElement("items",new XAttribute(XNamespace.Xmlns+"json",ns));

   items.Add(new XElement("item",new XAttribute(ns+"Array",true),
                        new XElement("name", "name"),
                        new XElement("Detail", "detail")));

then to convert it

 XmlDocument doc = new XmlDocument();
            doc.LoadXml(items.ToString());
            var converted JsonConvert.SerializeXmlNode(doc);

answered Oct 29, 2014 at 9:21

Bex

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Comments

Cinchoo · Accepted Answer · 2018-05-04 13:36:44Z

1

Cinchoo ETL - an open source library available to convert such xml into expected json format

string xml = @"<Items>
        <Item>
            <Name>name</Name>
            <Detail>detail</Detail>    
        </Item>
    </Items>";

StringBuilder sb = new StringBuilder();
using (var p = ChoXmlReader.LoadText(xml).WithXPath("/"))
{
    using (var w = new ChoJSONWriter(sb)
        .Configure(c => c.SupportMultipleContent = true)
        )
        w.Write(p);
}

Console.WriteLine(sb.ToString());

Output:

{
 "Items": [
  {
    "Name": "name",
    "Detail": "detail"
  }
 ]
}

Disclaimer: I'm the author of this library.

edited May 4, 2018 at 13:36

answered May 1, 2018 at 20:37

Cinchoo

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Reberto · Accepted Answer · 2019-08-28 11:56:13Z

public class WSDLReport
{
    private IEnumerable<WSDLDocument> _document;

    private void SetDocuments(dynamic documents)
    {
        var type = documents.GetType();

        if (type == typeof(JObject))
            _document = new List<WSDLDocument>() { ((JObject)documents).ToObject<WSDLDocument>() };
        else if (type == typeof(JArray))
            _document = ((JArray)documents).ToObject<IEnumerable<WSDLDocument>>();
        else
            _document = new List<WSDLDocument>();
    }

    private dynamic GetDocuments() => _document;

    [JsonProperty("dokumentyEzla")]
    public dynamic Document
    {
        get => GetDocuments();
        set => SetDocuments(value);
    }
}

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