How can I represent a json array in an Environment Variable for aspnet vnext configuration

Question

I have the following section in my appsettings.json file for my aspnet vnext application.

"Settings": {
    "IgnoredServices" : ["ignore1", "ignore2"]
  }
}

This works quite happily in mapping using IOptions<Settings>, where the settings class is

public class Settings
{
    public List<string> IgnoredServices { get; set; } 
}

However, I am struggling to override this json file option with an environment variable form. I have tried

Name Settings:IgnoredServices
Value "ignore1", "ignore2"

and

Name Settings:IgnoredServices
Value ["ignore1", "ignore2"]

Neither seem to map correctly and I get the following error message

System.InvalidOperationException: Failed to convert '["ignore1", "ignore2"]' 
to type 'System.Collections.Generic.List`1[System.String]

What format should I put my values into environment variables to be successfully interpreted as the correct list of strings?

I'm also trying to store a JSON settings section in an Environment Variable. From what it seems, we can't. We have to individually create standalone variable for each settings and then pull those individually which yes is pretty clunky to me as well. — Daniel Jackson
– Daniel Jackson, Commented Sep 18, 2018 at 20:12

adem caglin · Accepted Answer · 2016-07-01 10:59:49Z

7

Try this:

Name Settings:IgnoredServices:0

Value ignore1

Name Settings:IgnoredServices:1

Value ignore2

answered Jul 1, 2016 at 10:59

adem caglin

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