How to handle deserialization of empty string into enum in json.net

Question

I am deserializing json properties into an enum but I'm having issues handling cases when the property is an empty string.

Error converting value "" to type 'EnrollmentState'

I'm trying to deserialize the state property in a requiredItem.

{
    "currentStage" : "Pre-Approved",
    "stages" : ["Applicant", "Pre-Approved", "Approved", "Enrolled"],
    "requiredItems" : [{
            "id" : 1,
            "name" : "Documents",
            "state" : "" 
        }, {
            "id" : 2,
            "name" : "Eligibility Verification",
            "state" : "complete"
        }, {
            "id" : 3,
            "name" : "Placement Information",
            "state" : "incomplete"
        }
    ]
}

RequiredItem class and enum ...

public class RequiredItem {

    /// <summary>
    /// Gets or sets the identifier.
    /// </summary>
    /// <value>The identifier.</value>
    public string id { get; set; }

    /// <summary>
    /// Gets or sets the name.
    /// </summary>
    /// <value>The name.</value>
    public string name { get; set; }

    /// <summary>
    /// Gets or sets the status.
    /// </summary>
    /// <value>The status.</value>
    [JsonProperty(ItemConverterType = typeof(StringEnumConverter))]
    public EnrollmentState state { get; set; }
}

[JsonConverter(typeof(StringEnumConverter))]
public enum EnrollmentState {

    [EnumMember(Value = "incomplete")]
    Incomplete,

    [EnumMember(Value = "actionNeeded")]
    ActionNeeded,

    [EnumMember(Value = "complete")]
    Complete
}

How can I set a default value for the deserialization so that empty strings will be deserialized into EnrollmentState.Incomplete instead of throwing a runtime error?

Can you just add a handler for empty string to the EnrollmentState enum? — Maess
– Maess, Commented Nov 20, 2013 at 19:02

Davor Zlotrg · Accepted Answer · 2013-11-20 20:30:32Z

23

You need to implement custom StringEnumConverter if you want that:

public class EnrollmentStateEnumConverter : StringEnumConverter
{
    public override object ReadJson(JsonReader reader, Type objectType, object existingValue, JsonSerializer serializer)
    {
        if (string.IsNullOrEmpty(reader.Value.ToString()))
            return EnrollmentState.Incomplete;

        return base.ReadJson(reader, objectType, existingValue, serializer);
    }
}

[JsonConverter(typeof(EnrollmentStateEnumConverter))]
public enum EnrollmentState
{
    [EnumMember(Value = "incomplete")]
    Incomplete,

    [EnumMember(Value = "actionNeeded")]
    ActionNeeded,

    [EnumMember(Value = "complete")]
    Complete
}

answered Nov 20, 2013 at 20:30

Davor Zlotrg

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1 Comment

Loul G. Over a year ago

With NewtonSoft-6.0.5, enum deserialization is case insensitive. "incomplete" as json value will successfully deserialize to EnrollmentSate.Incomplete without any converter. Serialization still is a problem.

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