Casting Javascript Multidimensional Array to ASMX method

Question

I am trying to pass a multi-layered array in the form:

array[<string>, array[<string>, <string>]]

using jquery ajax

var cssarray = [];

function SaveChanges(element, updates) {

        var exists = false;
        var updated = false;

        //need to check if already present and if so overwrite the changes.
        for (var i = 0; i < cssarray.length; i++) {

            if (cssarray[i][0] === element) {
                exists = true;

                var existingupdates = cssarray[i][1];

                for (var j = 0; j < updates.length; j++) {

                    for (var k = 0; k < existingupdates.length; k++) {

                        if (existingupdates[k][0] === updates[j][0]) {
                            existingupdates[k][1] = updates[j][1];
                            updated = true;
                        }
                    }

                    if (!updated)
                       existingupdates.push(updates[j]); 
                }

                cssarray[i][1] = existingupdates;
            }
        }

        if(!exists)
            cssarray.push([element, updates]);
    }


runAjax('/Public/AdminServices.asmx/UpdateCSS', 'updates', cssarray)
        .done(
            function (__exists) {

                if (__exists.d) {
                    alert(__exists.d);
                }
                else {
                    alert("hmmm error");
                    alert(__exists.d);
                }
            }
        )
        .fail(
            function (jqXHR, textStatus, errorThrown) {
                alert(errorThrown + ':' + textStatus + ':' + jqXHR.responseText);
            }
        );

function runAjax(webmethod, fieldname, fieldtext) {

    var jsonObject = {};
    jsonObject[fieldname] = fieldtext;

    return $.ajax({
        type: "POST",
        url: webmethod,
        data: JSON.stringify(jsonObject),
        contentType: "application/json; charset=utf-8",
        dataType: "json"
    });
}

I want to pass it across to my asmx method

[WebMethod(EnableSession = true)]
[SoapHeader("authentication")]
public string UpdateCSS(string updates)
{

    //add is master check so only admin will be able to change the website
    if (User.Identity.IsAuthenticated &&
        !string.IsNullOrEmpty(Convert.ToString(Session["IsMaster"])))
    {
        JavaScriptSerializer json = new JavaScriptSerializer();
        List<KeyValuePair<String, List<KeyValuePair<String, String>>>> css = json.Deserialize<List<KeyValuePair<String, List<KeyValuePair<String, String>>>>>(updates);
       AdminFunctions.UpdateStyleSheet(css);
        return "User is a valid user";
    }
    else
    {
        return "changes not committed as the user is not authenticated.";
    }
}

But it is throwing an unable to cast error on this object? the error being thrown is as follows;

"Type "System.String" is not supported for deserialization of an array.","StackTrace":" at System.Web.Script.Serialization.ObjectConverter.ConvertListToObject(IList list, Type type, JavaScriptSerializer serializer, Boolean throwOnError, IList\u0026 convertedList)\r\n at System.Web.Script.Serialization.ObjectConverter.ConvertObjectToTypeInternal(Object o, Type type, JavaScriptSerializer serializer, Boolean throwOnError, Object\u0026 convertedObject)\r\n at System.Web.Script.Serialization.ObjectConverter.ConvertObjectToTypeMain(Object o, Type type, JavaScriptSerializer serializer, Boolean throwOnError, Object\u0026 convertedObject)\r\n at System.Web.Script.Services.WebServiceMethodData.StrongTypeParameters(IDictionary2 rawParams)\r\n at System.Web.Script.Services.RestHandler.InvokeMethod(HttpContext context, WebServiceMethodData methodData, IDictionary2 rawParams)\r\n at System.Web.Script.Services.RestHandler.ExecuteWebServiceCall(HttpContext context, WebServiceMethodData methodData)","ExceptionType":"System.InvalidOperationException"}

any ideas why?

Thanks in advance.

matt_lethargic · Accepted Answer · 2015-09-02 14:11:34Z

1

I would use Dictionary> I did something similar not so long ago. Or try a nested NameValueCollection

Change

JavaScriptSerializer json = new JavaScriptSerializer();
List<KeyValuePair<String, List<KeyValuePair<String, String>>>> css = json.Deserialize<List<KeyValuePair<String, List<KeyValuePair<String, String>>>>>(updates);

to

JavaScriptSerializer json = new JavaScriptSerializer();
Dictionary<String, Dictionary<String, String>> css = json.Deserialize<Dictionary<String, Dictionary<String, String>>>(updates);

edited Sep 2, 2015 at 14:11

answered Aug 1, 2014 at 16:18

matt_lethargic

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2 Comments

Matthew Flynn Over a year ago

Matt, thats fine but the issue is casting it on the server side thats throwing the error. I have tried

JavaScriptSerializer json = new JavaScriptSerializer();             List<KeyValuePair<String, List<KeyValuePair<String, String>>>> css = json.Deserialize<List<KeyValuePair<String, List<KeyValuePair<String, String>>>>>(updates);

bit this too thrown an error when casting? Would you be able to provide a copy of the working code you used when casting it?

matt_lethargic Over a year ago

You need to update your question with the exception you're getting

Matthew Flynn · Accepted Answer · 2014-08-07 14:25:07Z

0

ok the issue was that I neede to stringify the sub array so the following code fixed the issue script side.

JSON.stringify({ updates: JSON.stringify(fieldtext) })

answered Aug 7, 2014 at 14:25

Matthew Flynn

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