Easily working on a json object

Question

I'm deserializing (or parsing) a json string to a c# object (using Json.NET) and getting a JObject. I want to iterate all the properties with the key "bla", in the same way iterating all xml elements that named "bla" with XElement.Elements("bla").

If it's not possible, I would like to deserialize my json string into a c# object, and work dynamically and recursively on my deserialized json object (my json string can have lists / arrays that can have objects of 2 types. In the end after editing my object (changing values and removing or adding properties) I need to serialize my object back to a json string. Which is the best and easiest way to use json serializing and deserializing?

my Json looks like this:

{"Families":{"Family":[{"propA":"dhsj", "propB":"dhdisb"}, {"propA":"krbsbs", "propC":"ksndbd", "propD":"odndns", "Families":{"Family":[....]}}, {"propA":"dhsj", "propB":[{"propA":"dhsj", "propB":"dhdisb"}, {"propA":"krbsbs", "propC":"ksndbd", "propD":"odndns", "Families":{"Family":[....]}}, {"propA":"dhsj", "propB":"fghfgh"}]}]}

in conclusion, the json value is a json object that it's value is a list/array, the list/array can contain 2 "types" of objects, and one of these types also has a property which it's value is a json object that it's value is a list/array, and it goes like this recursively. sometimes the value of one of the props of the type that doesn't have a property which it's value is a json object that it's value is a list/array, can be a list/array itself, that can contain only 1 type of the two mentioned.

Did you look at the methods in JObject? They do exactly that. — SLaks
– SLaks, Commented Apr 18, 2016 at 17:53
I didn't find a method of JObject that is similar to iterating XElement.Elements("bla") which gives me every element that is named bla. — user5441417
– user5441417, Commented Apr 18, 2016 at 18:45
I tweaked my answer to fit your JSON, iterate recursively to N-levels and add properties dynamically. — Colin
– Colin, Commented Apr 18, 2016 at 20:33

Jcl · Accepted Answer · 2016-04-18 18:01:35Z

2

If you don't need a strongly-typed object, you can deserialize to a dictionary:

Dictionary<string, object> myObject = JsonConvert.DeserializeObject<Dictionary<string, object>>(jsonString);

And then just use it as a dictionary:

myObject["Property"] = value;

Or

foreach(var propertyKey in myObject.Keys)
{
  // do something with each property
  Console.WriteLine($"{propertyKey} = {myObject[propertyKey]}");
}

Here's a fiddle

You can serialize it back after you are done

edited Apr 18, 2016 at 18:01

answered Apr 18, 2016 at 17:52

Jcl

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2 Comments

Jonathan Allen Over a year ago

A JObject is an dictionary, so you even need to change that part.

Jcl Over a year ago

@JonathanAllen I didn't know that, but makes sense

user5441417 · Accepted Answer · 2016-04-18 18:15:08Z

0

My json looks more like this:

{"Familys":{"Family":[{"propA":"dhsj", "propB":"dhdisb"}, {"propA":"krbsbs", "propC":"ksndbd", "propD":"odndns", "Families":{"Family":[....]}}]}

answered Apr 18, 2016 at 18:15

user5441417

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Comments

Colin · Accepted Answer · 2016-04-18 20:31:38Z

For JSON like this:

var json = @"{
    ""Families"":{
        ""Family"":[
            {
            ""propA"":""Top""
            },
            {
            ""propA"":""Top.Lower"",
            ""Families"":{
                ""Family"":[
                    {
                        ""propB"":""propB value""
                    },
                    {
                        ""propA"":""Top.Lower.EvenLower"",
                        ""Families"":{
                        ""Family"":[
                            {
                                ""propA"":""Top.Lower.EvenLower.EvenLower""
                            }
                        ]
                        }
                    }
                ]
            }
            }
        ]
    }
}";

Do something like this:

//calling code makes use of "dynamic" to make things clean and readable.
dynamic parsedJson = JsonConvert.DeserializeObject(json);
var allPropAValues = GetPropAValues(parsedJson);
//**** NOTE: this has our extra property ****
var jsonWithExtraStuffProperty = JsonConvert.SerializeObject(parsedJson);

//recursive function that reads AND writes properties
public static List<string> GetPropAValues(dynamic obj)
{
    var propAValues = new List<string>();

    //**** NOTE: the use of an added property ****
    obj.ExtraStuff = new Random().Next();

    //if we have a propA value, get it.
    if (obj.propA != null)
        propAValues.Add(obj.propA.Value);

    //iterate through families if there are any. your JSON had Families.Family.
    if (obj.Families != null)
        foreach (dynamic family in obj.Families.Family)
            propAValues.AddRange(GetPropAValues(family));

    return propAValues;
}

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