WebClient.DownloadString doesn't return value

Question

I have one URL with some special characters like | and &. URL is returning JSON data.

When I am trying this URL in browser it will run and return json data but when I am trying using WebClient.DownloadString(), it will not work.

Example :

Using Browser :

http://websvr.test.com/abc.aspx?Action=B&PacketList=116307638|1355.00

Output : 
[{"Column1":106,"Column2":"Buying Successfully."}]

Using WebClient.DownloadString():

    using (WebClient wc = new WebClient())
    {
       var json = wc.DownloadString("http://websvr.test.com/abc.aspx?Action=B&PacketList=116307638|1355.00");

    }

Output : 
[{"Column1":-107,"Column2":"Invalid Parametrer Required-(RefNo|JBPrice)!"}]

Welcome to StackOverflow, I think you should clarify your question a bit with examples of what you have tried so far, and what output you are expecting. See how to ask a question. — Roman Marusyk
– Roman Marusyk, Commented Aug 29, 2016 at 8:44
Could you please take a look at: stackoverflow.com/questions/5566942/… How to get a json string from url? — huse.ckr
– huse.ckr, Commented Aug 29, 2016 at 8:44
I think I've a similar problem, see stackoverflow.com/questions/72715042/…. Did you found a solution for it? — Wollmich
– Wollmich, Commented Jun 22, 2022 at 15:13

Halis S. · Accepted Answer · 2016-08-29 13:39:07Z

1

You should encode PacketList parameter in your URL, because it includes pipe character, which must be encoded to %7c. Browsers automatically encode necessary characters in URL, but you should encode it in code manually.

    var json = wc.DownloadString("http://websvr.test.com/abc.aspx?Action=B&PacketList=" + 
                  System.Web.HttpUtility.UrlEncode("116307638|1355.00");

edited Aug 29, 2016 at 13:39

answered Aug 29, 2016 at 13:31

Halis S.

4462 silver badges11 bronze badges

Sign up to request clarification or add additional context in comments.

Comments

Roman Marusyk · Accepted Answer · 2016-08-29 16:22:24Z

0

Try to set webclient's encoding before call DownloadString() and encode url using UrlEncode Method :

WebClient.Encoding = Encoding.UTF8;
var url = WebUtility.UrlEncode("http://websvr.test.com/abc.aspx?Action=B&PacketList=116307638|1355.00");
var json = wc.DownloadString(url);

edited Aug 29, 2016 at 16:22

answered Aug 29, 2016 at 8:48

Roman Marusyk

24.8k27 gold badges83 silver badges127 bronze badges

3 Comments

Nikhil Sangani Over a year ago

I am also trying WebClient.Encoding = Encoding.UTF8; but not working.

Roman Marusyk Over a year ago

@NikhilSangani Blanl value? But in the question you wrote that you got: [{"Column1":-107,"Column2":"Invalid Parametrer Required-(RefNo|JBPrice)!"}]. So, what did you get in response?

Nikhil Sangani Over a year ago

sorry MegaTron, I got [{"Column1":-107,"Column2":"Invalid Parametrer Required-(RefNo|JBPrice)!"}], but when i put url in browser it works fine. i think problem is " | " character.

Collectives™ on Stack Overflow

WebClient.DownloadString doesn't return value

2 Answers 2

Comments

3 Comments

Your Answer

Linked

Hot Network Questions

Collectives™ on Stack Overflow

2 Answers 2

Comments

3 Comments

Your Answer

Sign up or log in

Post as a guest

Linked

Related