Generic object -> object conversion for webapi

Question

This is a somewhat unique problem I think... I can solve it easily in js/ts but am kinda stuck trying to implement this in the c# solution if at all possible.

Keeping it simple, so as not to write a novel here, I'm trying to improve some crappy json serialization. It's using dictionaries within dictionaries currently and it's assy to parse in JS. I wrote a TS library that "unpacks" the data into a more palatable format, but I'd love to move that server-side. The model is an xml object with elements unkown to the application (because it's defined in a CMS and can be modified any time even while the app is running) and because Vendor, I'm stuck with c#.

Super easy in JS - c#'s strong typing is killing me here.

How would you create this addKvp function in c# (where element would be of type object, i assume)

function addKvp (element, key, value) { element[key] = value; }

var abc = {};
addKvp(abc, "foo", "bar");
console.log(abc.foo);

where "key" is not a member of element.... yet.

The other directions I could tackle this from is maybe by manipulating the json serialization somehow or putting my typescript library that does exactly this in a node express server and have it sit between the two - but this'd be the "simplest" solve, if it is possible. It feels very against the c# grain.

Are you using Newtonsoft.Json or System.Text.Json for manipulating JSON? — Donut
– Donut, Commented Nov 10, 2021 at 18:02
Newtonsoft currently - I have control tho and it's the only thing this project does, so I can implement whatever — Count Spatula
– Count Spatula, Commented Nov 10, 2021 at 18:13
You could use JObject for abc and add value using JToken.FromObject() , i.e. element[key] = JToken.FromObject(value);. Or you could use ExpandoObject for abc, i.e. dynamic abc = new ExpandoObject(). — dbc
– dbc, Commented Nov 10, 2021 at 19:06

Count Spatula · Accepted Answer · 2021-11-10 19:08:37Z

1

Got it!

If you have this problem and are using NewtonSoft, there's an object in Newtonsoft.Json.Linq called "JObject" which behaves almost exactly like I was wanting.

For simple explanation, my sample js function would be written as...

void AddKvp(JObject element, string key, (whatever type) value)
{
 element[key] = value;
 //doesn't seem to be able to convert <T> values on its own and this is just a sample so i'm not gonna bother figuring it out
}

answered Nov 10, 2021 at 19:08

Count Spatula

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