Pass Array of JavaScript objects to PageMethod

Question

Here's the situation: I would like to iterate through a table with input controls, collect up the values and then submit them to an ASP.NET PageMethod to save the data to the database. I have the collection all figured out but am getting an error that the string can't be converted to a Dictionary<string, object>.

So I end up with something like this being passed to a method with the below signature

[
{ 'id': '383840923', 'name': 'fred', 'car':'honda' },
{ 'id': '243', 'name': 'joe', 'car':'honda' },
{ 'id': '4323423', 'name': 'paul', 'car':'honda' },
{ 'id': '38384234230923', 'name': 'ted', 'car':'honda' },
]

public static bool SaveData(Dictionary<string, object>[] items) {...}

I know that I can pass whole class objects back and forth if properly declared and ASP.NET will handle the conversions for me, but I don't need the whole class being passed, only a couple of the properties.

Edit: I'm using jQuery to do the post back to the server.

What am I doing wrong here?

Dave Ward · Accepted Answer · 2009-05-16 04:59:19Z

2

ASP.NET AJAX will automatically deserialize that for you if you use a DTO. Something like this on the server-side would match the JSON array you're sending in:

public class PeopleAndCarsDTO
{
  public int id { get; set; }
  public string name { get; set; }
  public string car { get; set; }
}

public static bool SaveData(List<PeopleAndCarsDTO> items) {...}

answered May 16, 2009 at 4:59

Dave Ward

60.7k14 gold badges119 silver badges134 bronze badges

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

1 Comment

Jared Over a year ago

Yea, I think I've read most of your blog more than once today. Great help. That's what I was trying to avoid having to create, but I figured out what the problem was. I was wrapping the array in quotes before it was being posted so it was being treated as a string instead of an array. So I can get away with my custom array.

Alex · Accepted Answer · 2020-10-06 17:53:49Z

1

I figured out what the problem was. I was wrapping the array in quotes before sending it in as part of the $.ajax call so it was being treated as a string instead of an array.

$.ajax({
    type: "POST",
    url: "<%= Response.ApplyAppPathModifier(Request.Path) %>/UpdateAcademicItems",
    dataType: "json",
    contentType: "application/json; charset=utf-8",
    data: "{'items': **'**" + $.toJSON(items) + "**'**}",
    success: function(data) {
        if(false != data.d) {
            alert('we did it');
        } else {
            alert ('flop');
        }
    },
    error: function() {
        alert('Failed to save Program Items');
    }
});

edited Oct 6, 2020 at 17:53

Alex

1,6101 gold badge16 silver badges27 bronze badges

answered May 16, 2009 at 5:14

Jared

7,2936 gold badges52 silver badges53 bronze badges

Comments

amantur · Accepted Answer · 2009-05-16 04:54:13Z

0

@Jared the passed object is a JSON array. You can use json sharp to process it on server side. Here is a nice post about converting json array to C#.

answered May 16, 2009 at 4:54

amantur

40.6k22 gold badges136 silver badges192 bronze badges

Collectives™ on Stack Overflow

Pass Array of JavaScript objects to PageMethod

3 Answers 3

1 Comment

Comments

Comments

Your Answer

Linked

Hot Network Questions

Collectives™ on Stack Overflow

3 Answers 3

1 Comment

Comments

Comments

Your Answer

Sign up or log in

Post as a guest

Linked

Related