How to handle json that returns both a string and a string array? [duplicate]
I'm using the Yahoo fantasy sports api. I'm getting a result like this:
"player": [
{
...
"eligible_positions": {
"position": "QB"
},
...
},
{
...
"eligible_positions": {
"position": [
"WR",
"W/R/T"
]
},
...
},
How is it that I can deserialize this?
My code looks like this:
var json = new JavaScriptSerializer();
if (response != null)
{
JSONResponse JSONResponseObject = json.Deserialize<JSONResponse>(response);
return JSONResponseObject;
}
And in my JSONResponse.cs file:
public class Player
{
public string player_key { get; set; }
public string player_id { get; set; }
public string display_position { get; set; }
public SelectedPosition selected_position { get; set; }
public Eligible_Positions eligible_positions { get; set; }
public Name name { get; set; }
}
public class Eligible_Positions
{
public string position { get; set; }
}
When I run this, since eligible_positions can return both a string and a string array, I keep getting the error "Type 'System.String' is not supported for deserialization of an array".
I've also tried turning public string position { get; set; }
to public string[] position { get; set; }
but I still get an error.
How should I handle this?
I'll use Json.Net. The idea is: "declare position
as a List<string>
and if the value in json is a string. then convert it to a List"
Code to deserialize
var api = JsonConvert.DeserializeObject<SportsAPI>(json);
JsonConverter
public class StringConverter : JsonConverter
{
public override bool CanConvert(Type objectType)
{
throw new NotImplementedException();
}
public override object ReadJson(Newtonsoft.Json.JsonReader reader, Type objectType, object existingValue, Newtonsoft.Json.JsonSerializer serializer)
{
if(reader.ValueType==typeof(string))
{
return new List<string>() { (string)reader.Value };
}
return serializer.Deserialize<List<string>>(reader);
}
public override void WriteJson(Newtonsoft.Json.JsonWriter writer, object value, Newtonsoft.Json.JsonSerializer serializer)
{
throw new NotImplementedException();
}
}
Sample Json
{
"player": [
{
"eligible_positions": {
"position": "QB"
}
},
{
"eligible_positions": {
"position": [
"WR",
"W/R/T"
]
}
}
]
}
Classes (Simplified version)
public class EligiblePositions
{
[JsonConverter(typeof(StringConverter))] // <-- See This
public List<string> position { get; set; }
}
public class Player
{
public EligiblePositions eligible_positions { get; set; }
}
public class SportsAPI
{
public List<Player> player { get; set; }
}