Can you convert C# dictionary to Javascript associative array using asp.net mvc Json()

Question

I recently asked this question, but after some of the responses and some research, i wanted to change what i was actually asking.

i have seen a number of blog posts

Answer 1

You probably could have been a little more specific about the it just blows up part but here's an example that works fine for me:

Model:

public class CalendarEvent
{
    public string Name { get; set; }
    public DateTime Date { get; set; }
    public int Id { get; set; }
}

Controller:

public class HomeController : Controller
{
    public ActionResult Index()
    {
        return View();
    }

    [HttpPost]
    public ActionResult Refresh()
    {
        var model = new[]
        {
            new CalendarEvent 
            {
                Id = 1,
                Name = "event 1",
                Date = DateTime.Now
            },
            new CalendarEvent 
            {
                Id = 2,
                Name = "event 2",
                Date = DateTime.Now
            },
            new CalendarEvent 
            {
                Id = 3,
                Name = "event 3",
                Date = DateTime.Now.AddDays(2)
            },
        }
        .ToList()
        .ConvertAll(a => new
        {
            a.Name,
            a.Id,
            Date = a.Date.ToString("MMM dd, yyyy"),
        })
        .GroupBy(r => r.Date)
        .ToDictionary(
            group => group.Key, 
            group => group.Select(x => new { x.Name, x.Id })
        );
        return Json(new { Dict = model });
    }
}

View:

<%@ Page Language="C#" Inherits="System.Web.Mvc.ViewPage" %>    



    
    
    
    

Returned JSON:

{ "Dict": { "Sep 05, 2010": [ { "Name": "event 1", "Id": 1 },
                              { "Name": "event 2", "Id": 2 } ],
            "Sep 07, 2010": [ { "Name": "event 3", "Id": 3 } ] } }