How to convert JSON to C# classes?

Question

I have a complex JSON object that I want represent as C# class. I have a head start on the parent class called \"Form\", but how can I represent a collection for different t

Answer 1

If you don't have the liberty of using dynamic types from .NET 4 or would like to leverage the benefits that static typing provide, the JSON Class Generator project on codeplex will generate c# classes given a json input string. (shameless plug) I've also taken code from this project and slapped a web UI on it.

Answer 2

Wow. Fascinating question. Maybe use ExpandoObject / dynamic?

http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/system.dynamic.expandoobject.aspx

http://blogs.msdn.com/b/csharpfaq/archive/2009/10/01/dynamic-in-c-4-0-introducing-the-expandoobject.aspx?PageIndex=4

Or anonymous types I think are serializable with the built-in .NET JSON serializer.

Answer 3

If you just want to make sure all this unknown data gets deserialized and can be reserialized at some point in the future, I suggest the usage of IExtensibleDataObject.

Here are some samples to get you started. Hope this helps! (If you already knew this and were looking for something different...let me know!)

Forward-Compatible Data Contracts

Data Contract Versioning

Useful clarifying thread on the topic at MSDN forums

Answer 4

You do not need to try and create the class structure manually.

Sometimes it is rather frustrating too. :)

There is a visual studio command you can use (I think vs2015 and later):

1. On a new class file click Menu => Edit => Paste Special
2. Select "Paste JSON as Classes"

Now specifically in your JSON there is an error, you are missing the closing curly-brace of first "element" object.

Below is the corrected JSON:

{
  "action": "index.html",
  "method": "post",
  "elements": [
    {
      "type": "fieldset",
      "caption": "User information",
      "elements": [
        {
          "name": "email",
          "caption": "Email address",
          "type": "text",
          "placeholder": "E.g. user@example.com",
          "validate": {
            "email": true
          }
        },
        {
          "name": "password",
          "caption": "Password",
          "type": "password",
          "id": "registration-password",
          "validate": {
            "required": true,
            "minlength": 5,
            "messages": {
              "required": "Please enter a password",
              "minlength": "At least {0} characters long"
            }
          }
        },
        {
          "name": "password-repeat",
          "caption": "Repeat password",
          "type": "password",
          "validate": {
            "equalTo": "#registration-password",
            "messages": {
              "equalTo": "Please repeat your password"
            }
          }
        },
        {
          "type": "radiobuttons",
          "caption": "Sex",
          "name": "sex",
          "class": "labellist",
          "options": {
            "f": "Female",
            "m": "Male"
          }
        }
      ]
    }
  ]
}

And the corresponding Classes:

public class Rootobject
{
    public string action { get; set; }
    public string method { get; set; }
    public Element[] elements { get; set; }
}

public class Element
{
    public string type { get; set; }
    public string caption { get; set; }
    public Element1[] elements { get; set; }
}

public class Element1
{
    public string name { get; set; }
    public string caption { get; set; }
    public string type { get; set; }
    public string placeholder { get; set; }
    public Validate validate { get; set; }
    public string id { get; set; }
    public string _class { get; set; }
    public Options options { get; set; }
}

public class Validate
{
    public bool email { get; set; }
    public bool required { get; set; }
    public int minlength { get; set; }
    public Messages messages { get; set; }
    public string equalTo { get; set; }
}

public class Messages
{
    public string required { get; set; }
    public string minlength { get; set; }
    public string equalTo { get; set; }
}

public class Options
{
    public string f { get; set; }
    public string m { get; set; }
}