how to change json format in asp.net mvc? - json

Question

I'm trying to make autocomplete textbox using this link
https://github.com/devbridge/jQuery-Autocomplete
but I got this error
Uncaught TypeError: Cannot read property 'length' of undefined
this is my action method
public JsonResult GetNews(string prefix)
{
var newsList = NewsDataRoot.AutoCompleteTitle(prefix).Select(n => new
{
value = n.Title,
data = n.Id
}).ToList();
var myjson = Json(newsList, JsonRequestBehavior.AllowGet);
return myjson;
}
and it return this result when I test it in browser
[{"value":"this is a test","data":2006}]
I found the format must be
{
suggestions: [{
"value": "United Arab Emirates",
"data": "AE"
}, {
"value": "United Kingdom",
"data": "UK"
}, {
"value": "United States",
"data": "US"
}, {
"value": "United Funes",
"data": "DAN"
}]
}
how can do this?
thanks a lot!
also as you can see I tried transformResult but it doesnt worked
<script>
$('#autocomplete').autocomplete({
serviceUrl: '/TestAutoComplete/GetNews',
paramName: 'prefix',
transformResult: function(response) {
return {
suggestions: $.map(response.myData, function(dataItem) {
return { value: dataItem.valueField, data: dataItem.dataField };
})
};
},
onSelect: function (suggestion) {
alert('You selected: ' + suggestion.value + ', ' + suggestion.data);
}
});
</script>

Answer 1

Try this, creates an anonymous object which just has the suggestions property
var newsList = NewsDataRoot.AutoCompleteTitle(prefix)
.Select(n => new {
value = n.Title,
data = n.Id
}).ToList();
var myjson = Json(new { suggestions = newsList }, JsonRequestBehavior.AllowGet);

Answer 2

if you want to set number to be numeric string you can try convert its value to string
public JsonResult GetNews(string prefix)
{
var newsList = NewsDataRoot.AutoCompleteTitle(prefix).Select(n => new
{
value = n.Title,
data = n.Id.ToString()
}).ToList();
var myjson = Json(new {suggestions = newsList}, JsonRequestBehavior.AllowGet);
return myjson;
}