Formatting Json for WebAPI 2 from Ember-Data - json

Question

I've been struggling with this problem for a few days now and was hoping someone could help me out. I've got an ember front end which communicates with an API written in C#.
I'm making a an update (PUT) request but the model comes through with all the properties as null. The reason for this is because the API expects
{
"Type":1,
"Name":"Hello World"
}
but ember sends it in the format of
{
"Object":
{
"Type":1,
"Name":"Hello World"
}
}
I've seen solutions where you can add a custom JsonConverter onto the API Model, but this has to have it's own converter for each model. I'd like to know if someone help me with a generic one that I can apply to any model.
Here's an example of one that is specific for the profile model, I can't seem to get it to work as a generic though.
[JsonConverter(typeof(ProfileConverter))]
public class Profile
{
public string LoginId { get; set; }
public bool NewProfileOptIn { get; set; }
}
and the converter
public class ProfileConverter : JsonConverter
{
public override bool CanConvert(Type objectType)
{
return typeof(Profile).IsAssignableFrom(objectType);
}
public override object ReadJson(JsonReader reader, Type objectType, object existingValue, JsonSerializer serializer)
{
Log.Information("Reading Json from ProfileSetting");
JToken token = JToken.Load(reader);
if (token["ProfileSetting"] != null)
{
JObject inner = token["ProfileSetting"].Value<JObject>();
if (CheckJsonProperty(inner, "login_id") && CheckJsonProperty(inner, "new_profile_opt_in"))
{
Profile model = new Profile
{
LoginId = inner["login_id"].ToString(),
NewProfileOptIn = (bool)inner["new_profile_opt_in"]
};
return model;
}
return null;
}
Log.Error("Invalid Model Name Passed - Expected 'ProfileSetting'");
return null;
}
private bool CheckJsonProperty(JObject objectToCheck, string expectedJsonProperty)
{
if (objectToCheck[expectedJsonProperty] != null)
{
return true;
}
Log.Error("Invalid or Missing Model Property Name Passed - Expected '" + expectedJsonProperty + "'");
return false;
}
public override void WriteJson(JsonWriter writer, object value, JsonSerializer serializer)
{
throw new NotImplementedException();
}
}
If any one has any reading resources or examples that would help, it would be much appreciated.
Thanks,

Answer 1

VB.Net
This Example has been coded with Json.Net.
So I'm working with Vb.net but this should work in C# the same way.
I've been able to do it without an JsonConverter as follows:
Public Class TestController
Inherits ApiController
<HttpGet>
Public Function Index() As String
Dim o As New JObject
o.Add("Data", 10)
Dim j As New JObject
j.Add("Object", o)
Dim obj = j.ToObject(Of EmberDataObject(Of TestObject))()
Return "200 - OK"
End Function
End Class
Public Class EmberDataObject(Of T)
<JsonProperty("Object")>
Public Property DataObject As T
End Class
Public Class TestObject
Public Property Data As Integer
End Class
In the above example the JsonObject with this mark up
{
"Object": {
"Data": 10
}
}
can be transformed easily. You can then access the nested Type as obj.DataObject. Through the set JsonProperty Attribute you can omit the Object key word which at least in Vb is not a legal Property name.
C#
The C# translation would be like this:
public class EmberDataObject<T>
{
[JsonProperty("Object")
public T DataObject {get; set;}
}
public class TestData
{
public int Data {get; set;}
}
And then referencing this from your Controller as follows:
public class MyApiController : ApiController
{
public IActionResult Post(EmberDataObject<TestData> emberObject)
{
/// Inner Object Available as emberObject.Object
}
}