How to return two objects (including one as list of) in JSON with WCF

Question

Hi,

in XML you can do somethign like this:

<xml>
  <persons>
    <person>
      <name>a</name>
      <lastname>b</lastname>
    </person>
    <person>
      <name>c</name>
      <lastname>d</lastname>
    </person>
    <person>
      <name>e</name>
      <lastname>f</lastname>
    </person>
  </persons>
  <endresult>
    <result>122938</result>
  </endresult>
</xml>

Is this in JSON possible, and if yes, how can i do this in my WCF Service?

---

Best regards,
Yavuz B.

My Sharepoint and Enterprise 2.0 Blog http://www.bogazci.com | Microsoft Sharepoint Resources & Blog List

Answer 1

Hi,

The DataContractJsonSerializer is intended for use with WCF client applications where the serialized types are typically POCO classes with the DataContract attribute applied to them.  No DataContract, no serialization. The mapping mechanism of WCF makes the sending and receiving very simple, but only if your platform is homogeneous. If you start mixing in different toolsets, your program might go sideways. So in your case, it will hard to use the DataContractJsonSerializer. Then I use another way, please try to check it:

The example:

string xml = "<xml><persons><person><name>a</name><lastname>b</lastname></person><person><name>c</name><lastname>d</lastname></person><person><name>e</name><lastname>f</lastname></person></persons><endresult><result>122938</result></endresult></xml>";
            XmlDocument doc = new XmlDocument();
            doc.LoadXml(xml);
            string json = JsonConvert.SerializeXmlNode(doc);
            Console.WriteLine(json);
            Console.ReadLine();  

Then the result:

Best Regards,
Amy Peng

---

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Answer 2

Does this mean, that it is not possible to such a class in the DataContract part and i have to response my JSON Data as string?

---

Best regards,
Yavuz B.

My Sharepoint and Enterprise 2.0 Blog http://www.bogazci.com | Microsoft Sharepoint Resources & Blog List

Answer 3

Thanks for your replies and sorry, i dont want to be rude. But i dont understand it. I have tried the following:

IService

    <OperationContract()> _
    <WebInvoke(Method:="GET", BodyStyle:=WebMessageBodyStyle.Wrapped, ResponseFormat:=WebMessageFormat.Json, UriTemplate:="/GetKinder")> _
    Function GetKinder() As List(Of MeineKlasse)

    <DataContract()> _
    Class MeineKlasse

        Private m_firstname As String
        Private m_kind As List(Of Kind)

        <DataMember()> _
        Public Property firstname As String
            Get
                Return m_firstname
            End Get
            Set(value As String)
                m_firstname = value
            End Set
        End Property

        <DataMember()> _
        Public Property kinder As List(Of Kind)
            Get
                Return m_kind
            End Get
            Set(value As List(Of Kind))
                m_kind = value
            End Set
        End Property
    End Class

    <DataContract()> _
    Class Kind

        Private m_kind_name As String

        <DataMember()> _
        Public Property kind_name As String
            Get
                Return m_kind_name
            End Get
            Set(value As String)
                m_kind_name = value
            End Set
        End Property
    End Class

Service.vb

    Public Function GetKinder() As List(Of IService1.MeineKlasse) Implements IService1.GetKinder
        Dim meineKlasse As New List(Of IService1.MeineKlasse)

        For i As Integer = 0 To 9
            Dim kind As New IService1.MeineKlasse
            kind.firstname = "meinname" & i.ToString

            Dim mk As IService1.Kind = New IService1.Kind()
            mk.kind_name = "adjasd"
            kind.kinder.Add(mk)

            meineKlasse.Add(kind)
        Next

        Return meineKlasse
    End Function

When i execute my service i get and error "The server encountered an error processing the request. See server logs for more details." But i cant find anything in the eventlog.

When i comment out

            Dim mk As IService1.Kind = New IService1.Kind()
            mk.kind_name = "adjasd"
            kind.kinder.Add(mk)

it works! But i comment in it doesnt work. Curious!?

---

Best regards,
Yavuz B.

My Sharepoint and Enterprise 2.0 Blog http://www.bogazci.com | Microsoft Sharepoint Resources & Blog List

Answer 4

I cannot unmark as answer the post above, which i markes as answer! Is this a bug?

---

Best regards,
Yavuz B.

My Sharepoint and Enterprise 2.0 Blog http://www.bogazci.com | Microsoft Sharepoint Resources & Blog List

Answer 5

Hm, unmark has seems to be working now, but i am not able to solve my problem :(

---

Best regards,
Yavuz B.

My Sharepoint and Enterprise 2.0 Blog http://www.bogazci.com | Microsoft Sharepoint Resources & Blog List

Answer 6

I have tried now the following:

My ServiceContract

    <OperationContract()> _
    <WebInvoke(Method:="GET", BodyStyle:=WebMessageBodyStyle.Wrapped, ResponseFormat:=WebMessageFormat.Json, UriTemplate:="/GetBooks")> _
    Function GetBooks() As List(Of Book)


    <DataContract()> _
    Class Book
        Public Property bookchapter() As List(Of Chapter)
            Get
                Return m_bookchapter
            End Get
            Set(value As List(Of Chapter))
                m_bookchapter = value
            End Set
        End Property
        Private m_bookchapter As List(Of Chapter)

        Public Property success() As Integer
            Get
                Return m_success
            End Get
            Set(value As Integer)
                m_success = value
            End Set
        End Property
        Private m_success As Integer
    End Class

    <DataContract()> _
    Class Chapter
        Public Property description() As String
            Get
                Return m_description
            End Get
            Set(value As String)
                m_description = value
            End Set
        End Property
        Private m_description As String
    End Class

My Service

    Public Function GetBooks() As List(Of IGPService.Book) Implements IGPService.GetBooks
        Dim books As New List(Of IGPService.Book)

        Dim newBook As IGPService.Book = New IGPService.Book

        For i As Integer = 0 To 3
            Dim newchapter As IGPService.Chapter = New IGPService.Chapter
            newchapter.description = "Chapter1"
            newBook.bookchapter.Add(newchapter)
        Next

        newBook.success = 1

        books.Add(newBook)

        Return books
    End Function

But here i get the same error:

"The server encountered an error processing the request. See server logs for more details."

I don't know what to try else ...

---

Best regards,
Yavuz B.

My Sharepoint and Enterprise 2.0 Blog http://www.bogazci.com | Microsoft Sharepoint Resources & Blog List

Answer 7

Has noone an idea?

---

Best regards,
Yavuz B.

My Sharepoint and Enterprise 2.0 Blog http://www.bogazci.com | Microsoft Sharepoint Resources & Blog List

Answer 8

Hi,

Please first do not forget the add the [DataMember] to the two classes, then please modify your datacontract as following:

<DataContract> _
Public Class Book
	<DataMember> _
	Public Property bookchapter() As List(Of Chapter)
		Get
			Return m_bookchapter
		End Get
		Set
			m_bookchapter = value
		End Set
	End Property

	Private m_bookchapter As List(Of Chapter)
	<DataMember> _
	Public Property success() As Integer
		Get
			Return m_success
		End Get
		Set
			m_success = value
		End Set
	End Property
	Private m_success As Integer
	Public Sub New()
		bookchapter = New List(Of Chapter)()
	End Sub
End Class

<DataContract> _
Public Class Chapter
	<DataMember> _
	Public Property description() As String
		Get
			Return m_description
		End Get
		Set
			m_description = value
		End Set
	End Property
	Private m_description As String
End Class

Then it should work, the result is as following:

Best Regards,
Amy Peng

---

We are trying to better understand customer views on social support experience, so your participation in this interview project would be greatly appreciated if you have time. Thanks for helping make community forums a great place.
Click HERE to participate the survey.

Answer 9

Thank you very much!

---

Best regards,
Yavuz B.

My Sharepoint and Enterprise 2.0 Blog http://www.bogazci.com | Microsoft Sharepoint Resources & Blog List

Answer 10

It works, great!

But, what is the difference between my code an the adding of the New() Contructor?

---

Best regards,
Yavuz B.

My Sharepoint and Enterprise 2.0 Blog http://www.bogazci.com | Microsoft Sharepoint Resources & Blog List

Answer 11

Hi,

Because you need to initialization your list in the contructor.

Thanks.

Answer 12

datalogic 

class 1.vb

Public Class Class1
    Public Function GetMachineList() As List(Of WcfService1.Machine) class is not recognizing , but other functions are working fine 
        Dim oConn As New Informix("xxxxx;")
        Dim machines As New List(Of Machine)()
        Dim strSql As String = "SELECT k_koneno AS ma_machineid,k_paikka AS ma_placenumber,k_malli AS ma_model,k_tyyppi AS ma_type,k_versio AS ma_version FROM kone"


        Try
            oConn.OpenDB()
            Dim reader = oConn.SelectQueryIntoReader(strSql)
            If reader IsNot Nothing Then
                While reader.Read()
                    Dim machine As New Machine()
                    machine.ma_machineid = reader.GetString(0)
                    machine.ma_placenumber = reader.GetString(1)
                    machine.ma_model = reader.GetString(2)
                    machine.ma_type = reader.GetString(3)
                    machine.ma_version = reader.GetString(4)
                    machines.Add(machine)
                End While
            End If
            Return machines

        Catch ex As Exception
            Throw New System.Exception(ex.Message)
        Finally
            oConn.CloseDB()
        End Try

    End Function
    Public Function GetLastName() As String

        Dim oConn As New Informix("xxxxx")

        Dim oo As String

        Try
            oConn.OpenDB()
            oo = oConn.GetFirstValue("select p_fornamn from person where p_efternamn = 'JATOI'").ToString
            Return oo.ToString

        Catch ex As Exception
            Throw New System.Exception(ex.Message)
        Finally
            oConn.CloseDB()
        End Try


    End Function

    Public Function GetPersonsTable() As DataSet
        Dim oConn As New Informix("xxx")

        Dim daTable As New DataTable
        Dim dsTable As New DataSet


        Try
            oConn.OpenDB()


            Dim person = oConn.SelectQueryIntoTable("SELECT k_koneno AS ma_machineid, k_paikka AS ma_placenumber, k_malli AS ma_model,k_tyyppi AS ma_type, k_versio AS ma_version FROM kone WHERE k_paikka = 18 AND k_autmod = 'A'", daTable)

            dsTable.Tables.Add(daTable)
            Return dsTable

        Catch ex As Exception
            Throw New System.Exception(ex.Message)

        Finally
            oConn.CloseDB()

        End Try



    End Function

    Public Function GetPersonsTest() As DataSet
        Dim oConn As New Informix("xxxxx")

        Dim daTable As New DataTable
        Dim dsTable As New DataSet


        Try
            oConn.OpenDB()


            Dim person = oConn.SelectQueryIntoTable("SELECT * from person", daTable)

            dsTable.Tables.Add(daTable)
            Return dsTable

        Catch ex As Exception
            Throw New System.Exception(ex.Message)

        Finally
            oConn.CloseDB()

        End Try



    End Function
End Class

wcf service1

Iservice1.Vb

    

Imports System.Web.Script.Services

' NOTE: You can use the "Rename" command on the context menu to change the interface name "IService1" in both code and config file together.
<ServiceContract()>
Public Interface IService1

    <OperationContract()>
         <WebInvoke(Method:="Get",
                     ResponseFormat:=WebMessageFormat.Json,
            BodyStyle:=WebMessageBodyStyle.Wrapped,
            UriTemplate:="GetDataJSON")> _
    Function GetData(ByVal value As Integer) As String


    <OperationContract()>
    Function GetPersonTable() As DataSet

    <OperationContract()>
    Function GetPersonTest() As DataSet

    <OperationContract()>
    Function GetMachineList() As List(Of Machine)




    <OperationContract()>
    Function GetDataUsingDataContract(ByVal composite As CompositeType) As CompositeType

    ' TODO: Add your service operations here

End Interface

' Use a data contract as illustrated in the sample below to add composite types to service operations.

<DataContract()>
Public Class CompositeType

    <DataMember()>
    Public Property BoolValue() As Boolean

    <DataMember()>
    Public Property StringValue() As String

End Class

<DataContract()>
Public Class Machine
    Public Property MachineId() As String
        Get
            Return mma_machineid
        End Get

        Set(ByVal value As String)
            mma_machineid = value

        End Set
    End Property
    Private mma_machineid As String


    Public Property MachinePlaceNumber() As String
        Get
            Return mma_placenumber
        End Get
        Set(ByVal value As String)
            mma_placenumber = value
        End Set
    End Property
    Private mma_placenumber As String

    Public Property MachineModel() As String
        Get
            Return mma_model
        End Get
        Set(ByVal value As String)
            mma_model = value
        End Set
    End Property
    Private mma_model As String

    Public Property MachineType() As String
        Get
            Return mma_type
        End Get
        Set(ByVal value As String)
            mma_type = value
        End Set
    End Property
    Private mma_type As String
    Public Property MachineVersion() As String
        Get
            Return mma_version
        End Get
        Set(ByVal value As String)
            mma_version = value
        End Set
    End Property
    Private mma_version As String
End Class

Service1.Vb

Public Class Service1
    Implements IService1

    Public Sub New()
    End Sub

    Public Function GetData(ByVal value As Integer) As String Implements IService1.GetData
     
        Dim oDL As New Datalogic.Class1
        Return oDL.GetLastName
        

    End Function


    Public Function GetPersonTable() As DataSet Implements IService1.GetPersonTable
   
        Dim oDL As New Datalogic.Class1
        Return oDL.GetPersonsTable


    End Function

    Public Function GetPersonTest() As DataSet Implements IService1.GetPersonTest
    
        Dim oDL As New Datalogic.Class1
        Return oDL.GetPersonsTest


    End Function

    Public Function GetMachineList() As List(Of Machine) Implements IService1.GetMachineList

  
  
    Dim oDL As New Datalogic.Class1
        Return oDL.GetMachineList


    End Function






    Public Function GetDataUsingDataContract(ByVal composite As CompositeType) As CompositeType Implements IService1.GetDataUsingDataContract
        If composite Is Nothing Then
            Throw New ArgumentNullException("composite")
        End If
        If composite.BoolValue Then
            composite.StringValue &= "Suffix"
        End If
        Return composite
    End Function

End Class

ALL OTHER FUNCIONS ARE WORKING FINE BUT ONLY THE Public Function GetMachineList() As List(Of WcfService1.Machine) class SHOWING ERROR NOW PLEASE HELP i spent days on it.

and i have made reference other functions are working fine but machine list is not working fine