Check if data is a json item

General
1

Hello,
Is there a way to check if a text is a json item?

I have a webservice that if everything is ok it respond me “Everything is ok” else the response is {“Message”:“Error”}

Thanks

2

[code] dim json As JSONItem

try
json = new JSONItem(sourceText)
//parsed ok, use json
catch JSONException
//not json
end

//json nil here if didn’t parse
[/code]

or if you don’t need the json object outside of the ‘try’ it’s just

try dim json As new JSONItem(sourceText) //parsed ok, use json catch JSONException //not json end

3

Here is Will’s method wrapped as an EXTENDS method for easy use:

Function IsJSON(extends t As Text) As Boolean
  Dim json As JSONItem
  
  try
    json = new JSONItem(t)
  Catch JSONException
  end
  
  return (json <> nil)
End Function

Simply copy this function to a module and make sure to set the scope to Global.

You can now check any text in your project like follow:

  if myText.IsJSON() then
    // do something
  end if
4

All good except I’d use the new framework instead of JSONItem. It’s faster and more accurate.

5

Thanks for the tip Kem.

6

Is the new framework JSON class available in version 2015 R2.1 of Xojo? I’d like to refactor my app to use the new framework JSON classes but can’t seem to find any classes in xojo.Core or xojo.Data that is JSON related?

7

Yes, the JSON stuff from the new framework is available for all project types in 2015r2. There are no JSON classes, just two methods: Xojo.Data.ParseJSON and Xojo.Data.GenerateJSON.

8

Ah, got it. Thanks Paul.

9

Here is my version of that code:

Function IsValidJSON_MTC(Extends src As Text) As Boolean
  #pragma BreakOnExceptions false
  
  try
    dim a as Auto = Xojo.Data.ParseJSON( src )
    #pragma unused a
    
    return true

  catch err as Xojo.Data.InvalidJSONException
    return false
  end try
  
  #pragma BreakOnExceptions default
End Function

This will be in my M_Text module.

10

It doesn’t appear to handle all valid JSON, though–an array of arrays would create something the docs don’t appear to support. Not to mention, finding the datatypes on the primitives would appear to be a royal pain if you don’t know in advance what they should be (likely to be the case if you aren’t even sure you have JSON in the first place).

11

An array of arrays is not an issue since each array is of type Auto. Use Introspection to determine the type of each element.

12

Some benchmark testing I did for the sake of curiosity…