2

When writing a json string to a file using the following code below, it doesn't show up in a pretty format when editing the file, but rather just shows up as a string format. If I use .Net fiddle, the console output is correct and it looks good. How do I write the json string to a file, so when editing /w say notepad++ it shows up in a pretty format. Can someone help?

.Net Fiddle code for console output which works fine

public class Program
{
    public static void Main()
    {
        String sPrettyStr;
        var item = "{\"messageType\":\"0\",\"code\":\"1\"}";
        sPrettyStr = JValue.Parse(item).ToString(Newtonsoft.Json.Formatting.Indented);
        Console.WriteLine(sPrettyStr);
    }
}

.Net Fiddle console output

{
  "messageType": "0",
  "code": "1"
}

But when writing a formatted json string to file using this

File.WriteAllText(c:/test.json,JValue.Parse(item).ToString(Newtonsoft.Json.Formatting.Indented))

I get this file output when edited w/ notepad++

"{\\\"messageType\\\":\\\"0\\\",\\\"code\\\"}"
Improve this question
7
  • Nope, I've tried all those examples and they don't work. The file output still remains in a string format. Commented Feb 21, 2019 at 21:53
  • So using this link does not work? Commented Feb 21, 2019 at 21:55
  • 3
    I've copied and pasted your code into LINQPad and it produces the output you want, so there is apparently some code you're not showing that is interfering with the code. Commented Feb 21, 2019 at 22:01
  • 2
    I copy/pasted your code into a new console app, and got the desired results as well with no changes. Commented Feb 21, 2019 at 22:04
  • 3
    Try using JToken.Parse() instead of JValue.Parse(). Maybe you are using older version of the library that treats given string as a literal. Commented Feb 21, 2019 at 22:08

2 Answers 2

Reset to default
4

After having a gander and attempting myself this is what I found: You first have to deserialize the string then serialize it again.

EDIT: Took your code as well and got the desired output also like others in comment have said. I tweaked to use JToken instead of JValue and all is good.

using System;
using Newtonsoft.Json;
using Newtonsoft.Json.Linq;

namespace StackOverflow
{
    class Program
    {
        static void Main(string[] args)
        {
            var item = "{\"messageType\":\"0\",\"code\":\"1\"}";

            var t = JsonConvert.DeserializeObject(item);
            var x = JsonConvert.SerializeObject(t, Formatting.Indented);

            string sPrettyStr;
            var item2 = "{\"messageType\":\"0\",\"code\":\"1\"}";
            sPrettyStr = JToken.Parse(item2).ToString(Formatting.Indented);

            Console.WriteLine(x);
            Console.WriteLine(sPrettyStr);
            Console.ReadLine();
        }
    }
}

Credit to Frank from here

Improve this answer
Sign up to request clarification or add additional context in comments.

Comments

0

Try this code:

var item = "{\"messageType\":\"0\",\"code\":\"1\"}";
JToken token = JToken.Parse(item);
JObject json = JObject.Parse((string) token);
Console.WriteLine(json);
Improve this answer

Comments