Question

I have an existing application that sends a Request with a parameter named ‘filters’. The ‘filters’ parameter contains a string that is JSON encoded. Example:

[{"dataIndex":"fieldName", "value":"fieldValue"}, {"dataIndex":"field2", "value":"value2"}]. 

Using ServiceStack, I would like to bind this as a property on a C# object (class Grid). Is there a preferred method to handle this? Here are the options I can think of. I don’t think either ‘feel’ correct.

Option 1:
I do have a ‘ServiceModel’ project and this would create a dependency on it which I don’t really like.
In AppHost.Configure() method add

RequestBinders[typeof(Grid)] => httpReq => { 
  return new Grid() { 
    Filters = new ServiceStack.Text.JsonSerializer<IList<Filter>>().DeserializeFromString(httpReq.QueryString["filters"])
  }
}

Option 2:
Seems kind of ‘hacky’

public class Grid
{
  private string _filters;
  public dynamic Filters { 
    get 
    {
      ServiceStack.Text.JsonSerializer<IList<Filter().DeserializeFromString(_filters);
    }
    set
    {
      _filters = value;
    }
  }
}

Answer 1

You can send Complex objects in ServiceStack using the JSV Format.

If you want to send JSON via the QueryString you can access it from inside your Service of Request filters with something like:

public object Any(Request req) {
    var filters = base.Request.QueryString["Filters"].FromJson<List<Filter>>();
}

Note: Interfaces on DTOs are bad practice.