Question

I need to call a web service from javascript that returns a JSON array in the following format:

["hello","there","I","am","an","array"]

Unfortunately, the javascript library I’m using (Sencha Touch) to load this data into a widget doesn’t accept that format as data input. It will work with something like this however:

[["hello"],["there"],["I"],["am"],["an"],["array"]]

So there are two questions here– how can I call that web service in javascript and then manipulate the returned array into the format I need? I’ve been looking at jQuery’s getJson() method, not sure if that’s the way to go or if there are better ways.

The URL that delivers the JSON array is this right here. Thanks for your help.

Answer 1

Here’s a jsFiddle showing both parts of what you asked about. I’m using jQuery for my AJAX call (faked in the jsFiddle) and I’m using Underscore.js for the manipulation:

http://jsfiddle.net/JohnMunsch/E7YTQ/

// Part 1: Get the raw data. Unfortunately, within a jsFiddle I can't go get it from a different domain. So I'm
// simulating the call instead.
var rawDataPromise = $.ajax({
    url : "/echo/json/",
    data : fakeData,
    type : "POST"
});
// var rawDataPromise = $.ajax("http://fastmotorcycleservice.cloudapp.net/FastMotorCycleListService.svc/list/Bruno");

rawDataPromise.done(
  function (results) {
    // Part 2: Manipulate the data into the form we need.
    var manipulatedResults = _.map(results, function (item) { return [ item ]; });

    console.log(manipulatedResults);
  }
);

// You could also pull that together into a single call $.ajax(...).done(function (results) { ... });