Question

I recently used C# to build a web service client. I chose C# because the web services components are powerful and easy (much easier to work with than Gsoap or Axis IMO).

My C# app runs in the background and should return data that other pieces of my application (which includes a web app, a PLC, and a database) can store and use.

My responses look something like this:

[
 [
     string
     int
     []
 ]
 string
 []
 int
]

etc…

The point is that the return values are not simple. My question is what is the best way to reformat and consume this data from other parts of my application?

My choices are:

1. XML
2. JSON

I’ve checked out both routes and have not found a great way to serialize this data. Can anyone provide any recommendations?

Worst case scenario I may need to just create a common routine to build XML with StringBuilder, but I’m hoping there’s something I don’t know about yet (I’m new to C#) that will make my life easy.

Answer 1

You surelly can use JSON.

Use the JavaScriptSerializer class to serialize the data and your OK: http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/system.web.script.serialization.javascriptserializer.aspx

var data = new { name = "someValue", id = 1 };

var json = new System.Web.Script.Serialization.JavaScriptSerializer();

return json.Serialize(data);

I haven’t tested this code (I’m not in my dev machine by now), but I’m sure it works with some adjustments to your needs.