Binding data source to webservice that returns json serialized dicationary<string,string>

[Patt]

Hi everyone,

I am trying to create a kendo dropdownlist that binds to a datasource from a web service.

Since I want to reduce the size of the sent data, I decide to use dictionary<string, string> instead of  a class that has properties for the select name and value.

However, I got a bit stuck on the mapping part since the dictionary<string, string> will convert to Json string as { "value1" : "name1", "value2" : "name2", ...}, hence javascript will see value{n} as properties and name{n} as their values instead of pairs of two separate value.

Bottom line is that I would like to convert these pairs of values into datasource fields "name", and "value". What would be the best way to tackle this?

Thank you,

Patt

[John DeVight]

Hi Patt,

I would probably use jQuery.ajax to get the data from the web service first, then format it as an array of json objects where each json object uses "name" and "value", and finally bind the array to the dropdownlist.  No need for the dataSource object.

Here is an example of a jQuery.ajax call that gets a serialized dictionary<string, string>, builds a new array, and then binds the array to a kendoDropDownList:

$.ajax({

    url: _rootUrl + "Home/GetDictionaryForDropdown",

    cache: false

})

.done(function (e) {

    var data = [];

    for (var key in e) {

        data.push({ "name": key, "value": e[key] });

    };

  

    $("#mydropdownlist").kendoDropDownList({

        dataTextField: "name",

        dataValueField: "value",

        dataSource: data

    });

});

Hopefully that helps.

Regards,

John DeVight

[Patt]

That was perfect! Thank you :)

[John DeVight]

Your welcome.  When you get a chance, can you mark my response as the answer?  Thank you :)