VB.Net Object creation do JSON API submission

[dashley]

Hi I'm trying to create an object/array to add a "code" "HAZ" to the Accessorial class shown below.
I don't know how to create it to add the code. I've added the accessorial class to the primary wrapper but am uncertain if if should be added as "Public accessorials As New Accessorials"
or Public accessorials As New list(Of Accessorials).

In the Accesorial class the code is shown as " Public codes As String()" which I'm assuming it can be a string array because there are time when more than one code can be submittied.

the JSON outcome (patrial) I'm looking for is according to the API guide is:

"accessorials" : {
"codes" : [ "HAZ" ],
"hazardousContact" : {
"name" : "John Snow",
"phone" : "7704865900"
}

   Public Class fgtload 'Primary wrapper
        Public service As New fgtservice
        Public payment As New fgtpayment
        Public transit As New fgttransit
        Public commodities As New List(Of Items)
        Public origin As New fgtorigin
        Public destination As New fgtdestination
        Public billTo As New fgtbillto
        Public accessorials As New Accessorials
    End Class

    Public Class Accessorials
        Public codes As String()
        Public hazardousContact As HazardousContact
        Public cod As Object
        Public insuranceDetails As Object
        Public sortAndSegregateDetails As Object
        Public markDetails As Object
    End Class

[dday9]

I don't know if I agree with initializing the properties like that. Personally, I'd define them and then initialize them in the class' constructor.

Regarding the definition of codes, it depends. If you're manipulating the data a lot from VB.NET then I'd probably define it as a list.

Take a look at this example:

Public Class fgtload
    Public service As fgtservice
    Public payment As fgtpayment
    Public transit As fgttransit
    Public commodities As List(Of Items)
    Public origin As fgtorigin
    Public destination As fgtdestination
    Public billTo As fgtbillto
    Public accessorials As Accessorials

    Sub New()
        service = New fgtservice()
        payment = New fgtpayment()
        transit = New fgttransit()
        commodities = New List(of Items)()
        origin = New fgtorigin()
        destination = New fgtdestination()
        billTo = New billTo()
        accessorials = New Accessorials()
    End Sub
End Class

Public Class Accessorials
    Public codes As List(Of String)
    Public hazardousContact As HazardousContact
    Public cod As Object 
    Public insuranceDetails As Object
    Public sortAndSegregateDetails As Object
    Public markDetails As Object

    Sub New()
        codes = New List(Of String)()
    End Sub
End Class

[dashley]

The properties and classes were created with a JSON class generator. I'm trying to learn more about JSON. I think I have discovered my weakness. I'm no good with arrays sigh... Yes I'll be manipulating data from vb.net via MSSQL and datasets. I can't seem to grasp how to add the codes into the array and wrap them in the accessorials. I've tried ..

Dim accessorials = New Accessorials()

        Dim codes = New List(Of String)()
        Dim mycode As String = ("HAZ")

        accessorials.codes(1).Add(mycode)

WHen I run My request it fails at with an error of ": 'Object reference not set to an instance of an object.'" at
accessorials.codes(1).Add(mycode).

Can you provide and example of how to set the "HAZ" code into the array. I'm getting my butt kicked here.

Thanks

[PlausiblyDamp]

The properties and classes were created with a JSON class generator. I'm trying to learn more about JSON. I think I have discovered my weakness. I'm no good with arrays sigh... Yes I'll be manipulating data from vb.net via MSSQL and datasets. I can't seem to grasp how to add the codes into the array and wrap them in the accessorials. I've tried ..

Dim accessorials = New Accessorials()

        Dim codes = New List(Of String)()
        Dim mycode As String = ("HAZ")

        accessorials.codes(1).Add(mycode)

WHen I run My request it fails at with an error of ": 'Object reference not set to an instance of an object.'" at
accessorials.codes(1).Add(mycode).

Can you provide and example of how to set the "HAZ" code into the array. I'm getting my butt kicked here.

Thanks

   accessorials.codes(1).Add(mycode)

Is trying to access the first item in the List(Of String) and then add to that - you probably just want to do

   accessorials.codes.Add(mycode)

[dashley]

When I tired "accessorials.codes.Add(mycode)" It underlines in red (VS 2022) stating 'Add' is not a member of List(Of String)()

[PlausiblyDamp]

Could you post the definition of Accessorials that you are currently using?

If in the snippet

   accessorials.codes(1).

accessorials.codes is an array then you would need to assign a value to accessorials.codes(1) before you can use it. I would use a List(of String) rather than an array if possible.

[dashley]

 Dim accessorials = New Accessorials()

        Dim codes = New List(Of String)()

        Dim mycode As String = ("HZM")

        accessorials.codes(1).Add(mycode)

with the following classes for the accessorials code

    Public Class fgtload 'Primary wrapper
        Public service As New fgtservice
        Public payment As New fgtpayment
        Public transit As New fgttransit
        Public commodities As New List(Of FgtCommodity)
        Public origin As New fgtorigin
        Public destination As New fgtdestination
        Public billTo As New fgtbillto
        Public accessorials As List(Of Accessorials)


    End Class

    Public Class Accessorials
        Public codes As List(Of String)()
        Public hazardousContact As HazardousContact
        Public cod As Object
        Public insuranceDetails As Object
        Public sortAndSegregateDetails As Object
        Public markDetails As Object
    End Class

[PlausiblyDamp]

   Public codes As List(Of String)()

in the Accessorials class is declaring the property code as an Array of type List(Of String)

Try just using

   Public codes As List(Of String)

instead.

[dashley]

Dim accessorials As New Accessorials

Load.accessorials.codes(0) = ("EDP")

'Object reference not set to an instance of an object.'

   Public Class fgtload 'Primary wrapper
        Public service As New fgtservice
        Public payment As New fgtpayment
        Public transit As New fgttransit
        Public commodities As New List(Of FgtCommodity)
        Public origin As New fgtorigin
        Public destination As New fgtdestination
        Public billTo As New fgtbillto
        Public accessorials As New Accessorials
        'Public accessorials As New List(Of Accessorials)
    End Class

    Public Class Accessorials
        Public codes As List(Of String)


        'Public hazardousContact As HazardousContact
        'Public cod As Object
        'Public insuranceDetails As Object
        'Public sortAndSegregateDetails As Object
        'Public markDetails As Object
    End Class

[PlausiblyDamp]

Try

Load.accessorials.codes.Add("EDP")

One of the reasons for using a List(Of ...) is that you can just add items to it without worrying about sizing etc.

[dashley]

Still getting System.NullReferenceException: 'Object reference not set to an instance of an object.'

Dim accessorials = New Accessorials and Load.accessorials = New Accessorials

**Also tried Both
With accessorials
.codes(0) = ("EDP")
End With
** and

Load.accessorials.codes(0) = ("EDP")

[BlackRiver1987]

Your Accessorials is an object that has a list of string called Codes.
You should be able to do something like:

Load.accessorials.codes = new List(of String)

Then you can do Load.accessorials.codes.add("something")

[dashley]

Tried it same result . Crazy huh

Load.accessorials.codes = New List(Of String)

Load.accessorials.codes.Add("EDP")


System.NullReferenceException: 'Object reference not set to an instance of an object.'

[BlackRiver1987]

When you do this, you need to make sure your accessorials object actually exists. So before you instantiate codes list, you need to do the same with accessorials object

[PlausiblyDamp]

Tried it same result . Crazy huh

Load.accessorials.codes = New List(Of String)

Load.accessorials.codes.Add("EDP")


System.NullReferenceException: 'Object reference not set to an instance of an object.'

This is when you need to try debugging your code. Put a breakpoint on the line that is crashing, when the breakpoint is hit you can inspect the variables and see which is Nothing, then you can figure out where you should be instantiating it.

[dashley]

That cleared the 'Object reference not set to an instance of an object.' error ' Thanks I'm still having issues with the accessorals. GOnna have to put it on hold for a day or so, I shall return :-/

[dashley]

Nothing we tried would have worked anyway, The Code "EDP" which I got from the API User Guide come to find out was an invalid code. I've reported the typo to the web support folks. Never would have thought of that.

This(with a good code) finally worked.
Load.accessorials.codes = New List(Of String)

Load.accessorials.codes.Add("LFTP")

or this way

Load.accessorials.codes = New List(Of String)({"IDL"})

Sure was a marathone getting this resolved though. Learned a lot. Not to trust user guides in part.

[taishan]

Have you successfully transmitted your JSON request with Curl in Powershell for testing?