How do I remove root from my serialized xml?

Question

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Hi,

I have a serialized XML that is converted to Json (Not sure if I said that right). It did the serialization successfully but I am going to be passing this Json to a web api to be posted via postman. Unfortunately, I need to get rid of root from the produced Json.

JavaScript

{"root":{"ExtSerial":"KDI2015050501","Date":"02/01/2015","CustomerRefNbr":"15-000001","Description":"2015 FEBRUARY RENTAL","Customer":"TRDA0139","Amount":"482072.5800","AQ_Branch":"KDI","AQ_COA":"4100503000","LineSubAccount":"OPMOPN000","LineTaxCategory":"False","LineQuantity":"1","LineUnitPrice":"482072.580000","AQ_PostStatus":"0","AQ_StatusDate":"02/01/2015","DTS":"02/01/2015","LineDescription":"Office Rental - Zero-Rated Sales"}}

If I remove root from the source XML it keeps sprouting an exception:
An unhandled exception of type 'System.Xml.XmlException' occurred in System.Xml.dll
Additional information: There are multiple root elements. Line 2, position 2.
Here is my code so far. I have used Linq library and JSON.NET for serialization.

C#

XDocument xdoc = XDocument.Load(@"D:\Documents\Projects\HeXML\tae.xml");
IEnumerable<XElement> Invoices = xdoc.Elements();

foreach (var  Invoice in Invoices)
{
    var json = JsonConvert.SerializeObject(Invoice);
    Console.WriteLine(json);
}
Console.ReadLine();

I hope someone could help me.

Edit:

Here is the XML

XML

<root>
	<ExtSerial>KDI2015050501</ExtSerial>
	<Date>02/01/2015</Date>
	<CustomerRefNbr>15-000001</CustomerRefNbr>
	<Description>2015 FEBRUARY RENTAL</Description>
	<Customer>TRDA0139</Customer>
	<Amount>482072.5800</Amount>
	<AQ_Branch>KDI</AQ_Branch>
	<AQ_COA>4100503000</AQ_COA>
	<LineSubAccount>OPMOPN000</LineSubAccount>
	<LineTaxCategory>False</LineTaxCategory>
	<LineQuantity>1</LineQuantity>
	<LineUnitPrice>482072.580000</LineUnitPrice>  
	<AQ_PostStatus>0</AQ_PostStatus>
	<AQ_StatusDate>02/01/2015</AQ_StatusDate>
	<DTS>02/01/2015</DTS>
	<LineDescription>Office Rental - Zero-Rated Sales</LineDescription>
</root>

I just want to have it serialized to this JSON:

JavaScript

{"ExtSerial":"KDI2015050501","Date":"02/01/2015","CustomerRefNbr":"15-000001","Description":"2015 FEBRUARY RENTAL","Customer":"TRDA0139","Amount":"482072.5800","AQ_Branch":"KDI","AQ_COA":"4100503000","LineSubAccount":"OPMOPN000","LineTaxCategory":"False","LineQuantity":"1","LineUnitPrice":"482072.580000","AQ_PostStatus":"0","AQ_StatusDate":"02/01/2015","DTS":"02/01/2015","LineDescription":"Office Rental - Zero-Rated Sales"}

Posted 7-May-15 20:01pm

Joshua Masa

Updated 7-May-15 21:02pm

v2

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2 solutions

Solution 1

This is nonsense. XML document, by definition, has one and only one root. If you remove the root, the next level of hierarchy can be one element of more than one. If there is only one element, removing root will give you valid XML (or at least well-formed). This is not the case in your example, so it cannot be XML.

—SA

Posted 7-May-15 20:32pm

Sergey Alexandrovich Kryukov

Comments

CPallini 8-May-15 2:41am

5.

Sergey Alexandrovich Kryukov 8-May-15 2:51am

Thank you Carlo.
—SA

Joshua Masa 8-May-15 2:42am

I know that XML needs root but my web api does not accept root. It accepts {"ExtSerial":"KDI2015050501","Date":"02/01/2015", ...} I need to pass that JSON to my web api without root.

Sergey Alexandrovich Kryukov 8-May-15 2:55am

Your question was about XML root; and I answered it. And this is what your exceptions tells you. Note that "XML needs root" is not what I wrote for you. As to the question about JSON passing, I'm afraid your "I need to pass" is just your fantasy. If you explain the bigger picture, perhaps I'll be able to tell you what I do. But I would expect you to accept my answer.
—SA

Joshua Masa 8-May-15 2:52am

Change question: How do I convert/Serialize my XML to JSON without including the root element?

Sergey Alexandrovich Kryukov 8-May-15 2:58am

This is a different story. The answer is: if depends on how you map this simple XML (which you did not even show) to JSON. But you would need to explain why. Nobody likes wasting time.
—SA

Joshua Masa 8-May-15 3:00am

Here is the XML (updated on question). I just need that serialized to JSON without the root. Because after converting, I need to send that JSON to a web api with POST.

Sergey Alexandrovich Kryukov 8-May-15 3:09am

All right. And what was wrong with your first solution, with root?
And I cannot even imagine what was to the problem of writing your JSON in your sample...
—SA

Joshua Masa 8-May-15 3:13am

My Web Api won't accept a JSON POST like this: {"root":{"ExtSerial":"KDI2015050501","Date":"02/01/2015", ... }}

It only accepts {"ExtSerial":"KDI2015050501","Date":"02/01/2015", ... } -- this is without root.

Sergey Alexandrovich Kryukov 8-May-15 3:44am

Why?
—SA

Maciej Los 8-May-15 3:05am

Sergey, i was wondering how to answer this question... Your answer brings me to my knees ;) Short and to the point, 5!

Sergey Alexandrovich Kryukov 8-May-15 3:08am

Thank you, Maciej, but this is way too much...
—SA

Joshua Masa 8-May-15 3:14am

I know my questions are stupid and you guys are oh so great laughing at me. but who am I to seek help and learn?

Maciej Los 8-May-15 3:22am

No one is laughing at you. Remember it!

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Maciej Los · Accepted Answer · 2015-05-07T21:33:00

Solution 2

If you want to skip root element and get only child nodes, use this:

C#

var invoices = xdoc.Root.Elements();

Now, you can "convert" it into json object.

Note, that using your code you'll get something like this:

{"ExtSerial":"KDI2015050501"},{"Date":"02/01/2015"},...

but not

{"ExtSerial":"KDI2015050501","Date":"02/01/2015",...}

I'd suggest to read this: Working with JSON Data[^]

Posted 7-May-15 21:33pm

Maciej Los

Comments

Joshua Masa 8-May-15 3:37am

This is better.

Maciej Los 8-May-15 3:38am

Thanks, Joshua. Cheers, Maciej.

Sergey Alexandrovich Kryukov 8-May-15 3:45am

5ed.
—SA

Maciej Los 8-May-15 5:28am

Thank you Sergey ;)