Cannot create a Java JSONArray from String

Question

I get a JSON string from a File like this:

"[ { "id": "eVgoHOU0000000011", "network": { "networkName": "EVgo" }, "status": "Available", "plugscore": 9, "stationname": "Wholefoods Market", "description": "Very dependable station next to store.", "location": { "latitude": 30.596481, "longitude": -96.353554, "address": { "address1": "Golden Acres", "address2": "second floor", "city": "College Station", "state": "TX", "zipcode": "77029" }, "description": "Map marker location is next to gas station." }, "connectors": [ { "type": "US Wall Outlet", "power": "40 amp", "status": "Uknown" }, { "type": "US Wall Outlet", "power": "40 amp", "status": "Uknown" }, { "type": "CHAdeMO", "power": "40 amp", "status": "Unavailable" } ], "planName": "No Charge to Charge" }]"

I'd like to convert it to a JSONArray like this:

Scanner scanner = new Scanner(file);
String json = scanner.useDelimiter("\\A").next();
JSONArray array = new JSONArray(json);`

However, the array object is always null. What is wrong here?

UPDATE Works correctly in my Android code when I use this:

Scanner scanner = new Scanner( context.getResources().openRawResource(R.raw.radar_search));

But it isn't working when I create my previous scanner from a File. There must be something that the Android framework is doing correctly that Java isn't...

UPDATE 2 I have been able to isolate the problem. It happens when I'm doing white-box testing of my Android application with Junit4. So, I am constructing this new object class which has this helper method to create a JSONArray, and it doesn't get created during the junit run. It gets created fine, though, in regular java code runtime.

Why did you use the delimiter '\\A'. I am googling for this regex, but I can not find it. Are you sure this regex is valid? I know '\A' means 'start of string' — Jernej K
– Jernej K, Commented Mar 23, 2016 at 19:55
@JernejK It is a totally valid delimeter. It matches only once in whole input, so Scanner.next returns whole InputStream as a String. — IgorGanapolsky
– IgorGanapolsky, Commented Mar 23, 2016 at 20:16
@szym What I'm getting in the debugger is array = {JSONArray@902} "null" — IgorGanapolsky
– IgorGanapolsky, Commented Mar 23, 2016 at 20:36
@IgorGanapolsky can you paste the output of json instance, so that we really know it takes everything from the file. I know this will not solve the problem, but would be nice to know for sure from your example. And I would also add the try catch clause, to look for JSONException like it is pointed out in the Android API. From looking the Java documentation it should transform the String value to JSONArray. — Jernej K
– Jernej K, Commented Mar 23, 2016 at 20:42

szym · Accepted Answer · 2016-03-23 20:32:28Z

0

If the file includes the outer double-quotes, then new JSONArray(...) will throw JSONException. If it does not, I see no problem here.

Technically a Java constructor cannot return null. Use a debugger to step through the code. You could be ignoring an uncaught exception.

edited Mar 23, 2016 at 20:32

answered Mar 23, 2016 at 19:57

szym

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szym Over a year ago

You're right about the FileInputStream -- no need for it as Scanner accepts File.

IgorGanapolsky · Accepted Answer · 2016-03-24 15:05:58Z

0

I got down to the bottom of this issue, and found a solution. It turns out that Junit tests in Android do not have access to the Java JSON library. They only have access to stubs (which throw exceptions by default). So one must pull in the entire json library for tests:

testCompile 'org.json:json:20160212'

You can find the latest version number of json on maven central: http://mvnrepository.com/artifact/org.json/json

answered Mar 24, 2016 at 15:05

IgorGanapolsky

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