Hey guys, it's been a few years since I've touched VB.net, and I'm needing a bit of help with a project that I'm working on for a family member. I'm writing a program to manage and maintain an auto repair shop, and I'm having you get a massive list of all vehicles available for entry into the database.
I stumbled across a free API online that delivers all the information I need in JSON format. Currently, I'm using JSON.net to attempt to parse the information, but since I've never worked with JSON, I'm somewhat lost. My current method is sloppy and ugly, and I'm sure there is another method to do what I need. All I need to do is essentially get every single vehicle then enter it into a database for later usage. The raw JSON data I'm using can be located here - http://pastebin.com/av1nx9JE
My current method is essentially a very complicated loop using JSON.net to read each object and if they match a set of constraints, then it adds it to a variable, once it reaches the end of a specific path, it enters that into the database. It's very ugly and slow.
JSON.net allows for deserialization, but I'm unsure of how to use this. Any information would be extremely helpful.
EDIT -----
Hey guys, after some more tinkering, digging, and experimenting, I've figured it out.
Here's the original method I was using. It's very sloppy as I was simply trying to get something working.
And here's the corrected method. For some reference, the above method took nearly a minute to fully execute, the new one only takes about 3 seconds.
Also, to get the above working, the following classes were necessary.
I stumbled across a free API online that delivers all the information I need in JSON format. Currently, I'm using JSON.net to attempt to parse the information, but since I've never worked with JSON, I'm somewhat lost. My current method is sloppy and ugly, and I'm sure there is another method to do what I need. All I need to do is essentially get every single vehicle then enter it into a database for later usage. The raw JSON data I'm using can be located here - http://pastebin.com/av1nx9JE
My current method is essentially a very complicated loop using JSON.net to read each object and if they match a set of constraints, then it adds it to a variable, once it reaches the end of a specific path, it enters that into the database. It's very ugly and slow.
JSON.net allows for deserialization, but I'm unsure of how to use this. Any information would be extremely helpful.
EDIT -----
Hey guys, after some more tinkering, digging, and experimenting, I've figured it out.
Here's the original method I was using. It's very sloppy as I was simply trying to get something working.
Code:
Dim idA As Integer = 0, idB As Integer = 0, idC As Integer = 0
Dim storeVal As Boolean = False, endPath As Boolean
Dim makeName As String, makeID As String, makeNiceName As String, modelID As String, modelName As String, modelNiceName As String, yearID As String, year As String
Dim reader As New JsonTextReader(New StringReader(TextBox2.Text))
While reader.Read()
If (reader.Value <> vbNullString) Then
If reader.TokenType.ToString = "PropertyName" Then
storeVal = True
Else
If storeVal = True Then
If reader.Path = "makes[" & idA & "].name" Then
makeName = reader.Value
ElseIf reader.Path = "makes[" & idA & "].id" Then
makeID = reader.Value
idB = 0
idC = 0
ElseIf reader.Path = "makes[" & idA & "].niceName" Then
makeNiceName = reader.Value
idB = 0
idC = 0
ElseIf reader.Path = "makes[" & idA & "].models[" & idB & "].id" Then
modelID = reader.Value
idC = 0
ElseIf reader.Path = "makes[" & idA & "].models[" & idB & "].name" Then
modelName = reader.Value
idC = 0
ElseIf reader.Path = "makes[" & idA & "].models[" & idB & "].niceName" Then
modelNiceName = reader.Value
idC = 0
ElseIf reader.Path = "makes[" & idA & "].models[" & idB & "].years[" & idC & "].id" Then
yearID = reader.Value
ElseIf reader.Path = "makes[" & idA & "].models[" & idB & "].years[" & idC & "].year" Then
year = reader.Value
idC += 1
endPath = True
ListView1.Items.Add(makeName)
ListView1.Items(ListView1.Items.Count - 1).SubItems.Add(modelName)
ListView1.Items(ListView1.Items.Count - 1).SubItems.Add(year)
ElseIf reader.Path = "makes[" & (idA + 1) & "].id" Then
idA += 1
idB = 0
idC = 0
ElseIf reader.Path = "makes[" & idA & "].models[" & (idB + 1) & "].id" Then
idB += 1
End If
End If
End If
End If
End WhileAnd here's the corrected method. For some reference, the above method took nearly a minute to fully execute, the new one only takes about 3 seconds.
Code:
Dim des As RootObject = JsonConvert.DeserializeObject(Of RootObject)(TextBox2.Text)
For i = 0 To des.makesCount - 1
For x = 0 To des.makes(i).models.Count - 1
For y = 0 To des.makes(i).models(x).years.Count - 1
ListView1.Items.Add(des.makes(i).name)
ListView1.Items(ListView1.Items.Count - 1).SubItems.Add(des.makes(i).models(x).name)
ListView1.Items(ListView1.Items.Count - 1).SubItems.Add(des.makes(i).models(x).years(y).year)
ListView1.EnsureVisible(ListView1.Items.Count - 1)
Next
Next
NextCode:
Public Class Year
Public Property id() As Integer
Get
Return m_id
End Get
Set(value As Integer)
m_id = value
End Set
End Property
Private m_id As Integer
Public Property year() As Integer
Get
Return m_year
End Get
Set(value As Integer)
m_year = value
End Set
End Property
Private m_year As Integer
End Class
Public Class Model
Public Property id() As String
Get
Return m_id
End Get
Set(value As String)
m_id = value
End Set
End Property
Private m_id As String
Public Property name() As String
Get
Return m_name
End Get
Set(value As String)
m_name = value
End Set
End Property
Private m_name As String
Public Property niceName() As String
Get
Return m_niceName
End Get
Set(value As String)
m_niceName = value
End Set
End Property
Private m_niceName As String
Public Property years() As List(Of Year)
Get
Return m_years
End Get
Set(value As List(Of Year))
m_years = value
End Set
End Property
Private m_years As List(Of Year)
End Class
Public Class Make
Public Property id() As Integer
Get
Return m_id
End Get
Set(value As Integer)
m_id = value
End Set
End Property
Private m_id As Integer
Public Property name() As String
Get
Return m_name
End Get
Set(value As String)
m_name = value
End Set
End Property
Private m_name As String
Public Property niceName() As String
Get
Return m_niceName
End Get
Set(value As String)
m_niceName = value
End Set
End Property
Private m_niceName As String
Public Property models() As List(Of Model)
Get
Return m_models
End Get
Set(value As List(Of Model))
m_models = value
End Set
End Property
Private m_models As List(Of Model)
End Class
Public Class RootObject
Public Property makes() As List(Of Make)
Get
Return m_makes
End Get
Set(value As List(Of Make))
m_makes = value
End Set
End Property
Private m_makes As List(Of Make)
Public Property makesCount() As Integer
Get
Return m_makesCount
End Get
Set(value As Integer)
m_makesCount = value
End Set
End Property
Private m_makesCount As Integer
End Class