Objectmapper: Array or Object based on Data

[maasim94]

I'm trying to achieve something generic to parse my JSON response so far i'm able to get them this close

What you did:

class ParentJson<T: Mappable> : Mappable {

var StatusCode: Int?
var Message: String?
var dataArray: [T]?
var dataObject: T?
required init?(map: Map) {

}
func mapping(map: Map) {
    StatusCode <- map["StatusCode"]
    Message <- map["Message"]
    dataArray <- map["Data"]
    dataObject <- map["Data"]
}
}

class DataJson: Mappable {

var OffsiteReportID: Int?
var InspectionActivityID: Int?
var OffsiteReportAddedByID: Int?
var OffsiteReportDisplayID: String?
var OffsiteReportDate: String?
var OffsiteReportDescription: String?
var OffsiteReportDetails: String?

required init?(map: Map) {

}
func mapping(map: Map) {
    OffsiteReportID <- map["OffsiteReportID"]
    InspectionActivityID <- map["InspectionActivityID"]
    OffsiteReportAddedByID <- map["OffsiteReportAddedByID"]
    OffsiteReportDisplayID <- map["OffsiteReportDisplayID"]
    OffsiteReportDate <- map["OffsiteReportDate"]
    OffsiteReportDescription <- map["OffsiteReportDescription"]
    OffsiteReportDetails <- map["OffsiteReportDetails"]
}
}

JSON under "Data" could be Object or an Array. Basic issue is I don't want to use dataArray & dataObject only to leave on variable nil and check which one is nil and use other one I want to have only one variable which return Object or array of objects based on data, I have idea about "Mapping Context" but i'm not sure if that could help me

[viral-etymon]

I am facing similar issue. where T can be object or array. While I am trying to pass array of any class then it is giving error

Type '[MyItem]' does not conform to protocol 'Mappable'

class MyResponse<T: Mappable>: Mappable {
    var status:Bool = false
    var message:String = ""
    var data:T?

    required init?(map: Map) {

    }

    func mapping(map:Map) {
        status <- map["status"]
        message <- map["message"]
        data <- map["data"]
    }
}

Working code for single object MyResponse<MyDetail>

Not working for array MyResponse<[MyItem]>

[bdrelling]

Months and months later I still am not entirely sure how ObjectMapper intends for Mappable items to be used in generics like this. For nearly a year now I've had code similar to the above, just with alternate versions like MyResponseList<T: Mappable>: Mappable which has var data: [T]? when I need it, but I really hate doing this.

[maasim94]

@viral-etymon i think [MyItem] , becomes Array of My item and array don't confirm to Mappable, MyItem does, but there must be some way to get either object or array of objects
@bdrelling I'm using same thing but i feel it's redundant, let's hope something better comes out of our discussion here

[tristanhimmelman]

This is an area where there is room for improvement in ObjectMapper. My current approach is to use two different models based on the response type (which I agree is not ideal). If we could have [T: Mappable] conform to Mappable it would solve the issue. If anybody wants to try to tackle adding this functionality I'm sure many people would be happy.

[chrisdhaan]

@tristanhimmelman would this be something that a custom transform class could solve? I'm currently looking for the same desired functionality and trying to figure out how best to solve it besides just having two different model properties.

[chrisdhaan]

@tristanhimmelman more specifically. opposed to trying to differentiate between an array or object; could I just map the type [NSObject] and use a transform to wrap a response of type object inside of an array? That way an array is always returned with the model?