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JSON-XML - XML Representation of JSON

JSON XML is an SAP-specific representation of JSON data in XML format. The single values, arrays, and objects in JSON are represented as followed in XML.

Other versions: 7.31 | 7.40 | 7.54

Single Values

Character-like values

"..." → <str>...</str>

Number values

... → <num>...</num>

Boolean values

true → <bool>true</bool>
false → <bool>false</bool>

Null values

null → <null />

Data Structures

Arrays

[...] → <array>...</array>

The components of arrays, separated by commas, are mapped as subelements of the element <array>, but the type-specific mapping rule applies to each element.


Note

Since the components of an array do not have names, the elements of an array in JSON-XML cannot have the corresponding attributes (unlike the case with objects).

Objects

{...} → <object>...</object>

The components of objects, separated by commas, are mapped as subelements of the element <object>. There are two representation methods:

  • "n":... → <... name="n">...</...>
  • "n":... → <member name="n"><...>...</...></member>

In the shorter method, used by default, a component is mapped like an element of an array, with the name n added to the type-specific XML element of the component as the content of the attribute name.

In the second longer method, the type-specific XML element of a component is nested in an additional element <member>, which then has the attribute name with the name of the component.


Notes

  • In the longer alternative for object components, each component in JSON-XML is identified clearly by a <member> element. This can make it easier to distinguish objects of arrays if only partial fragments of JSON data are being edited.

  • The longer alternative for object components with <member> elements can be a better option for simple transformations, when ABAP data is serialized to JSON or deserialized from JSON.

  • A JSON writer that renders JSON-XML to JSON accepts both alternatives for object components. A JSON reader that parses JSON data to JSON-XML creates the shorter variant by default. To create the longer variant with <member> elements, the method SET_OPTION of the interface IF_SXML_READER can be used to set the option IF_SXML_READER=>CO_OPT_SEP_MEMBER.

Executable Examples

  • The program DEMO_JSON_XML shows examples of the default JSON-XML representation of valid JSON data.

  • The program DEMO_JSON_TO_JSON_XML allows any valid JSON data to be entered and displays its JSON-XML representation.

  • For information about the rendering and parsing of JSON-XML representations in both alternatives for object components, see Object Components in JSON-XML.