json_decode returns null

Hi Max/Bob,

1. I followed http://www.chronoengine.com/faqs/70-cfv5/5251-how-can-i-build-a-product-list.html to create a json coded string and saved it to text field (namely items) of a table:

[{"buyerItem":"9","categoryID":"6","menuItem":"533","itemName":"Audi A6"},{"buyerItem":"11","categoryID":"7","menuItem":"533","itemName":"Mercedes CLS"}]

It is a valid json validated through http://jsonlint.com/

[
    {
        "buyerItem": "9",
        "categoryID": "6",
        "menuItem": "533",
        "itemName": "Audi A6"
    },
    {
        "buyerItem": "11",
        "categoryID": "7",
        "menuItem": "533",
        "itemName": "Mercedes CLS"
    }
]

2. Then I followed http://www.chronoengine.com/faqs/72-ccv5/5207-view-and-edit-actions.html to create a display list of the item s through chronoconnectivity as follows:

Offer ID Buyer User ID Cash Supplement Buyer Remarks Date Submitted Offer Status
48 730 200.00 remarks 2015-06-16 23:49:12 Open

Offer id is the primary key and is set view linkable. Upon click, the content of the items field is to be shown on a new page.

Per the How-To guide, value of the database field is displayed by {items}.

However, I need to do json_decode so I can restore the item list.

On Front List - Actions, I did the following:

<?php
$json="{swapOffers.buyer_items}";
echo $json;
$restore = json_decode($json, false);
var_dump($restore);
?>

The result is:

[{"buyerItem":"9","categoryID":"6","menuItem":"533","itemName":"Audi A6"},{"buyerItem":"11","categoryID":"7","menuItem":"533","itemName":"Mercedes CLS"}]

NULL

3. I changed the parm to a "true" and followed some google search suggestion but still always get a null.

Would you please advise what I have missed at your earliest convenience?

Thanks,
kwok

Hi Max/Bob,

I have tried several other ways based on some google search result but still receiving null.

I hope you can find time to shed some light on this as soon as possible. Help!

Thanks,
kwok

Hi kwok,

I would suggest that you link to a separate form to display the items list. If you pass the ID to the form you can read the record back there and use a custom code action to decode the string.

Bob

Hi Bob/Max,

Just out of curiosity, how come CC executes json_decode on a json validated data like this one:

[{"buyerItem":"9","categoryID":"6","menuItem":"533","itemName":"Audi A6"},{"buyerItem":"11","categoryID":"7","menuItem":"533","itemName":"Mercedes CLS"}]

to give a NULL <json_last_error() = 4 means syntax error>?

Thanks,
kwok

Hi Bob/Max,

Based on your recommendation, I have the following:
1. On Front List - Actions: I set the view event to form event as BuyerItems:load.
2. Create a chronoform known as BuyerItems.
3. The CC displays the following:
Offer ID Buyer User ID Cash Supplement Buyer Remarks Date Submitted Offer Status

48 730 200.00 remarks 2015-06-16 23:49:12 Open

Offer id is the primary key and is set view linkable. Upon click, below data is passed to the CF:

Array
(
    [option] => com_chronoconnectivity5
    [cont] => lists
    [ccname] => itemDetailSwapView
    [act] => view
    [gcb] => 48
    [swapOffers] => Array
        (
            [id] => 48
            [buyer_user_id] => 730
            [buyer_user_name] => test2
            [buyer_items] => [{"buyerItem":"9","categoryID":"6","menuItem":"533","itemName":"Audi A6"},{"buyerItem":"11","categoryID":"7","menuItem":"533","itemName":"Mercedes CLS"}]
            [buyer_cash] => 200.00
            [buyer_remarks] => remarks
       ....
        )

)

What should the custom code be to convert [buyer_items] into arrays? I tried json_decode but the result is always null.

Thanks,
kwok

Hi kwok,

I checked and Json_decode works OK with that json string.

<?php
$json = '[{"buyerItem":"9","categoryID":"6","menuItem":"533","itemName":"Audi A6"},{"buyerItem":"11","categoryID":"7","menuItem":"533","itemName":"Mercedes CLS"}]';
$json = json_decode($json, true);
?>

gives this

$json: Array ( 
  [0] => Array (
    [buyerItem] => 9 
    [categoryID] => 6
    [menuItem] => 533
    [itemName] => Audi A6
  ) 
  [1] => Array (
    [buyerItem] => 11
    [categoryID] => 7
    [menuItem] => 533
    [itemName] => Mercedes CLS
  )
)

Bob

Hi Bob,

I used this: $json is empty and the $result is always NULL.

<?php
$json = $form->swapOffers['buyer_items'];
$result = json_decode($json, true);
echo $json
var_dump($result);
?>

Must be the way $json is populated not good. What should it be like?

Thanks,
Kwok

Hi kowok,

In your code it would be

$json = $form->data['swapOffers']['buyer_items'];

Bob

Hi Bob,

You're absolutely right. json_decode works when the variable is set following your rule!

Now, upon click on the gcb link on the CC form (http://www.xxx.com/index.php?option=com_chronoconnectivity5&cont=lists&ccname=itemDetailSwapView&act=view&gcb=48), list of items are displayed perfectly on the same browser tab.

Is there a way to make the list of items to be displayed on a new browser tab instead? What needs to be done on the CC form?

Thanks a lot.
kwok

Hi Kwok,

You probably don't want to open the form in a new tab. If you do then you can set a target attribute on the link either by creating it manually, or by adding it to the CC created link using JavaScript.

Bob