Can't receive JSON array being posted to me by third party - asp.net

Question

The format I am receiving is:
[{"item1": "value1","item2": "value2"},{"item1": "value2","item2": "value4"}]
The main issue seems to be that no matter what I try I receive the error "Type System.Collections.Generic.IDictionary'2 Is Not supported for deserialization of an array."
Scouring the internet only comes up with my needing to wrap the array in a top level variable (ie. the array cannot be on the root level). Unfortunately I am unable to change what and how I am receiving the data.
Here is all my code with the things I have attempted commented out:
My test ajax used to simulate what the third party will be sending to me:
Head of "test.html":
<script type="text/javascript" src="https://ajax.googleapis.com/ajax/libs/jquery/1.6.4/jquery.min.js"></script>
<SCRIPT type="text/javascript">
<!--
function testPost() {
var theData;
theData = '[{"item1": "value1","item2": "value2"},{"item1": "value2","item2": "value4"}]';
//theData = '{"item1": "value1","item2": "value2"}'; //I can make a single array element work, but that is not what I will receive
$.ajax({
type: "POST",
contentType: "application/json",
url: "test2.aspx/test_array",
data: theData,
dataType: "json",
success: function(msg) {
alert(msg);
}
});
}
//-->
</SCRIPT>
Body of "test.html"
<input type="submit" value="test Post" onClick="testPost();" /><br>
Test.aspx.vb in it's entirety:
Imports System.Collections.Generic
Imports System.Web.Script.Serialization
Partial Class test2
Inherits System.Web.UI.Page
' Public Shared Function test_array(ByVal item1 As String, ByVal item2 As String) As String ' works if I am passing a single array element
' Public Shared Function test_array(ByVal theobj As Object) As String ' "Type System.Collections.Generic.IDictionary`2 Is Not supported for deserialization of an array."
' Public Shared Function test_array(ByVal theobj As List(Of Object)) As String' "Type System.Collections.Generic.IDictionary`2 Is Not supported for deserialization of an array."
' Public Shared Function test_array(ByVal theobj As Test_Request) As String ' "Type System.Collections.Generic.IDictionary`2 Is Not supported for deserialization of an array."
' Public Shared Function test_array(ByVal theobj As List(Of Test_Request)) As String' "Type System.Collections.Generic.IDictionary`2 Is Not supported for deserialization of an array."
' Public Shared Function test_array(ByVal theobj As Dictionary(Of String, String)) As String' "Type System.Collections.Generic.IDictionary`2 Is Not supported for deserialization of an array."
<System.Web.Services.WebMethod> _
Public Shared Function test_array(ByVal d As List(Of Test_Request)) As String
Return "test"
End Function
End Class
The "Test_Request" class:
Public Class Test_Request
Property item1 As String
Get
Return m_item1
End Get
Set(value As String)
m_item1 = value
End Set
End Property
Private m_item1 As String
Property item2 As String
Get
Return m_item2
End Get
Set(value As String)
m_item2 = value
End Set
End Property
Private m_item2 As String
End Class
Please let me know if I failed to include any needed data. I have been going in circles for a few days now and before deciding to post here I attempted to recreate all my failed attempts in this test mock up. Hopefully there is simply something I am overlooking.

Answer 1

It seems to me that you are trying to deserialize an array of dictionary objects. I would do something like as follows.
On the server side:
<HttpPost>
<Route("test")>
Public Function test(data As YourArray) As String
Return "done"
End Function
-----------
Public Class YourArray
Inherits List(Of YourDictionaryObject )
End Class
Public Class YourDictionaryObject
Inherits Dictionary(Of String, String)
End Class
I just tested and I can confirm that the following does work:
function doTest() {
var theData = [];
theData.push({
item1: "value1",
item2: "value2"
});
theData.push({
item1: "value3",
item2: "value4"
});
$.ajax({
type: "POST",
contentType: "application/json",
url: "somewhere/test",
data: JSON.stringify(theData),
dataType: "json",
success: function(msg) {
alert(msg);
}
});
}
I checked and the Request Payload looks like this:
[{"item1":"value1","item2":"value2"},{"item1":"value3","item2":"value4"}]
This gets deserialized on the server side as YourArray. By the way, I am using Asp.net Web Api (not WCF where serializing/deserializing dictionaries can be tricky).

Answer 2

Your poco is wrong. Item1 and Item2 need to be string arrays
Public Class RootObject
Public Property item1() As String
Public Property item2() As String
End Class