JSON deserialization with enum types

Question

I'm trying to deserialize my json items from a file using UnityEngine.JsonUtility. It works fine but my enum types are not getting properly converted. I tried using the EnumMember attribute but still had no luck.

How can I fix that ?

Note

I'm using this solution to read multiple files and store them in array.

[Serializable]
public class EquipementItem
{
    public enum ItemTypes
    {
        None,
        Armor,
        Weapon
    }

    public enum SlotTypes
    {
        Head,
        Shoulders,
        Chest,
        Bracers,
        Gloves,
        Waist,
        Legs,
        Boots,
        Weapon
    }

    public int ID;
    public string Name;

    public ItemTypes ItemType;
    public SlotTypes SlotType;
}

And the json file

{
"Items": [
{
  "ID": "1",
  "Name": "Basic Sword",
  "ItemType": "Weapon",
  "SlotType": "Weapon"
},
{
  "ID": "2",
  "Name": "Advanced Sword",
  "ItemType": "Weapon",
  "SlotType": "Weapon"
},
{
  "ID": "3",
  "Name": "Leather Chest",
  "ItemType": "Armor",
  "SlotType": "Chest"
}
]}

This is the class where I load the json file:

public class Items : MonoBehaviour
{
    public static EquipementItem[] EquipableItems;

    private void Awake()
    {
        string jsonFile = File.ReadAllText(Application.dataPath + "/Scripts/Databases/EquipableItemsDB.json");
        EquipableItems = JsonHelper.FromJson<EquipementItem>(jsonFile);
    }
}

Answer 1

Your JSON properties are all strings and so they can only be deserialized to a String, while Enum values are actually integers.

You should be able to change your JSON to the following and it'll deserialize just fine

{
    "Items": [
    {
      "ID": "1",
      "Name": "Basic Sword",
      "ItemType": 2,
      "SlotType": 8
    },
    {
      "ID": "2",
      "Name": "Advanced Sword",
      "ItemType": 2,
      "SlotType": 8
    },
    {
      "ID": "3",
      "Name": "Leather Chest",
      "ItemType": 1,
      "SlotType": 2
    }
]}

Update

At the time of writing this it had slipped my mind that StringEnumConverter existed. If you would like to retain readable names in your JSON model

[Serializable]
public class EquipementItem
{
    public enum ItemTypes
    {
        None,
        Armor,
        Weapon
    }

    public enum SlotTypes
    {
        Head,
        Shoulders,
        Chest,
        Bracers,
        Gloves,
        Waist,
        Legs,
        Boots,
        Weapon
    }

    public int ID { get; set; }

    public string Name { get; set; }

    [JsonConverter(typeof(StringEnumConverter))]
    public ItemTypes ItemType { get; set; }

    [JsonConverter(typeof(StringEnumConverter))]
    public SlotTypes SlotType { get; set; }
}