Is it possible to have a nested MultipartEntities or FormBodyPart in a multipart POST?

Question

I'm trying to make something the following server POST request using MultipartEntity:

parameters: {"parameter1"=>"parameter1", "parameter2"=>{"sub_parameter1"=>"sub_parameter1", "sub_parameter2"=>"sub_parameter2"}}

I am currently using something like:

multipartEntity.addPart("parameter1", new StringBody("parameter1"));

FormBodyPart parameter2 = new FormBodyPart("parameter2", new StringBody("")); // It wouldn't allow a null ContentBody

parameter2.addField("sub_parameter1", "sub_parameter1");
parameter2.addField("sub_parameter2", "sub_parameter2");

However, the sub fields do not carry though. I just get:

parameters: {"parameter1"=>"parameter1", "parameter2"=>""}

How do I create a nested structure in either the MultipartEntity or the FormBodyPart elements it contains?

Answer 1

once you've seen how the form entries are transferred over HTTP connection, you'll understand it's impossible to have anything nested with the multiform request as well as with the url-encoded request.

things are very simple. multipart form request has the format of:

--- content-boundary ---
Content-Disposition: form-data; name="form_data_name"

[content (skipped)]
--- content-boundary ---

that's it. there's stream of single data form entries in the format: [form entry name] -> [form entry content] that repeats for every entry in the form. it's not recursive, therefore there may not be any nested structures.

Sources:

1. 17.13.4 Form content types
2. RFC 2045 Internet Message Bodies

Answer 2

Consider sending a json in the body of the request. That way you can send whatever you want.

Answer 3

Something like this:

MultipartEntity reqEntity = new MultipartEntity();
reqEntity.addPart("selectedGroup", new StringBody(group));
reqEntity.addPart("selectedService", new StringBody(service.toString()));
reqEntity.addPart("selectedTransformation", new StringBody(transformation.toString()));
reqEntity.addPart("projectId", new StringBody(projectId.toString()));

Check exapmle 8 of this link. Also exapmple 23 Example Site

Hope this helps you with your problem.

Answer 4

why dont you post whole Json object instead of post each string value of Json object.

Go through this link http://hmkcode.com/android-send-json-data-to-server/