Serialize linked or ordered structure

dev
1

if I serialize a linked CFML structure the resulting output will not evaluate to a linked structure.

<cfset tmp = [:]>
<cfset tmp['linked'] = ["validate":"false","secure":"checkpoint"]>
<cfset tmp['serialized'] = serialize( tmp.linked )>
<cfset tmp['result']   = evaluate( tmp.serialized )>
<cfset tmp['fromJSON'] = deserializeJSON( tmp.serialized )>

<cfdump var="#tmp#">

Not sure why deserializeJSON() returns a linked structure but that is a workaround.

2

@apenhorwood, I made a test as per what you said. I can able to evaluate the serialized structure. Do you face any issue when evaluate the structure?

3

The problem is not with evaluating the structure but that the resulting structure is no longer a linked structure.

linked: [“validate”:“false”,“secure”:“checkpoint”]
normal: {“validate”:“false”,“secure”:“checkpoint”}

Linked structures keep their order and normal structures the order of keys are not guaranteed. In my case I need the order of keys to be deterministic. I am serializing the structure to a file and reading it back in later.

The serialize() function only produces normal structures even though the original structure was a linked structure.

Personally it sounds like a bug to me.