Replace default JSON serializer in WCF 4 to JSON.NET

Question

I want to replace the default WCF JSON (for all data types) serialization with JSON.NET. I've searched all over the net and couldn't find a working solution. This is my object: ``` [JsonObject] public class TestObject { [JsonProperty("JsonNetName")] public string Name = "John"; [JsonProperty] public DateTime Date = DateTime.Now; } ``` This is my WCF function: ``` [OperationContract] [WebGet(BodyStyle = WebMessageBodyStyle.Bare, ResponseFormat = WebMessageFormat.Json)] List<TestObject> Get(); ``` This is the code in Global.asax: ``` protected void Application_Start(object sender, EventArgs e) { // Create Json.Net formatter serializing DateTime using the ISO 8601 format var serializerSettings = new JsonSerializerSettings(); serializerSettings.Converters.Add(new IsoDateTimeConverter()); serializerSettings.Converters.Add(new BinaryConverter()); serializerSettings.Converters.Add(new JavaScriptDateTimeConverter()); serializerSettings.Converters.Add(new BinaryConverter()); serializerSettings…

Accepted Answer

Anyway, I figured out a way to use a different serializer, manually, seems its more efficient and faster because it doesn't pass through Microsoft's serializer, although code wise it's a bit messier.

Set all return types as "System.ServiceModel.Channels.Message" in your Interfaces and classes implementing them.

```
[OperationContract]
[WebGet(BodyStyle = WebMessageBodyStyle.Bare, ResponseFormat = WebMessageFormat.Json)]
System.ServiceModel.Channels.Message GetData(); 
```

Create an extension method so you could easily build a memory stream out of an object, using the JSON.NET serializer (or whichever you want to use).

```
public static System.ServiceModel.Channels.Message GetJsonStream(this object obj)
{
    //Serialize JSON.NET
    string jsonSerialized = JsonConvert.SerializeObject(obj);

//Create memory stream
    MemoryStream memoryStream = new MemoryStream(new UTF8Encoding().GetBytes(jsonSerialized));

//Set position to 0
    memoryStream.Position = 0;

//return Message
    return WebOperationContext.Current.CreateStreamResponse(memoryStream, "application/json");
}
```

In the method's body, return the object serialized directly to the stream

```
return yourObject.GetJsonStream();
```

Replace default JSON serializer in WCF 4 to JSON.NET

Solution

Problem