Question: select subtype when serializing in case multiple names are present for the same type

[amseager]

Describe your Issue

Suppose I have smth like this (took it from this issue):

@JsonTypeInfo(  
    use = JsonTypeInfo.Id.NAME,  
    include = JsonTypeInfo.As.PROPERTY,  
    property = "animalType",
    visible = true)  
@JsonSubTypes({  
    @Type(value = Mammal.class, name = "ZEBRA"),  
    @Type(value = Mammal.class, name = "SHEEP"),  
    @Type(value = Bird.class, name = "PARROT"),
        @Type(value = Bird.class, name = "OWL")})
public class Animal{

Suppose that it also wrapped in some other object:

public class AnimalWrapper {
    public Animal animal;
}

Now you want to convert it to e.g. HashMap<String, Object>:

Map<String, Object> result = objectMapper.convertValue(animalWrapperObject, new TypeReference<>() {
            });

As I understood, in case of "Mammal" object, the very first name ("ZEBRA") will be selected as a key (string).

The question is about configuring jackson somehow to be able to select other values ("SHEEP" etc.). Maybe some settings are already exist for it?

[cowtowncoder]

Currently this should fail on attempt to serialize, due to ambiguity, I think.
If not that should be the first name.
And no, there is no way to change the behavior, whichever it is.

One thing that might work is to use explicit @JsonTypeName on Mammal: since it only takes one value, that should be the primary name to use.

[amseager]

@cowtowncoder thank you for the response.
In my case, this is a generated class, I can't change it, that's why I was thinking about some workarounds with jackson. Will try to do smth else with it then.
I'm closing this issue.

[JooHyukKim]

@amseager Probably you know this, but sharing it just in case.

If you manage to modify the code/class generation behavior, plz take note that there is property @JsonSubTypes.Type.names of type String[] used like below. That way you don't need to duplicate class.

@JsonSubTypes({
            @JsonSubTypes.Type(value = Mammal.class, name = "ZEBRA", names = {"SHEEP", "HORSE"}),
            @JsonSubTypes.Type(value = Fish.class)
    })

[cowtowncoder]

@amseager Another thing that might help is use of "mix-in annotations" which do allow you to associate any annotations with classes you cannot modify.