Convert non-json-serializable properties to strings

changelog.md

@@ -13,6 +13,7 @@
 ## Improvements
 
 * Allow for `Node` and `Relationship` inputs to be given as `camelCase` and `SCREAMING_SNAKE_CASE` (in addition to `snake_case`).
+* Convert non-json serializable properties to strings in the `render` method, instead of raising an error.
 
 
 ## Other changes

python-wrapper/src/neo4j_viz/nvl.py

@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@
 import json
 import uuid
 from importlib.resources import files
+from typing import Union
 
 from IPython.display import HTML
 
@@ -40,10 +41,28 @@ def __init__(self) -> None:
         with screenshot_path.open("r", encoding="utf-8") as file:
             self.screenshot_svg = file.read()
 
-    def unsupported_field_type_error(self, e: TypeError, entity: str) -> Exception:
-        if "not JSON serializable" in str(e):
-            return ValueError(f"A field of a {entity} object is not supported: {str(e)}")
-        return e
+    @staticmethod
+    def _serialize_entity(entity: Union[Node, Relationship]) -> str:
+        try:
+            entity_dict = entity.to_dict()
+            return json.dumps(entity_dict)
+        except TypeError:
+            props_as_strings = {}
+            for k, v in entity_dict["properties"].items():
+                try:
+                    json.dumps(v)
+                except TypeError:
+                    props_as_strings[k] = str(v)
+            entity_dict["properties"].update(props_as_strings)
+
+            try:
+                return json.dumps(entity_dict)
+            except TypeError as e:
+                # This should never happen anymore, but just in case
+                if "not JSON serializable" in str(e):
+                    raise ValueError(f"A field of a {type(entity).__name__} object is not supported: {str(e)}")
+                else:
+                    raise e
 
     def render(
         self,
@@ -54,14 +73,8 @@ def render(
         height: str,
         show_hover_tooltip: bool,
     ) -> HTML:
-        try:
-            nodes_json = json.dumps([node.to_dict() for node in nodes])
-        except TypeError as e:
-            raise self.unsupported_field_type_error(e, "node")
-        try:
-            rels_json = json.dumps([rel.to_dict() for rel in relationships])
-        except TypeError as e:
-            raise self.unsupported_field_type_error(e, "relationship")
+        nodes_json = f"[{','.join([self._serialize_entity(node) for node in nodes])}]"
+        rels_json = f"[{','.join([self._serialize_entity(rel) for rel in relationships])}]"
 
         render_options_json = json.dumps(render_options.to_dict())
         container_id = str(uuid.uuid4())

python-wrapper/tests/test_render.py

@@ -6,6 +6,7 @@
 from selenium import webdriver
 
 from neo4j_viz import Node, Relationship, VisualizationGraph
+from neo4j_viz.nvl import NVL
 from neo4j_viz.options import Layout, Renderer
 
 render_cases = {
@@ -64,34 +65,6 @@ def test_basic_render(render_option: dict[str, Any], tmp_path: Path) -> None:
     assert not severe_logs, f"Severe logs found: {severe_logs}, all logs: {logs}"
 
 
-def test_unsupported_field_type() -> None:
-    with pytest.raises(
-        ValueError, match="A field of a node object is not supported: Object of type set is not JSON serializable"
-    ):
-        nodes = [
-            Node(
-                id="4:d09f48a4-5fca-421d-921d-a30a896c604d:0", caption="Person", properties={"unsupported": {1, 2, 3}}
-            ),
-        ]
-        VG = VisualizationGraph(nodes=nodes, relationships=[])
-        VG.render()
-
-    with pytest.raises(
-        ValueError,
-        match="A field of a relationship object is not supported: Object of type set is not JSON serializable",
-    ):
-        relationships = [
-            Relationship(
-                source="4:d09f48a4-5fca-421d-921d-a30a896c604d:0",
-                target="4:d09f48a4-5fca-421d-921d-a30a896c604d:6",
-                caption="BUYS",
-                properties={"unsupported": {1, 2, 3}},
-            ),
-        ]
-        VG = VisualizationGraph(nodes=[], relationships=relationships)
-        VG.render()
-
-
 def test_max_allowed_nodes_limit() -> None:
     nodes = [Node(id=i) for i in range(10_001)]
     VG = VisualizationGraph(nodes=nodes, relationships=[])
@@ -121,3 +94,20 @@ def test_render_warnings() -> None:
         "relationships. If you need these features, use the canvas renderer by setting the `renderer` parameter",
     ):
         VG.render(max_allowed_nodes=20_000, renderer=Renderer.WEB_GL)
+
+
+def test_render_non_json_serializable() -> None:
+    import datetime
+
+    now = datetime.datetime.now()
+    node = Node(
+        id=0,
+        properties={
+            "non-json-serializable": now,
+        },
+    )
+    assert str(now) in NVL._serialize_entity(node)
+
+    VG = VisualizationGraph(nodes=[node], relationships=[])
+    # Should not raise an error
+    VG.render()