#318 - JSON - toBean error at Transient (with support for #327, #328, #329)

src/main/java/com/avaje/ebean/text/json/JsonReadOptions.java

@@ -15,6 +15,8 @@ public class JsonReadOptions {
 
   protected Map<String, JsonReadBeanVisitor<?>> visitorMap;
 
+  protected Object objectMapper;
+
   /**
    * Default constructor.
    */
@@ -44,4 +46,17 @@ public class JsonReadOptions {
     return this;
   }
 
+  /**
+   * Return the Jackson ObjectMapper to use (if not wanted to use the objectMapper set on the ServerConfig).
+   */
+  public Object getObjectMapper() {
+    return objectMapper;
+  }
+
+  /**
+   * Set the Jackson ObjectMapper to use (if not wanted to use the objectMapper set on the ServerConfig).
+   */
+  public void setObjectMapper(Object objectMapper) {
+    this.objectMapper = objectMapper;
+  }
 }

src/main/java/com/avaje/ebeaninternal/api/ClassUtil.java

@@ -49,6 +49,21 @@ public class ClassUtil {
         return classLoader;
     }
 
+  /**
+   * Return true if Jackson annotations like JsonIgnore are present.
+   */
+  public static boolean isJacksonAnnotationsPresent() {
+    return isPresent("com.fasterxml.jackson.annotation.JsonIgnore", null);
+  }
+
+  /**
+   * Return true if Jackson ObjectMapper is present.
+   */
+  public static boolean isJacksonObjectMapperPresent() {
+    return isPresent("com.fasterxml.jackson.databind.ObjectMapper", null);
+  }
+
+
     /**
      * Return true if the given class is present.
      */

src/main/java/com/avaje/ebeaninternal/server/deploy/BeanProperty.java

@@ -22,6 +22,8 @@ import com.avaje.ebeaninternal.server.text.json.WriteJson;
 import com.avaje.ebeaninternal.server.type.DataBind;
 import com.avaje.ebeaninternal.server.type.ScalarType;
 import com.fasterxml.jackson.core.JsonToken;
+import org.slf4j.Logger;
+import org.slf4j.LoggerFactory;
 
 import javax.persistence.PersistenceException;
 import java.io.DataInput;
@@ -39,6 +41,8 @@ import java.util.Map;
  */
 public class BeanProperty implements ElPropertyValue {
 
+  private static final Logger logger = LoggerFactory.getLogger(BeanProperty.class);
+
   /**
    * Flag to mark this at part of the unique id.
    */
@@ -299,8 +303,8 @@ public class BeanProperty implements ElPropertyValue {
     this.elPlaceHolder = tableAliasIntern(descriptor, deploy.getElPlaceHolder(et), false, null);
     this.elPlaceHolderEncrypted = tableAliasIntern(descriptor, deploy.getElPlaceHolder(et), dbEncrypted, dbColumn);
 
-    this.jsonSerialize = deploy.isExposeSerialize();
-    this.jsonDeserialize = deploy.isExposeDeserialize();
+    this.jsonSerialize = deploy.isJsonSerialize();
+    this.jsonDeserialize = deploy.isJsonDeserialize();
   }
 
   private String tableAliasIntern(BeanDescriptor<?> descriptor, String s, boolean dbEncrypted, String dbColumn) {
@@ -1072,22 +1076,40 @@ public class BeanProperty implements ElPropertyValue {
     if (value == null) {
       writeJson.writeNull(name);
     } else {
-      scalarType.jsonWrite(writeJson.gen(), name, value);
+      if (scalarType != null) {
+        scalarType.jsonWrite(writeJson.gen(), name, value);
+      } else {
+        writeJson.writeValueUsingObjectMapper(name, value);
+      }
     }
   }
 
   public void jsonRead(ReadJson ctx, EntityBean bean) throws IOException {
-    if (!jsonDeserialize) {
-      return;
-    }
 
     JsonToken event = ctx.nextToken();
     if (JsonToken.VALUE_NULL == event) {
-      setValue(bean, null);
+      if (jsonDeserialize) {
+        setValue(bean, null);
+      }
     } else {
       // expect to read non-null json value
-      Object objValue = scalarType.jsonRead(ctx.getParser(), event);
-      setValue(bean, objValue);
+      Object objValue;
+      if (scalarType != null) {
+        objValue = scalarType.jsonRead(ctx.getParser(), event);
+      } else {
+        try {
+          objValue = ctx.readValueUsingObjectMapper(propertyType);
+        } catch (IOException e) {
+          // change in behavior for #318
+          objValue = null;
+          String msg = "Error trying to use Jackson ObjectMapper to read transient property "
+              + getFullBeanName() +" - consider marking this property with @JsonIgnore";
+          logger.error(msg, e);
+        }
+      }
+      if (jsonDeserialize) {
+        setValue(bean, objValue);
+      }
     }
   }
 }

src/main/java/com/avaje/ebeaninternal/server/deploy/BeanPropertyAssocMany.java

@@ -873,7 +873,11 @@ public class BeanPropertyAssocMany<T> extends BeanPropertyAssoc<T> {
       if (help != null) {
         help.jsonWrite(ctx, name, value, include != null);
       } else {
-        ctx.toJson(name, (Collection<?>) value);
+        if (isTransient) {
+          ctx.writeValueUsingObjectMapper(name, value);
+        } else {
+          ctx.toJson(name, (Collection<?>) value);
+        }
       }
       ctx.popParentBeanMany();
     }

src/main/java/com/avaje/ebeaninternal/server/deploy/BeanPropertyAssocManyJsonHelp.java

@@ -1,23 +1,42 @@
 package com.avaje.ebeaninternal.server.deploy;
 
-import java.io.IOException;
-
 import com.avaje.ebean.bean.BeanCollection;
 import com.avaje.ebean.bean.BeanCollectionAdd;
 import com.avaje.ebean.bean.EntityBean;
+import com.avaje.ebeaninternal.api.ClassUtil;
 import com.avaje.ebeaninternal.server.text.json.ReadJson;
 import com.fasterxml.jackson.core.JsonParseException;
 import com.fasterxml.jackson.core.JsonParser;
 import com.fasterxml.jackson.core.JsonToken;
 
+import java.io.IOException;
+
+/**
+ * Help BeanPropertyAssocMany with JSON processing.
+ */
 public class BeanPropertyAssocManyJsonHelp {
 
+  /**
+   * The associated many property.
+   */
   private final BeanPropertyAssocMany<?> many;
 
+  /**
+   * Helper used to read json for transient 'many' properties.
+   */
+  private final BeanPropertyAssocManyJsonTransient jsonTransient;
+
+  /**
+   * Construct for the owning many property.
+   */
   public BeanPropertyAssocManyJsonHelp(BeanPropertyAssocMany<?> many) {
     this.many = many;
+    this.jsonTransient = !ClassUtil.isJacksonObjectMapperPresent() ? null : new BeanPropertyAssocManyJsonTransient();
   }
 
+  /**
+   * Read the JSON for this property.
+   */
   public void jsonRead(ReadJson readJson, EntityBean parentBean) throws IOException {
     
     if (!this.many.jsonDeserialize) {
@@ -33,6 +52,11 @@ public class BeanPropertyAssocManyJsonHelp {
       throw new JsonParseException("Unexpected token " + event + " - expecting start_array ", parser.getCurrentLocation());
     }
 
+    if (many.isTransient()) {
+      jsonReadTransientUsingObjectMapper(readJson, parentBean);
+      return;
+    }
+
     BeanCollection<?> collection = many.createEmpty(parentBean);
     BeanCollectionAdd add = many.getBeanCollectionAdd(collection, null);
     do {
@@ -51,4 +75,15 @@ public class BeanPropertyAssocManyJsonHelp {
 
     many.setValue(parentBean, collection);
   }
+
+  /**
+   * Read a Transient property using Jackson ObjectMapper.
+   */
+  private void jsonReadTransientUsingObjectMapper(ReadJson readJson, EntityBean parentBean) throws IOException {
+
+    if (jsonTransient == null) {
+      throw new IllegalStateException("Jackson ObjectMapper is required to read this Transient property "+many.getFullBeanName());
+    }
+    jsonTransient.jsonReadUsingObjectMapper(many, readJson, parentBean);
+  }
 }

src/main/java/com/avaje/ebeaninternal/server/deploy/BeanPropertyAssocManyJsonTransient.java

@@ -0,0 +1,44 @@
+package com.avaje.ebeaninternal.server.deploy;
+
+import com.avaje.ebean.bean.EntityBean;
+import com.avaje.ebeaninternal.server.text.json.ReadJson;
+import com.fasterxml.jackson.databind.JavaType;
+import com.fasterxml.jackson.databind.ObjectMapper;
+import com.fasterxml.jackson.databind.type.CollectionType;
+import com.fasterxml.jackson.databind.type.MapType;
+import com.fasterxml.jackson.databind.type.TypeFactory;
+
+import java.io.IOException;
+import java.util.LinkedHashMap;
+
+/**
+ * Helper used to read transient many properties using Jackson ObjectMapper.
+ */
+public class BeanPropertyAssocManyJsonTransient {
+
+  /**
+   * Use Jackson ObjectMapper to read the transient 'many' property.
+   */
+  public void jsonReadUsingObjectMapper(BeanPropertyAssocMany<?> many, ReadJson readJson, EntityBean parentBean) throws IOException {
+
+    ObjectMapper mapper = readJson.getObjectMapper();
+
+    ManyType manyType = many.getManyType();
+
+    Object value;
+    if (manyType.isMap()) {
+      // read map using Jackson object mapper with unknown key type
+      TypeFactory typeFactory = mapper.getTypeFactory();
+      JavaType target = typeFactory.constructType(many.getTargetType());
+      MapType jacksonType = typeFactory.constructMapType(LinkedHashMap.class, typeFactory.unknownType(), target);
+      value = mapper.readValue(readJson.getParser(), jacksonType);
+
+    } else {
+      // read list or set using Jackson object mapper
+      CollectionType jacksonType = mapper.getTypeFactory().constructCollectionType(manyType.getCollectionType(), many.getTargetType());
+      value = mapper.readValue(readJson.getParser(), jacksonType);
+    }
+
+    many.setValue(parentBean, value);
+  }
+}

src/main/java/com/avaje/ebeaninternal/server/deploy/ManyType.java

@@ -2,58 +2,76 @@ package com.avaje.ebeaninternal.server.deploy;
 
 import com.avaje.ebeaninternal.api.SpiQuery;
 
+import java.util.Collection;
+import java.util.List;
+import java.util.Set;
+
 /**
  * Represents the type of a OneToMany or ManyToMany property.
  */
 public class ManyType {
 
-    public static final ManyType JAVA_LIST = new ManyType(Underlying.LIST);
-    public static final ManyType JAVA_SET = new ManyType(Underlying.SET);
-    public static final ManyType JAVA_MAP = new ManyType(Underlying.MAP);
-    
-    public enum Underlying {
-        LIST,
-        SET,
-        MAP
-    }
-    
-    private final SpiQuery.Type queryType;
-    
-    private final Underlying underlying;
-    
+  public static final ManyType JAVA_LIST = new ManyType(Underlying.LIST);
+  public static final ManyType JAVA_SET = new ManyType(Underlying.SET);
+  public static final ManyType JAVA_MAP = new ManyType(Underlying.MAP);
 
-    public ManyType(Underlying underlying) {
-        this.underlying = underlying;
-        switch (underlying) {
-        case LIST:
-            queryType = SpiQuery.Type.LIST;
-            break;
-        case SET:
-            queryType = SpiQuery.Type.SET;
-            break;
+  public enum Underlying {
 
-        default:
-            queryType = SpiQuery.Type.MAP;
-            break;
-        }        
-    }
+    LIST(List.class),
+    SET(Set.class),
+    MAP(null);
 
-    public boolean isMap() {
-    	return Underlying.MAP.equals(underlying);
+    Class<? extends Collection> type;
+
+    Underlying(Class<? extends Collection> type) {
+      this.type = type;
     }
-    
-    /**
-     * Return the matching Query type.
-     */
-    public SpiQuery.Type getQueryType() {
-        return queryType;
+  }
+
+  private final SpiQuery.Type queryType;
+
+  private final Underlying underlying;
+
+
+  public ManyType(Underlying underlying) {
+    this.underlying = underlying;
+    switch (underlying) {
+      case LIST:
+        queryType = SpiQuery.Type.LIST;
+        break;
+      case SET:
+        queryType = SpiQuery.Type.SET;
+        break;
+
+      default:
+        queryType = SpiQuery.Type.MAP;
+        break;
     }
-    
-    /**
-     * Return the underlying type.
-     */
-    public Underlying getUnderlying() {
-        return underlying;
-    }
-    
+  }
+
+  public boolean isMap() {
+    return Underlying.MAP.equals(underlying);
+  }
+
+  /**
+   * Return the matching Query type.
+   */
+  public SpiQuery.Type getQueryType() {
+    return queryType;
+  }
+
+  /**
+   * Return the underlying type.
+   */
+  public Underlying getUnderlying() {
+    return underlying;
+  }
+
+  /**
+   * Returns List.class or Set.class and null for Map.
+   * Not intended to be called for maps.
+   */
+  public Class<? extends Collection> getCollectionType() {
+    return underlying.type;
+  }
 }

src/main/java/com/avaje/ebeaninternal/server/deploy/meta/DeployBeanProperty.java

@@ -101,8 +101,8 @@ public class DeployBeanProperty {
 
     private boolean localEncrypted;
     
-    private boolean exposeSerialize = true;
-    private boolean exposeDeserialize = true;
+    private boolean jsonSerialize = true;
+    private boolean jsonDeserialize = true;
 
     private boolean dbEncrypted;
     private DbEncryptFunction dbEncryptFunction;
@@ -292,20 +292,20 @@ public class DeployBeanProperty {
         return dbLength;
     }
 
-    public boolean isExposeSerialize() {
-      return exposeSerialize;
+    public boolean isJsonSerialize() {
+      return jsonSerialize;
     }
 
-    public void setExposeSerialize(boolean exposeSerialize) {
-      this.exposeSerialize = exposeSerialize;
+    public void setJsonSerialize(boolean jsonSerialize) {
+      this.jsonSerialize = jsonSerialize;
     }
 
-    public boolean isExposeDeserialize() {
-      return exposeDeserialize;
+    public boolean isJsonDeserialize() {
+      return jsonDeserialize;
     }
 
-    public void setExposeDeserialize(boolean exposeDeserialize) {
-      this.exposeDeserialize = exposeDeserialize;
+    public void setJsonDeserialize(boolean jsonDeserialize) {
+      this.jsonDeserialize = jsonDeserialize;
     }
 
     /**

src/main/java/com/avaje/ebeaninternal/server/deploy/parse/AnnotationFields.java

@@ -1,11 +1,23 @@
 package com.avaje.ebeaninternal.server.deploy.parse;
 
-import com.avaje.ebean.annotation.*;
+import com.avaje.ebean.annotation.ColumnHstore;
+import com.avaje.ebean.annotation.CreatedTimestamp;
+import com.avaje.ebean.annotation.DbHstore;
+import com.avaje.ebean.annotation.DbJson;
+import com.avaje.ebean.annotation.DbJsonB;
+import com.avaje.ebean.annotation.EmbeddedColumns;
+import com.avaje.ebean.annotation.Encrypted;
+import com.avaje.ebean.annotation.Expose;
+import com.avaje.ebean.annotation.Formula;
+import com.avaje.ebean.annotation.Index;
+import com.avaje.ebean.annotation.JsonIgnore;
+import com.avaje.ebean.annotation.UpdatedTimestamp;
 import com.avaje.ebean.config.EncryptDeploy;
 import com.avaje.ebean.config.EncryptDeploy.Mode;
 import com.avaje.ebean.config.dbplatform.DbEncrypt;
 import com.avaje.ebean.config.dbplatform.DbEncryptFunction;
 import com.avaje.ebean.config.dbplatform.IdType;
+import com.avaje.ebeaninternal.api.ClassUtil;
 import com.avaje.ebeaninternal.server.deploy.generatedproperty.GeneratedPropertyFactory;
 import com.avaje.ebeaninternal.server.deploy.meta.DeployBeanProperty;
 import com.avaje.ebeaninternal.server.deploy.meta.DeployBeanPropertyAssoc;
@@ -13,7 +25,12 @@ import com.avaje.ebeaninternal.server.deploy.meta.DeployBeanPropertyAssocOne;
 import com.avaje.ebeaninternal.server.deploy.meta.DeployBeanPropertyCompound;
 import com.avaje.ebeaninternal.server.idgen.UuidIdGenerator;
 import com.avaje.ebeaninternal.server.lib.util.StringHelper;
-import com.avaje.ebeaninternal.server.type.*;
+import com.avaje.ebeaninternal.server.type.CtCompoundType;
+import com.avaje.ebeaninternal.server.type.DataEncryptSupport;
+import com.avaje.ebeaninternal.server.type.ScalarType;
+import com.avaje.ebeaninternal.server.type.ScalarTypeBytesBase;
+import com.avaje.ebeaninternal.server.type.ScalarTypeBytesEncrypted;
+import com.avaje.ebeaninternal.server.type.ScalarTypeEncryptedWrapper;
 
 import javax.persistence.*;
 import javax.validation.constraints.NotNull;
@@ -27,6 +44,11 @@ import java.util.UUID;
  */
 public class AnnotationFields extends AnnotationParser {
 
+  /**
+   * If present read Jackson JsonIgnore.
+   */
+  private boolean jacksonAnnotationsPresent = ClassUtil.isJacksonAnnotationsPresent();
+
   /**
    * By default we lazy load Lob properties.
    */
@@ -101,10 +123,25 @@ public class AnnotationFields extends AnnotationParser {
     if (column != null) {
       readColumn(column, prop);
     }
+
+    if (jacksonAnnotationsPresent) {
+      com.fasterxml.jackson.annotation.JsonIgnore jsonIgnore = get(prop, com.fasterxml.jackson.annotation.JsonIgnore.class);
+      if (jsonIgnore != null) {
+        prop.setJsonSerialize(!jsonIgnore.value());
+        prop.setJsonDeserialize(!jsonIgnore.value());
+      }
+    }
+
     Expose expose = get(prop, Expose.class);
     if (expose != null) {
-      prop.setExposeSerialize(expose.serialize());
-      prop.setExposeDeserialize(expose.deserialize());
+      prop.setJsonSerialize(expose.serialize());
+      prop.setJsonDeserialize(expose.deserialize());
+    }
+
+    JsonIgnore jsonIgnore = get(prop, JsonIgnore.class);
+    if (jsonIgnore != null) {
+      prop.setJsonSerialize(jsonIgnore.serialize());
+      prop.setJsonDeserialize(jsonIgnore.deserialize());
     }
 
     if (prop.getDbColumn() == null) {

src/main/java/com/avaje/ebeaninternal/server/deploy/parse/DeployCreateProperties.java

@@ -259,7 +259,8 @@ public class DeployCreateProperties {
     }
 
     if (isTransientField(field)) {
-      return null;
+      // return with no ScalarType (still support JSON features)
+      return new DeployBeanProperty(desc, propertyType, null, null);
     }
     try {
       CheckImmutableResponse checkImmutable = typeManager.checkImmutable(propertyType);

src/main/java/com/avaje/ebeaninternal/server/deploy/parse/DeployUtil.java

@@ -173,19 +173,27 @@ public class DeployUtil {
     // Note that Temporal types already have dbType
     // set via annotations
     Class<?> propType = property.getPropertyType();
-    ScalarType<?> scalarType = typeManager.getScalarType(propType, property.getDbType());
-    if (scalarType != null) {
-      return scalarType;
-    }
+    try {
+      ScalarType<?> scalarType = typeManager.getScalarType(propType, property.getDbType());
+      if (scalarType != null) {
+        return scalarType;
+      }
 
-    String msg = property.getFullBeanName() + " has no ScalarType - type[" + propType.getName() + "]";
-    if (!property.isTransient()) {
-      throw new PersistenceException(msg);
+      String msg = property.getFullBeanName() + " has no ScalarType - type[" + propType.getName() + "]";
+      if (!property.isTransient()) {
+        throw new PersistenceException(msg);
 
-    } else {
-      // this is ok...
-      logger.trace("... transient property " + msg);
-      return null;
+      } else {
+        // this is ok...
+        logger.trace("... transient property " + msg);
+        return null;
+      }
+    } catch (IllegalArgumentException e) {
+      if (property.isTransient()) {
+        // expected for transient properties with unknown/non-mapped types
+        return null;
+      }
+      throw e;
     }
   }
 

src/main/java/com/avaje/ebeaninternal/server/text/json/DJsonContext.java

@@ -24,9 +24,12 @@ public class DJsonContext implements JsonContext {
 
   private final JsonFactory jsonFactory;
 
+  private final Object defaultObjectMapper;
+
   public DJsonContext(SpiEbeanServer server, JsonFactory jsonFactory) {
     this.server = server;
     this.jsonFactory = (jsonFactory != null) ? jsonFactory : new JsonFactory();
+    this.defaultObjectMapper = this.server.getServerConfig().getObjectMapper();
   }
 
   public boolean isSupportedType(Type genericType) {
@@ -72,7 +75,7 @@ public class DJsonContext implements JsonContext {
 
   public <T> T toBean(Class<T> cls, JsonParser parser, JsonReadOptions options) throws JsonIOException {
 
-    ReadJson readJson = new ReadJson(parser, options);
+    ReadJson readJson = new ReadJson(parser, options, determineObjectMapper(options));
     try {
       BeanDescriptor<T> d = getDescriptor(cls);
       return d.jsonRead(readJson, null);
@@ -104,7 +107,7 @@ public class DJsonContext implements JsonContext {
 
   public <T> List<T> toList(Class<T> cls, JsonParser src, JsonReadOptions options) throws JsonIOException {
 
-    ReadJson readJson = new ReadJson(src, options);
+    ReadJson readJson = new ReadJson(src, options, determineObjectMapper(options));
     try {
       BeanDescriptor<T> d = getDescriptor(cls);
 
@@ -271,7 +274,7 @@ public class DJsonContext implements JsonContext {
 
   private WriteJson createWriteJson(JsonGenerator gen, JsonWriteOptions options) {
     PathProperties pathProps = (options == null) ? null : options.getPathProperties();
-    return new WriteJson(server, gen, pathProps);
+    return new WriteJson(server, gen, pathProps, determineObjectMapper(options));
   }
 
   private <T> void toJsonFromCollection(Collection<T> collection, String key, JsonGenerator gen, JsonWriteOptions options) throws IOException {
@@ -320,11 +323,36 @@ public class DJsonContext implements JsonContext {
     gen.writeEndObject();
   }
 
-  private <T> BeanDescriptor<T> getDescriptor(Class<T> cls) {
-    BeanDescriptor<T> d = server.getBeanDescriptor(cls);
+  /**
+   * Return the BeanDescriptor for the given bean type.
+   */
+  private <T> BeanDescriptor<T> getDescriptor(Class<T> beanType) {
+    BeanDescriptor<T> d = server.getBeanDescriptor(beanType);
     if (d == null) {
-      throw new RuntimeException("No BeanDescriptor found for " + cls);
+      throw new RuntimeException("No BeanDescriptor found for " + beanType);
     }
     return d;
   }
+
+  /**
+   * Determine the object mapper to use for a JSON read request.
+   */
+  private Object determineObjectMapper(JsonReadOptions options) {
+    if (options == null) {
+      return defaultObjectMapper;
+    }
+    Object mapper = options.getObjectMapper();
+    return (mapper != null) ? mapper : defaultObjectMapper;
+  }
+
+  /**
+   * Determine the object mapper to use for a JSON write request.
+   */
+  private Object determineObjectMapper(JsonWriteOptions options) {
+    if (options == null) {
+      return defaultObjectMapper;
+    }
+    Object mapper = options.getObjectMapper();
+    return (mapper != null) ? mapper : defaultObjectMapper;
+  }
 }

src/main/java/com/avaje/ebeaninternal/server/text/json/ReadJson.java

@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@ import com.avaje.ebean.text.json.JsonReadBeanVisitor;
 import com.avaje.ebean.text.json.JsonReadOptions;
 import com.fasterxml.jackson.core.JsonParser;
 import com.fasterxml.jackson.core.JsonToken;
+import com.fasterxml.jackson.databind.ObjectMapper;
 
 import java.io.IOException;
 import java.util.Map;
@@ -28,17 +29,33 @@ public class ReadJson {
    */
   final Map<String, JsonReadBeanVisitor<?>> visitorMap;
 
+  final Object objectMapper;
+
   /**
    * Construct with parser and readOptions.
    */
-  public ReadJson(JsonParser parser, JsonReadOptions readOptions) {
+  public ReadJson(JsonParser parser, JsonReadOptions readOptions, Object objectMapper) {
+
     this.parser = parser;
+    this.objectMapper = objectMapper;
 
     // only create visitorMap, pathStack if needed ...
     this.visitorMap = (readOptions == null) ? null : readOptions.getVisitorMap();
     this.pathStack = (visitorMap == null) ? null : new PathStack();
   }
 
+  /**
+   * Return the objectMapper used for this request.
+   */
+  public ObjectMapper getObjectMapper() {
+    if (objectMapper == null) {
+      throw new IllegalStateException(
+          "Jackson ObjectMapper required but has not set. The ObjectMapper can be set on"
+          +" either the ServerConfig or on JsonReadOptions.");
+    }
+    return (ObjectMapper)objectMapper;
+  }
+
   /**
    * Return the JsonParser.
    */
@@ -84,4 +101,13 @@ public class ReadJson {
       }
     }
   }
+
+  /**
+   * Read the property value using Jackson ObjectMapper.
+   * <p/>
+   * Typically this is used to read Transient properties where the type is unknown to Ebean.
+   */
+  public Object readValueUsingObjectMapper(Class<?> propertyType) throws IOException {
+      return getObjectMapper().readValue(parser, propertyType);
+  }
 }

src/main/java/com/avaje/ebeaninternal/server/text/json/WriteJson.java

@@ -7,6 +7,7 @@ import com.avaje.ebeaninternal.server.deploy.BeanDescriptor;
 import com.avaje.ebeaninternal.server.deploy.BeanProperty;
 import com.avaje.ebeaninternal.server.util.ArrayStack;
 import com.fasterxml.jackson.core.JsonGenerator;
+import com.fasterxml.jackson.databind.ObjectMapper;
 
 import java.io.IOException;
 import java.util.Collection;
@@ -24,10 +25,13 @@ public class WriteJson {
 
   private final ArrayStack<Object> parentBeans = new ArrayStack<Object>();
 
-  public WriteJson(SpiEbeanServer server, JsonGenerator generator, PathProperties pathProperties){
+  private final Object objectMapper;
+
+  public WriteJson(SpiEbeanServer server, JsonGenerator generator, PathProperties pathProperties, Object objectMapper){
     this.server = server;
     this.generator = generator;
     this.pathProperties = pathProperties;
+    this.objectMapper = objectMapper;
   }
 
   public JsonGenerator gen() {
@@ -73,6 +77,20 @@ public class WriteJson {
     return new WriteBean(desc, explicitAllProps, currentIncludeProps, bean);
   }
 
+  public void writeValueUsingObjectMapper(String name, Object value) throws IOException {
+    generator.writeFieldName(name);
+    objectMapper().writeValue(generator, value);
+  }
+
+  private ObjectMapper objectMapper() {
+    if (objectMapper == null) {
+      throw new IllegalStateException(
+          "Jackson ObjectMapper required but not set. Expected to be set on either"
+          +" serverConfig");
+    }
+    return (ObjectMapper)objectMapper;
+  }
+
   public static class WriteBean {
     
     final boolean explicitAllProps;

src/main/java/com/avaje/ebeaninternal/server/type/DefaultTypeManager.java

@@ -159,7 +159,7 @@ public final class DefaultTypeManager implements TypeManager, KnownImmutable {
     this.typeMap = new ConcurrentHashMap<Class<?>, ScalarType<?>>();
     this.nativeMap = new ConcurrentHashMap<Integer, ScalarType<?>>();
 
-    this.objectMapperPresent = ClassUtil.isPresent("com.fasterxml.jackson.databind.ObjectMapper", this.getClass());
+    this.objectMapperPresent = ClassUtil.isJacksonObjectMapperPresent();
 
     this.extraTypeFactory = new DefaultTypeFactory(config);
 
@@ -384,7 +384,7 @@ public final class DefaultTypeManager implements TypeManager, KnownImmutable {
       return (ScalarType<T>) extraTypeFactory.createCalendar(jsonDateTime, jdbcType);
     }
 
-    throw new RuntimeException("Unmatched ScalarType for " + type + " jdbcType:" + jdbcType);
+    throw new IllegalArgumentException("Unmatched ScalarType for " + type + " jdbcType:" + jdbcType);
   }
 
   /**