JSON output differences between 8.0.2 and 8.5.3?

I have a simple view I’m using in conjunction with an ajax call using ?ReadViewEntries&OutputFormat=json. I have a column in the view which simply displays the value of a field (“DialogContent”) on a form. The field value is some text which my javascript code will display on a help tip dialog.

Let’s assume the value of the field is:

This is my help text!

In Domino 8.0.2, the json returned for this field appears as follows:

{

@columnnumber”: “2”,

@name”: “DialogContent”,

“text”: {

“0”: “

This is my help text!

}

}

My javascript code has no problems parsing this response, and testing this response with a json validator (http://jsonlint.com/) is successful.

However, in Domino 8.5.3, the json output for the same view returns the following for this column:

{

@columnnumber”: “2”,

@name”: “DialogContent”,

“text”: {

“0”: “<p>This is my help text!</p>”

}

}

Note the backslash () escaping the > and ! characters. This json output does not pass validation and breaks my javascript code.

Does anyone know why 8.5.3 is returning different json than 8.0.2, and how I can get around this? I know I could write an agent to return what I’m after, instead of using ReadViewEntries, but I’d like to understand why this changed???

Subject: Known Issue

We contacted IBM support and it turns out that this issue has already been reported under Software Problem Report #CJON8LMQCD (APAR #LO63774).

The information for this APAR may be viewed here:

While this APAR only references the problem with the exclamation point, we are advising IBM support that the greater than symbol (>) is also affected.

We’ve been told by IBM support that the issue is slated to be fixed in a future version of Domino.