DynamoDb not able to save map data(java) - amazon-web-services

Question

I am trying to save data into the dynamoDb but that data contains some Map attributes as well.But I am getting error while saving that data. Following is my domain class which I am using for saving data from request:
#DynamoDBTable(tableName = "ottMiddleware_rails")
public class RailsCmsDomain {
#DynamoDBHashKey(attributeName = "railId")
private String railId;
#DynamoDBTyped
#DynamoDBAttribute(attributeName = "railLogic")
private Map<String, Object> railLogic;
#DynamoDBAttribute(attributeName = "railSourceType")
private String railSourceType;
#DynamoDBAttribute(attributeName = "railTitle")
private RailCmsTitleDomain railTitle;
#DynamoDBTyped
#DynamoDBAttribute(attributeName = "restrictions")
private Map<String, Object> restrictions;
I am giving the following request:
{
"railId": "railOne",
"railLogic": {
"programType": 1,
"railSourceUrl": "http://myUrl"
},
"railSourceType": "myRail",
"railTitle": {
"tam": "Raan Phan",
"def": "சிறப்பு கட்டமைப்பு"
},
"restrictions": {
"clients": [
"abc",
"xyz"
],
"periodStart": 1506572217
}
}
I am using following code to save my data into the dynamoDb
public Boolean saveUpdateRailsDetails(RailsCmsDomain railsDomain) {
DynamoDBUtil dynamoDBUtil = new DynamoDBUtil();
AmazonDynamoDB dynamoDBClient = dynamoDBUtil.getDynamoDBClient();
DynamoDBMapper mapper = new DynamoDBMapper(dynamoDBClient);
mapper.save(railsDomain);
return true;
}
Please suggest how can I save map into dynamoDb. I am taking data as map because in later stages there are chances more data can be added to those attributes which are map and that data can be of any data type. I am getting following error:
errorMessage": "not supported; requires #DynamoDBTyped or
#DynamoDBTypeConverted"
"errorType":
"com.amazonaws.services.dynamodbv2.datamodeling.DynamoDBMappingException"

Answer 1

I would like to post this answer as an option though it is not going to store the data as map in DynamoDB. However, it will resolve the error.
You can define the restrictions attribute as mentioned below. It will store the data as JSON string in DynamoDB.
#DynamoDBTypeConvertedJson
private Map<String, Object> restrictions;
Drawbacks:-
When you would like to update the restrictions attribute, you need to get the current value from database, update it and save the data in database.
DynamoDB data:-
restrictions attribute saved as JSON string.

Answer 2

When I needed to store map in dynamodb I just annotated the getter method of the map with #DynamoDBTypeConverted(converter = MapConverter.class) and in the converter just serialized the map into a json string, this way you can retrieve the map and everything but are not going to be able to use it in queryExpressions if you need.
So in case you want to be able to query the objects in the map maybe consider annotating the object you are using in your map with #DynamoDBDocument this way it's going to be automatically serialized by dynamodb as a document and use Set instead of map into your parent object.

Answer 3

The problem is that the DynamoDB Mapper doesn't know how to marshall/unmarshall the Object in this line:
private Map<String, Object> railLogic;
If you don't want to change Object to String, then use the DynamoDBTypeConverted annotation to provide a custom marshaller for Map<String, Object> which you can then (probably) reuse for restrictions. Relevant documentation here.