flex-json 0.0.5 → 0.0.6

package/FlexJsonClass.js

@@ -1,1771 +1,1840 @@
-const FlexJsonConstants = require("./FlexJsonConstants.js");
-const FlexJsonPosition = require("./FlexJsonPosition.js");
-const FlexJsonMeta = require("./FlexJsonMeta.js");
-const fs = require("fs");
-const StringBuilder = require("string-builder");
-
-
-class FlexJson {
-  _status = 0;
-  _jsonType = "";
-  _key = null;
-  _value = null;
-  _value_valid = false;
-  _jsonString = "";
-  _jsonString_valid = false;
-
-  Parent;
-  ALLOW_SINGLE_QUOTE_STRINGS = true;
-  ENCODE_SINGLE_QUOTES = false;
-
-  _UseFlexJson = false;
-
-  _meta = null;
-  _NoStatsOrMsgs = false;
-
-  constructor(InitialJSON, UseFlexJsonFlag) {
-    if (UseFlexJsonFlag == true || UseFlexJsonFlag == false) {
-      this.UseFlexJson = UseFlexJsonFlag;
-    }
-    if (InitialJSON) {
-      this.Deserialize(InitialJSON + "", 0, false);
-    }
-  }
-
-  createMetaIfNeeded(force = false) {
-    if (this._NoStatsOrMsgs && !force) {
-      return;
-    } // Do not track stats/message/meta-data
-    if (!this._meta) {
-      this._meta = {};
-    }
-  }
-
-
-  get trackingStats() {
-    if (this._meta == null || this._meta.status == null) {
-      return false;
-    }
-    return true;
-  }
-
-  get statusMsg() {
-    if (this._meta != null && this._meta.statusMsg != null) {
-      return meta.statusMsg;
-    }
-    return "";
-  }
-  set statusMsg(value) {
-    if (this.NoStatsOrMsgs) {
-      return;
-    }
-    this.createMetaIfNeeded();
-    if (this._meta != null) {
-      this._meta.statusMsg = value;
-    }
-    if (this._meta.msgLogOn) {
-      if (this._meta != null) {
-        this._meta.msgLog.add(value);
-      }
-    }
-  }
-
-  get tmpStatusMsg() {
-    if (this._meta && this._meta.tmpStatusMsg) {
-      return this._meta.tmpStatusMsg;
-    }
-    return "";
-  }
-  set tmpStatusMsg(value) {
-    this.createMetaIfNeeded();
-    if (this._meta) {
-      this._meta.tmpStatusMsg = value;
-    }
-  }
-
-  get key() {
-    return this._key;
-  }
-
-  set key(value) {
-    this._key = "" + value; // convert to string (future: allow numeric key?)
-  }
-
-  get preSpace() {
-    //if (this._meta != null) {
-    //  if (this._meta.preSpace != null) {
-    //    return this._meta.preSpace;
-    //  }
-    //}
-    return this._meta && this._meta.preSpace ? this._meta.preSpace : null;
-  }
-
-  set preSpace(value) {
-    this.createMetaIfNeeded();
-    if (this._meta != null) {
-      this._meta.preSpace = value;
-    }
-  }
-
-  get postSpace() {
-    //if (this._meta != null) {
-    //  if (this._meta.postSpace != null) {
-    //    return this._meta.postSpace;
-    //  }
-    //}
-    return this._meta && this._meta.postSpace ? this._meta.postSpace : null;
-  }
-
-  set postSpace(value) {
-    this.createMetaIfNeeded();
-    if (this._meta != null) {
-      this._meta.postSpace = value;
-    }
-  }
-
-  get finalSpace() {
-    if (this._meta != null) {
-      if (this._meta.finalSpace != null) {
-        return this._meta.finalSpace;
-      }
-    }
-    return null;
-  }
-
-  set finalSpace(value) {
-    this.createMetaIfNeeded();
-    if (this._meta != null) {
-      this._meta.finalSpace = value;
-    }
-  }
-
-  get preKey() {
-    if (this._meta != null) {
-      if (this._meta.preKey != null) {
-        return this._meta.preKey;
-      }
-    }
-    return null;
-  }
-
-  set preKey(value) {
-    this.createMetaIfNeeded();
-    if (this._meta != null) {
-      this._meta.preKey = value;
-    }
-  }
-
-  get postKey() {
-    if (this._meta != null) {
-      if (this._meta.postKey != null) {
-        return this._meta.postKey;
-      }
-    }
-    return null;
-  }
-
-  set postKey(value) {
-    this.createMetaIfNeeded();
-    if (this._meta != null) {
-      this._meta.postKey = value;
-    }
-  }
-
-  get keepSpacing() {
-    if (this._meta != null) {
-      return this._meta.keepSpacing || false;
-    }
-    return false;
-  }
-  set keepSpacing(value) {
-    this.createMetaIfNeeded();
-    if (this._meta != null) {
-      this._meta.keepSpacing = value;
-    }
-  }
-
-  get keepComments() {
-    if (this._meta != null) {
-      return this._meta.keepComments || false;
-    }
-    return false;
-  }
-  set keepComments(value) {
-    this.createMetaIfNeeded();
-    if (this._meta != null) {
-      this._meta.keepComments = value;
-    }
-  }
-
-  get UseFlexJson() {
-    return this._UseFlexJson;
-  }
-  set UseFlexJson(value) {
-    this._UseFlexJson = value;
-    this.InvalidateJsonString(1); // If we switch to FlexJson then all our stored JSON strings could be incorrect.
-  }
-
-  get Status() {
-    return this._status;
-  } // End Property
-
-  get jsonType() {
-    return this._jsonType;
-  }
-
-  get jsonString() {
-    // if (trackingStats) { IncStats("stat_jsonString_get"); }
-    if (this._status != 0) {
-      return "";
-    } // *** ERROR - status is invalid
-    if (!this._jsonString_valid) {
-      if (!this._value_valid) {
-        // *** Neither is valid - this JSON object is null
-        return "";
-      } else {
-        // *** First we need to serialize
-        this.SerializeMe();
-        if (this._status != 0) {
-          return "";
-        } // *** ERROR - status is invalid
-        return this._jsonString;
-      }
-    } else {
-      // jsonString was already valid.
-      return this._jsonString;
-    }
-  } // end getJsonString()
-
-  set jsonString(value) {
-    //if (trackingStats) { IncStats("stat_jsonString_set"); }
-    if (
-      this._status == 0 &&
-      this._jsonString_valid &&
-      this._jsonString == value
-    ) {
-      return;
-    } else {
-      this.Clear(false, 1); // *** This clears _value AND notifies Parent that we have changed.
-      this._jsonString = value;
-      this._jsonString_valid = true; // *** This does not indicate 'valid JSON syntax' but only that the string has been populated.
-    }
-  } //End Set jsonString
-
-  // Gets Array.Length or Dictionary.Count for array/object.  Gets 1 for all other types (string, number, null, etc.)  Returns 0 if _value is not valid.
-  get length() {
-    if (this._status != 0 || !this._value_valid) {
-      return 0;
-    }
-    if (this._jsonType == "null") {
-      return 0;
-    }
-    if (this._jsonType != "array" && this._jsonType != "object") {
-      return 1;
-    }
-    // otherwise we are a _jsonType="object" or _jsonType="array"
-    try {
-      return this._value.length;
-    } catch {
-      return -1;
-    } //Error occurred... return -1 to indicate an error
-  }
-  // There is no "set" for length
-
-  Clear(ClearParent = true, src = 0, bClearStats = false) {
-    this._status = 0;
-    this._jsonType = "";
-    this._value = null;
-    this._value_valid = false;
-    this.InvalidateJsonString(src); // *** Resets _jsonString and _jsonString_valid (and notifies Parent of changes)
-    this.endpos = 0;
-    if (ClearParent) {
-      this.Parent = null;
-    }
-  } // end Clear()
-
-  InvalidateJsonString(src = 0) {
-    this._jsonString = "";
-    this._jsonString_valid = false;
-    // *** if our jsonString is invalid, { the PARENT jsonString would also be invalid
-    if (!(this.Parent == null)) {
-      this.Parent.InvalidateJsonString(2);
-    }
-  } // end InvalidateJsonString()
-
-  keepSpacingAndComments(spacing_flag = -1, comments_flag = -1) {
-    if (typeof spacing_flag == "boolean") {
-      this.keepSpacing = spacing_flag;
-    } else {
-      if (spacing_flag == 0) {
-        this.keepSpacing = false;
-      }
-      if (spacing_flag == 1) {
-        this.keepSpacing = true;
-      }
-    }
-    if (typeof comments_flag == "boolean") {
-      this.keepComments = comments_flag;
-    } else {
-      if (comments_flag == 0) {
-        this.keepComments = false;
-      }
-      if (comments_flag == 1) {
-        this.keepComments = true;
-      }
-    }
-  }
-
-  ValidateValue() {
-    if (this._status != 0) {
-      return false;
-    } // *** ERROR - status is invalid
-    if (!this._value_valid) {
-      if (!this._jsonString_valid) {
-        // *** Neither is valid - this JSON object is null - Cannot validate value
-        return false;
-      } else {
-        // *** First we need to Deserialize
-        DeserializeMe();
-        if (this._status != 0) {
-          return false;
-        } // *** ERROR - status is invalid - failed to Deserialize
-        return true;
-      }
-    } else {
-      return true;
-    }
-  }
-
-  value(idx, dotNotation = true) {
-    return this.v(idx, dotNotation);
-  }
-
-  v(idx, dotNotation = true) {
-    //if (trackingStats) { IncStats("stat_Value_get"); } // FUTURE-NEW
-    if (!idx) {
-      // return the value of this item
-      if (!this.ValidateValue()) {
-        return null;
-      } // *** Unable to validate/Deserialize the value
-      // If object or array, return null
-      if (this._jsonType == "object" || this._jsonType == "array") {
-        return null;
-      } // FUTURE-NEW: return object/array converted into javascript object/array? (indicate iteration level in method parameters)
-      return this._value;
-    } else {
-      return this.i(idx, dotNotation).v();
-    }
-  }
-
-  get thisValue() {
-    return this.v();
-  }
-  set thisValue(value) {
-    // sets the value of the FlexJson object and the jsonType
-    this.InvalidateJsonString(); // indicate that the JsonString has changed
-    this._status = 0;
-    this._jsonType = this.convertType(value);
-    if (this._jsonType == "string") {
-      this._value = value + ""; // force conversion to string
-      this._value_valid = true;
-    } else if (this._jsonType) {
-      this._value = value;
-      this._value_valid = true;
-    } else {
-      this._jsonType = "error";
-      this._value = null;
-      this._value_valid = false;
-    }
-  }
-
-  toJsonArray(idx, dotNotation = true) {
-    //if (trackingStats) { IncStats("stat_Value_get"); } // FUTURE-NEW
-    if (!idx) {
-      // return the value of this item
-      if (!this.ValidateValue()) {
-        return null;
-      } // *** Unable to validate/Deserialize the value
-      // If object or array, return null
-      if (this._jsonType == "object" || this._jsonType == "array") {
-        return this._value;
-      } // FUTURE-NEW: return object/array converted into javascript object/array? (indicate iteration level in method parameters)
-      return null;
-    } else {
-      return this.i(idx, dotNotation).toJsonArray();
-    }
-    return null;
-  }
-
-  ConvertToArray() {
-    // convert this FlexJson from an Object to an Array
-    // We can do this because the only real different between an array and an object is that the object has key values.
-    if (this._jsonType != "object") {
-      return;
-    }
-    this._jsonType = "array";
-    this.InvalidateJsonString();
-  }
-
-  item(idx, dotNotation = true) {
-    return this.i(idx, dotNotation);
-  }
-  i(idx, dotNotation = true) {
-    //if (trackingStats) { IncStats("stat_Item_get"); } // FUTURE-NEW
-
-    if (Number.isInteger(idx)) {
-      if (this.jsonType != "array" && this.jsonType != "object") {
-        return FlexJson.CreateNull();
-      }
-      if (idx < 0 || idx > this.length) {
-        return null;
-      } // error: we are past the end of the array/object
-      return this._value[idx];
-    }
-
-    var searchList;
-    let nextItem = this;
-    let k = -99; // tells loop not to perform 'next' function
-    if (dotNotation) {
-      searchList = idx.split(".");
-    } else {
-      searchList = [idx];
-    }
-
-    for (let sToken of searchList) {
-      let sKey = sToken.trim();
-      k = -1;
-      // Note: missing sKey causes failure to find item FUTURE: should we throw an error?
-      if (
-        sKey &&
-        (nextItem._jsonType == "object" || nextItem._jsonType == "array")
-      ) {
-        let nKey = null;
-        try {
-          nCheck = parseInt(sKey);
-          if (!isNaN(nCheck)) {
-            nKey = nCheck;
-          }
-        } catch (Exception) {}
-        if (nKey) {
-          if (nKey < 0 || nKey >= this._value.length) {
-            break;
-          }
-          k = nKey;
-        } else {
-          if (nextItem._jsonType == "object") {
-            k = nextItem.indexOfKey(sKey);
-          } else {
-            // type array: error because IDX for an array must be an integer
-            // FUTURE - throw error here?
-            break;
-          }
-        }
-      }
-      if (k < 0) {
-        break;
-      }
-      nextItem = nextItem._value[k];
-    }
-    if (k < 0) {
-      return FlexJson.CreateNull();
-    } // NOTE! You can check that there is no PARENT on this null object to see that it was NOT-FOUND
-
-    return nextItem;
-  }
-
-  forEach(callback) {
-    if (this.jsonType == "object" || this.jsonType == "array") {
-      for (let i = 0; i < this.length; i++) {
-        callback(this.i(i));
-      } // end for
-    } else {
-      callback(this); // if we are not an object/array, then callback one time for this object
-      // FUTURE: Should we call back 0 times if we are a NULL or status!=0?
-    }
-  } // end forEach()
-
-  // This replaces addToObjBase and addToArrayBase (if array, second argument is not needed)
-  addToBase(value, idx = "") {
-    this.add(value, idx, false);
-  }
-
-  add(value, idx = "", dotNotation = true) {
-    var newV;
-    if (
-      value !== null &&
-      typeof value === "object" &&
-      value.constructor.name === "FlexJson"
-    ) {
-      newV = value; // FUTURE: clone?
-    } else {
-      newV = new FlexJson();
-      newV.thisValue = value; // This also sets the jsonType
-    }
-    newV.Parent = this;
-
-    // Can only add to an Object or Array
-    if (this._jsonType == "object") {
-      let foundItem = this.i(idx, dotNotation);
-      if (foundItem.Parent) {
-        // Item exists... replace the value
-        foundItem.thisValue = value; // this also sets jsonType
-        this.InvalidateJsonString(); // indicate that the JsonString has changed.
-      } else {
-        this.InvalidateJsonString(); // indicate that the JsonString has changed.
-        // Item does not exist... we need to add the item (be aware of dotNotation)
-        if (dotNotation && idx.indexOf(".") >= 0) {
-          // FUTURE: WHAT TO DO HERE!!
-        } else {
-          newV.key = idx;
-          this._value.push(newV);
-          //}
-        } // else
-      } // else
-    } else if (this._jsonType == "array") {
-      this.InvalidateJsonString(); // indicate that the JsonString has changed.
-      // Always push array value onto the end of the array
-      newV.key = "";
-      this._value.push(newV);
-    } else {
-      throw "ERROR: add() is only available for FlexJson object or array types.";
-    }
-  }
-
-  indexOfKey(Search) {
-    if (Search == null) {
-      return -1;
-    }
-    let s = Search.toLowerCase();
-    if (!this.ValidateValue()) {
-      return -1;
-    }
-    if (this._jsonType != "object") {
-      return -1;
-    } // Future: do we want to search for values here?  probably not.  Implement IndexOf for search of values?
-    let k = 0;
-    // NOTE: Here we do a linear search.  FUTURE: if list is sorted, do a binary search.
-    for (let o of this._value) {
-      try {
-        if (o._key.toLowerCase() == s) {
-          return k;
-        }
-      } catch {}
-      k++;
-    }
-    return -1;
-  }
-
-  contains(idx, dotNotation = true) {
-    let foundItem = this.i(idx, dotNotation);
-    if (foundItem.Parent) {
-      return true;
-    } else {
-      return false;
-    }
-  }
-
-  getStr(idx, defaultValue = "", dotNotation = true) {
-    let foundItem = this.i(idx, dotNotation);
-    if (foundItem.Parent) {
-      return foundItem.toStr(defaultValue);
-    } else {
-      return defaultValue;
-    }
-  }
-
-  getNum(idx, defaultValue = 0, dotNotation = true) {
-    // FUTURE-NEW: is there a more efficient way?
-    let foundItem = this.i(idx, dotNotation);
-    if (foundItem.Parent) {
-      return foundItem.toNum(defaultValue);
-    } else {
-      return defaultValue;
-    }
-  }
-
-  getBool(idx, defaultValue = false, dotNotation = true) {
-    // FUTURE-NEW: is there a more efficient way?
-    let foundItem = this.i(idx, dotNotation);
-    if (foundItem.Parent) {
-      return foundItem.toBool(defaultValue);
-    } else {
-      return defaultValue;
-    }
-  }
-
-  toStr(defaultValue = "") {
-    if (this._status != 0) {
-      return defaultValue;
-    } // Invalid status
-    if (!this._value_valid) {
-      return defaultValue;
-    }
-    if (this._jsonType == FlexJsonConstants.typeString) {
-      return this._value;
-    }
-    if (
-      this._jsonType == FlexJsonConstants.typeNull ||
-      this._jsonType == FlexJsonConstants.typeObject ||
-      this._jsonType == FlexJsonConstants.typeArray
-    ) {
-      return defaultValue;
-    }
-    return this._value + "";
-  }
-
-  toNum(defaultValue = "") {
-    if (this._status != 0) {
-      return defaultValue;
-    } // Invalid status
-    if (!this._value_valid) {
-      return defaultValue;
-    }
-    if (this._jsonType == FlexJsonConstants.typeNumber) {
-      return this._value;
-    }
-    if (
-      this._jsonType == FlexJsonConstants.typeNull ||
-      this._jsonType == FlexJsonConstants.typeObject ||
-      this._jsonType == FlexJsonConstants.typeArray
-    ) {
-      return defaultValue;
-    }
-    return Number(this._value);
-  }
-
-  toBool(defaultValue = "") {
-    if (this._status != 0) {
-      return defaultValue;
-    } // Invalid status
-    if (!this._value_valid) {
-      return defaultValue;
-    }
-    if (this._jsonType == FlexJsonConstants.typeBoolean) {
-      return this._value;
-    }
-    if (
-      this._jsonType == FlexJsonConstants.typeNull ||
-      this._jsonType == FlexJsonConstants.typeObject ||
-      this._jsonType == FlexJsonConstants.typeArray
-    ) {
-      return defaultValue;
-    }
-    return this.parseBoolean(this._value);
-  }
-
-  parseBoolean(v) {
-    return !v || v === "false" || v === "False" || v === "FALSE" ? false : true;
-  }
-
-  static CreateNull() {
-    let j = new FlexJson();
-    j._value = null;
-    j._jsonType = "null";
-    j._value_valid = true;
-    j._jsonString = "null";
-    j._jsonString_valid = true;
-    j._status = 0;
-    return j;
-  }
-
-  // SerializeMe() - Use this to Serialize the items that are already in the FlexJson object.
-  // Return: 0=OK, -1=Error
-  SerializeMe() {
-    let s = new StringBuilder();
-    let i = 0;
-    let k = 0;
-    let preKey = "";
-    let postKey = "";
-    //if (this.trackingStats) { IncStats("stat_SerializeMe"); }
-    if (this._status != 0) {
-      return -1;
-    }
-    if (!this.ValidateValue()) {
-      return -1;
-    }
-    try {
-      let preSpace = this.preSpace;
-      if (preSpace) {
-        // Here we ignore keepSpacing/keepComments - these flags are only used during the deserialize process
-        s.append(preSpace); // preSpace of overall object/array or item
-      }
-      switch (this._jsonType) {
-        case "object":
-          s.append("{");
-          i = 0;
-          this._value.forEach((o) => {
-            if (i > 0) {
-              s.append(",");
-            }
-            let k = o.SerializeMe();
-
-            // Here we ignore keepSpacing/keepComments - these flags are only used during the deserialize process
-            // preSpace and postSpace are already added during the SerializeMe() call above.  Here we add preKye and postKey.
-            let oPreKey = o.preKey || "";
-            let oPostKey = o.postKey || "";
-
-            if (k == 0 && o.Status == 0) {
-              s.append(
-                oPreKey +
-                  '"' +
-                  o.key.toString() +
-                  '"' +
-                  oPostKey +
-                  ":" +
-                  o.jsonString
-              );
-            } else {
-              this._status = -53;
-              this.AddStatusMessage(
-                "ERROR: Failed to serialize Object item " +
-                  i +
-                  " [err-53][" +
-                  o.Status +
-                  ":" +
-                  o.StatusMessage +
-                  "]"
-              );
-              return -1;
-            }
-            i++;
-          }); // end foreach
-          s.append("}");
-          break;
-        case "array":
-          s.append("[");
-          i = 0;
-          this._value.forEach((o) => {
-            if (i > 0) {
-              s.append(",");
-            }
-            k = o.SerializeMe();
-            if (k == 0 && o.Status == 0) {
-              s.append(o.jsonString);
-            } else {
-              this._status = -52;
-              this.AddStatusMessage(
-                "ERROR: Failed to serialize Array item " + i + " [err-52]"
-              );
-              return -1;
-            }
-            i++;
-          });
-          s.append("]");
-          break;
-        case "null":
-          s.append("null");
-          break;
-        case "string":
-          s.append('"' + this.EncodeString(this.toStr()) + '"');
-          break;
-        default:
-          s.append(this.toStr()); // FUTURE: better approach? seems prone to problems
-          break;
-      }
-      let postSpace = "" + (this.postSpace || "") + (this.finalSpace || "");
-      if (postSpace) {
-        s.append(postSpace);
-      }
-      this._jsonString = s.toString();
-      this._jsonString_valid = true;
-    } catch (err94) {
-      this._jsonString = "";
-      this.InvalidateJsonString(1);
-      this._status = -94;
-      // FUTURE: Remove err94.message below?
-      this.AddStatusMessage(
-        "ERROR: SerializeMe() failed to serialize the FlexJson object. [err-94] " +
-          err94.message
-      );
-      return -1;
-    }
-    return 0;
-  } // end SerializeMe()
-
-  EncodeString(vString = "") {
-    let s;
-    // *** NOTE: This is a simple encode.  It needs to be expanded in the future!
-    s = vString;
-    s = s.replace(/\\/g, "\\\\"); // **** NOTE: THIS MUST BE FIRST (so we do not double-escape the items below!)
-    s = s.replace(/\t/g, "\\t");
-    s = s.replace(/\n/g, "\\n");
-    s = s.replace(/\r/g, "\\r");
-    s = s.replace(/"/g, '\\"');
-    if (this.ENCODE_SINGLE_QUOTES) {
-      s = s.replace(/'/g, "\\'");
-    }
-    return s;
-  } // End Function
-
-  Deserialize(snewString, start = 0, OkToClip = false) {
-    if (this.trackingStats) {
-      IncStats("stat_Deserialize");
-    }
-    this.Clear(false, 1);
-    this._jsonString = snewString;
-    this._jsonString_valid = true;
-
-    let startPos = new FlexJsonPosition(0, start, start);
-    // FUTURE: determine start position LINE COUNT???
-    // if (start>0) { lineCount = countLines(ref _jsonString, start); }
-
-    this.DeserializeMeI(this._jsonString, startPos, OkToClip);
-    return this._status;
-  } // End Function
-
-  DeserializeFlex(snewString, start = 0, OkToClip = false) {
-    this.UseFlexJson = true;
-    this.Deserialize(snewString, start, OkToClip);
-    return this._status;
-  } // End Function
-
-  DeserializeMeI(
-    meJsonString,
-    start,
-    OkToClip = false,
-    MustBeString = false,
-    SearchFor1 = "*",
-    SearchFor2 = "*",
-    SearchFor3 = "*"
-  ) {
-    var c;
-    var c2;
-    let getSpace = "";
-    let meString = "";
-    //if (trackingStats) { IncStats("stat_DeserializeMeI"); } // FUTURE-NEW
-    this._status = 0;
-    this.StartPosition = start.clone(); // store in meta (if ok to do so)
-    let meStatus = FlexJsonConstants.ST_BEFORE_ITEM;
-    let quoteChar = "";
-    this._key = null; // *** Default
-    this._value = null; // *** Default
-    this._value_valid = false; // *** In case of error, default is invalid
-    this._jsonType = FlexJsonConstants.typeNull; // default
-    let jsonEndPoint = meJsonString.length - 1;
-
-    let mePos = start.clone(); // FlexJsonPosition USE THIS TO TRACK POSITION, THEN SET endpos ONCE DONE OR ON ERROR
-    let keepSP = this.keepSpacing;
-    let keepCM = this.keepComments;
-
-    //FlexJsonPosition startOfMe = null;
-    let safety = jsonEndPoint + 999;
-    let ok = false;
-    let breakBreak = false;
-    let storeStatus = FlexJsonConstants.ST_BEFORE_ITEM; // should not matter, but just in case
-    while (
-      meStatus >= 0 &&
-      this._status >= 0 &&
-      mePos.absolutePosition <= jsonEndPoint
-    ) {
-      c = meJsonString.charAt(mePos.absolutePosition);
-      if (mePos.absolutePosition < jsonEndPoint) {
-        c2 = meJsonString.substr(mePos.absolutePosition, 2);
-      } else {
-        c2 = "";
-      }
-
-      switch (meStatus) {
-        case FlexJsonConstants.ST_BEFORE_ITEM:
-          if (SearchFor1 != "*" && c == SearchFor1) {
-            breakBreak = true;
-            break;
-          } // Found search character
-          if (SearchFor2 != "*" && c == SearchFor2) {
-            breakBreak = true;
-            break;
-          } // Found search character
-          if (SearchFor3 != "*" && c == SearchFor3) {
-            breakBreak = true;
-            break;
-          } // Found search character
-          if (c == " " || c == "\t" || c == "\n" || c == "\r") {
-            // white space before item
-            ok = true;
-            if (keepSP) {
-              getSpace += c;
-            }
-          } else if (c == "{") {
-            if (MustBeString) {
-              this._status = -124;
-              this.AddStatusMessage(
-                "Invalid character '{' found. Expected string. @Line:" +
-                  mePos.lineNumber +
-                  ", @Position:" +
-                  mePos.linePosition +
-                  " [err-124]"
-              );
-              breakBreak = true;
-              break;
-            }
-            ok = true;
-            //startOfMe=mePos;
-            this._jsonType = FlexJsonConstants.typeObject;
-            mePos = this.DeserializeObject(meJsonString, mePos, keepSP, keepCM);
-            meStatus = FlexJsonConstants.ST_AFTER_ITEM;
-            if (this._status != 0) {
-              breakBreak = true;
-              break;
-            } // ERROR message should have already been generated.
-          } else if (c == "[") {
-            if (MustBeString) {
-              this._status = -125;
-              this.AddStatusMessage(
-                "Invalid character '[' found. Expected string. @Line:" +
-                  mePos.lineNumber +
-                  ", @Position:" +
-                  mePos.linePosition +
-                  " [err-125]"
-              );
-              breakBreak = true;
-              break;
-            }
-            ok = true;
-            //startOfMe=mePos;
-            this._jsonType = FlexJsonConstants.typeArray;
-            mePos = this.DeserializeArray(meJsonString, mePos, keepSP, keepCM);
-            meStatus = FlexJsonConstants.ST_AFTER_ITEM;
-            if (this._status != 0) {
-              breakBreak = true;
-              break;
-            } // ERROR message should have already been generated.
-          } else if (c == '"') {
-            ok = true;
-            //startOfMe=mePos;
-            this._jsonType = FlexJsonConstants.typeString;
-            quoteChar = '"';
-            this._stringQuote = '"';
-            meStatus = FlexJsonConstants.ST_STRING;
-          } else if (this.ALLOW_SINGLE_QUOTE_STRINGS && c == "'") {
-            ok = true;
-            //startOfMe=mePos;
-            this._jsonType = FlexJsonConstants.typeString;
-            quoteChar = "'";
-            this._stringQuote = "'";
-            meStatus = FlexJsonConstants.ST_STRING;
-          } else if (this._UseFlexJson) {
-            if (c2 == "//") {
-              // start of to-end-of-line comment
-              ok = true;
-              meStatus = FlexJsonConstants.ST_EOL_COMMENT;
-              mePos.increment(); // so we skip 2 characters
-              if (keepCM) {
-                getSpace += c2;
-              }
-            }
-            if (c2 == "/*") {
-              // start of asterix comment
-              ok = true;
-              meStatus = FlexJsonConstants.ST_AST_COMMENT;
-              mePos.increment(); // so we skip 2 characters
-              if (keepCM) {
-                getSpace += c2;
-              }
-            }
-          }
-          // With or without FlexJSON, we allow simple strings without quotes - cannot contain commas, spaces, special characters, etc
-          // Later we will determine if this is a number, boolean, null, or unquoted-string (string is only allowed with FlexJSON)
-          if (
-            (c >= "A" && c <= "Z") ||
-            (c >= "a" && c <= "z") ||
-            (c >= "0" && c <= "9") ||
-            c == "-" ||
-            c == "_" ||
-            c == "."
-          ) {
-            ok = true;
-            //startOfMe=mePos;
-            this._jsonType = "nqstring"; // NOTE! THIS IS NOT A REAL TYPE - IT IS A FLAG FOR LATER
-            this._stringQuote = " ";
-            meStatus = FlexJsonConstants.ST_STRING_NO_QUOTE;
-          }
-          if (!ok) {
-            // generate error condition - invalid character
-            this._status = -102;
-            this.AddStatusMessage("ERROR: Invalid charater.  [err-102]");
-            breakBreak = true;
-            break;
-          }
-          // if we are no longer in pre-space territory, the we need to store the whitespace/comments
-          if (meStatus >= FlexJsonConstants.ST_STRING) {
-            if (keepCM || keepSP) {
-              this.preSpace = getSpace;
-              getSpace = ""; // clear
-            }
-          }
-          if (
-            meStatus == FlexJsonConstants.ST_STRING ||
-            meStatus == FlexJsonConstants.ST_STRING_NO_QUOTE
-          ) {
-            meString = "";
-            if (c != '"' && c != "'") {
-              meString += c;
-            }
-          }
-          break;
-        case FlexJsonConstants.ST_AFTER_ITEM:
-          if (SearchFor1 != "*" && c == SearchFor1) {
-            breakBreak = true;
-            break;
-          } // Found search character
-          if (SearchFor2 != "*" && c == SearchFor2) {
-            breakBreak = true;
-            break;
-          } // Found search character
-          if (SearchFor3 != "*" && c == SearchFor3) {
-            breakBreak = true;
-            break;
-          } // Found search character
-          if (c == " " || c == "\t" || c == "\n" || c == "\r") {
-            // white space before item
-            ok = true;
-            if (keepSP) {
-              getSpace += c;
-            }
-          }
-          if (this._UseFlexJson) {
-            if (c2 == "//") {
-              // start of to-end-of-line comment
-              ok = true;
-              storeStatus = meStatus;
-              meStatus = FlexJsonConstants.ST_EOL_COMMENT_POST;
-              mePos.increment(); // so we skip 2 characters
-              if (keepCM) {
-                getSpace += c2;
-              }
-            }
-            if (c2 == "/*") {
-              // start of asterix comment
-              ok = true;
-              storeStatus = meStatus;
-              meStatus = FlexJsonConstants.ST_AST_COMMENT_POST;
-              mePos.increment(); // so we skip 2 characters
-              if (keepCM) {
-                getSpace += c2;
-              }
-            }
-          }
-          if (!ok) {
-            // generate error condition (unless OKToClip)
-            if (OkToClip) {
-              // if we are keeping comments+ then we should probably grab this garbage text
-              // This will allow us to modify a FlexJSON text file/block and write it back "AS IS"
-              if (keepCM) {
-                let finalGarbage = meJsonString.substr(
-                  mePos.absolutePosition,
-                  meJsonString.length - mePos.absolutePosition
-                );
-                getSpace += finalGarbage;
-              }
-              breakBreak = true;
-              break;
-            }
-            this._status = -192;
-            this.AddStatusMessage(
-              "ERROR: Additional text found after end of JSON.  [err-192]"
-            );
-            breakBreak = true;
-            break;
-          }
-          break;
-        case FlexJsonConstants.ST_EOL_COMMENT:
-        case FlexJsonConstants.ST_EOL_COMMENT_POST:
-          if (c2 == FlexJsonConstants.NEWLINE) {
-            ok = true;
-            if (keepSP) {
-              getSpace += c2;
-            }
-            meStatus = storeStatus;
-
-            mePos.incrementLine(2);
-            continue; // NOTE: Here we must skip the end of the do loop so that we do not increment the counter again
-          } else if (c == "\n" || c == "\r") {
-            ok = true;
-            if (keepSP) {
-              getSpace += c;
-            }
-            meStatus = storeStatus;
-          } else {
-            // absorb all comment characters
-            ok = true;
-            if (keepSP) {
-              getSpace += c;
-            }
-          }
-          break;
-        case FlexJsonConstants.ST_AST_COMMENT:
-        case FlexJsonConstants.ST_AST_COMMENT_POST:
-          if (c2 == "*/") {
-            ok = true;
-            if (keepSP) {
-              getSpace += c2;
-            }
-            meStatus = storeStatus;
-
-            mePos.increment(); // increment by 1 here - increments again at bottom of do loop
-          } else {
-            // absorb all comment characters
-            ok = true;
-            if (keepSP) {
-              getSpace += c;
-            }
-          }
-          break;
-        case FlexJsonConstants.ST_STRING:
-          if (c == quoteChar) {
-            // we reached the end of the string
-            ok = true;
-            meStatus = FlexJsonConstants.ST_AFTER_ITEM;
-          } else if (c == "\\") {
-            // escaped character
-            mePos.increment();
-            c = meJsonString[mePos.absolutePosition];
-            switch (c) {
-              case "\\":
-              case "/":
-              case "'":
-              case '"':
-                meString += c;
-                break;
-              case "t":
-                meString += "\t"; //Tab character
-                break;
-              case "b":
-                meString += Convert.ToChar(8);
-                break;
-              case "c":
-                meString += Convert.ToChar(13);
-                break;
-              case "n":
-                meString += "\n"; //New Line Character
-                break;
-              case "r":
-                meString += "\r"; //LineFeedCarriageReturn
-                break;
-              case "v":
-                meString += "*"; // ***** FUTURE: Need to determine this character!
-                break;
-              case "u":
-                // *** Here we need to get the next 4 digits and turn them into a character
-                if (mePos.absolutePosition > jsonEndPoint - 4) {
-                  this._status = -157;
-                  this.AddStatusMessage(
-                    "ERROR: Invalid \\u escape sequence.  [err-157]"
-                  );
-                  breakBreak = true;
-                  break;
-                }
-                c2 = substr(meJsonString, mePos.absolutePosition + 1, 4);
-                if (IsHex4(c2)) {
-                  // FUTURE-NEW!!! FIX THIS! TODO - NOW- PROBLEM!!!
-                  let asciiValue = "####"; //System.Convert.ToChar(System.Convert.ToUInt32(c, 16)) + "";
-                  meString += asciiValue;
-                  mePos.increment(4);
-                } else {
-                  // *** Invalid format
-                  this._status = -151;
-                  this.AddStatusMessage(
-                    "Expected \\u escape sequence to be followed by a valid four-digit hex value @Line:" +
-                      mePos.lineNumber +
-                      " @Position:" +
-                      mePos.linePosition +
-                      " (e-151)"
-                  );
-                  breakBreak = true;
-                  break;
-                }
-                break;
-              default:
-                // *** Invalid format
-                this._status = -152;
-                this.AddStatusMessage(
-                  "The \\ escape character is not followed by a valid value @Line:" +
-                    mePos.lineNumber +
-                    " @Position:" +
-                    mePos.linePosition +
-                    " (e-152)"
-                );
-                breakBreak = true;
-                break;
-            } //End switch
-          } else {
-            meString += c;
-          }
-          break;
-        case FlexJsonConstants.ST_STRING_NO_QUOTE:
-          if (SearchFor1 != "*" && c == SearchFor1) {
-            breakBreak = true;
-            break;
-          } // Found search character
-          if (SearchFor2 != "*" && c == SearchFor2) {
-            breakBreak = true;
-            break;
-          } // Found search character
-          if (SearchFor3 != "*" && c == SearchFor3) {
-            breakBreak = true;
-            break;
-          } // Found search character
-          if (
-            (c >= "A" && c <= "Z") ||
-            (c >= "a" && c <= "z") ||
-            (c >= "0" && c <= "9") ||
-            c == "-" ||
-            c == "_" ||
-            c == "."
-          ) {
-            ok = true;
-            meString += c;
-          } else if (c2 == FlexJsonConstants.NEWLINE) {
-            // consume this as whitespace
-            ok = true;
-            if (keepSP) {
-              getSpace += c2;
-            }
-            mePos.incrementLine(2);
-            meStatus = FlexJsonConstants.ST_AFTER_ITEM;
-            continue; // so that we do not increment mePos again
-          } else if (c == " " || c == "\t" || c == "\r" || c == "\n") {
-            // consume this as whitespace
-            ok = true;
-            if (keepSP) {
-              getSpace += c;
-            }
-            meStatus = FlexJsonConstants.ST_AFTER_ITEM;
-          } else {
-            // not a valid character
-            this._status = -159;
-            this.AddStatusMessage(
-              "Invalid character found in non-quoted string: char:[" +
-                c +
-                "] @Line:" +
-                mePos.lineNumber +
-                " @Position:" +
-                mePos.linePosition +
-                " (e-159)"
-            );
-            breakBreak = true;
-            break;
-          }
-          break;
-      }
-      if (breakBreak) {
-        break;
-      }
-      // move to next character
-      if (c == "\n") {
-        mePos.incrementLine(1);
-      } else {
-        mePos.increment();
-      }
-      safety--;
-      if (safety <= 0) {
-        this._status = -169;
-        this.AddStatusMessage(
-          "Maximum iterations reached: DeserializeMe(): @Line:" +
-            mePos.lineNumber +
-            " @Position:" +
-            mePos.linePosition +
-            " (e-169)"
-        );
-        break;
-      }
-    }
-
-    if (this._status == 0) {
-      switch (this._jsonType) {
-        case FlexJsonConstants.typeString:
-          this._value = meString;
-          break;
-        case "nqstring": // NOTE! This is objType must be converted to another type here! nqstring is not a real type.
-          let tmpString = meString; // do not need to trim since we should have consumed the whitespace in getSpace
-          if (!MustBeString) {
-            if (tmpString.length < 7) {
-              var tmpStringUpper = tmpString.trim().toUpperCase();
-              if (tmpStringUpper == "" || tmpStringUpper == "NULL") {
-                this._value = "";
-                this._jsonType = FlexJsonConstants.typeNull;
-              } else if (tmpStringUpper == "TRUE") {
-                this._value = true;
-                this._jsonType = FlexJsonConstants.typeBoolean;
-              } else if (tmpStringUpper == "FALSE") {
-                this._value = false;
-                this._jsonType = FlexJsonConstants.typeBoolean;
-              }
-            }
-            // If the above did not match, lets see if this text is numeric...
-            if (this._jsonType == "nqstring") {
-              try {
-                valueCheck = parseFloat(tmpString);
-                if (!isNaN(valueCheck)) {
-                  this._value = valueCheck;
-
-                  // It worked... keep going...
-                  this._jsonType = FlexJsonConstants.typeNumber;
-                }
-              } catch (Exception) {}
-            }
-          }
-          // If STILL not identified, then it must be a STRING (ONLY valid as an unquoted string if using FlexJson!)
-          if (this._jsonType == "nqstring") {
-            this._value = tmpString;
-            this._jsonType = FlexJsonConstants.typeString;
-            if (!this._UseFlexJson) {
-              // ERROR: we found an unquoted string and we are not using FlexJson
-              // NOTE! Error occurred at the START of this item
-              this._status = -199;
-              this.AddStatusMessage(
-                "Encountered unquoted string: @Line:" +
-                  start.lineNumber +
-                  " @Position:" +
-                  start.linePosition +
-                  " (e-199)"
-              );
-            }
-          }
-          break;
-        // NOTE: other cases fall through: object, array, null(default if nothing found)
-      } // end switch
-    } // end if (this._status != 0)
-
-    // indicate if the new _value is valid
-    if (this._status == 0) {
-      this._value_valid = true;
-    } else {
-      this._value_valid = false;
-    }
-
-    // Store original JSON string and mark as "valid"
-    if (this._status == 0) {
-      this._jsonString = meJsonString.substr(
-        start.absolutePosition,
-        mePos.absolutePosition - start.absolutePosition
-      );
-      this._jsonString_valid = true;
-    } else {
-      this._jsonString = meJsonString;
-      this._jsonString_valid = false;
-    }
-    if (getSpace != null) {
-      this.finalSpace = getSpace;
-    }
-    this.EndPosition = mePos;
-
-    return mePos;
-  }
-
-  CreatePartClone(keepSP = false, keepCM = false) {
-    let jClone = new FlexJson();
-    if (this.UseFlexJson) {
-      jClone.UseFlexJson = true;
-    }
-    if (keepSP) {
-      jClone.keepSpacing = true;
-    }
-    if (keepCM) {
-      jClone.keepComments = true;
-    }
-    jClone.ALLOW_SINGLE_QUOTE_STRINGS = this.ALLOW_SINGLE_QUOTE_STRINGS;
-    return jClone;
-  }
-
-  DeserializeObject(meJsonString, start, keepSP, keepCM) {
-    var j2;
-    var jNew;
-    let Key = "";
-    let preKey = "";
-    let postKey = "";
-    var c;
-
-    let v = [];
-    let mePos = start;
-    mePos.increment(); // *** IMPORTANT! Move past { symbol
-    let skipToNext = false;
-
-    let safety = 99999;
-    while (true) {
-      skipToNext = false;
-      j2 = this.CreatePartClone(keepSP, keepCM);
-      let newPos = j2.DeserializeMeI(
-        meJsonString,
-        mePos.clone(),
-        true,
-        true,
-        ":",
-        ",",
-        "}"
-      ); // finding a } means there are no more items in the object
-
-      if (j2._status == 0 && j2._jsonType == FlexJsonConstants.typeNull) {
-        // special case where item is NULL/BLANK - ok to skip...
-        c = meJsonString.charAt(newPos.absolutePosition);
-        if (c == "," || c == "}") {
-          mePos = newPos;
-          skipToNext = true;
-        } else {
-          this.StatusErr(
-            -18,
-            "Failed to find key in key:value pair @Line:" +
-              mePos.lineNumber +
-              " @Position:" +
-              mePos.linePosition +
-              " (e-18) [" +
-              j2.StatusMessage +
-              "]"
-          );
-          break;
-        }
-      } else if (j2._status != 0) {
-        this.StatusErr(
-          -19,
-          "Failed to find key in key:value pair @Line:" +
-            mePos.lineNumber +
-            " @Position:" +
-            mePos.linePosition +
-            " (e-19) [" +
-            j2.StatusMessage +
-            "]"
-        );
-        break;
-        // }
-      } else if (j2._jsonType != "string") {
-        this.StatusErr(
-          -21,
-          "Key name in key:value pair must be a string @Line:" +
-            mePos.lineNumber +
-            " @Position:" +
-            mePos.linePosition +
-            " (e-21)"
-        );
-        break;
-      } else {
-        // capture the white space/comments here
-        if (keepCM || keepSP) {
-          preKey = j2.preSpace;
-          postKey = j2.finalSpace;
-        }
-        Key = j2._value; // already verified that this is type "string"
-        this._keyQuote = j2._stringQuote;
-        mePos = newPos;
-      }
-
-      j2 = null;
-
-      if (!skipToNext) {
-        let cColon = "\0";
-        if (mePos.absolutePosition < meJsonString.length) {
-          cColon = meJsonString.charAt(mePos.absolutePosition);
-        }
-        // *** Consume the :
-        if (cColon != ":") {
-          this.StatusErr(
-            -16,
-            "Expected : symbol in key:value pair @Line:" +
-              mePos.lineNumber +
-              " @Position:" +
-              mePos.linePosition +
-              " (e-16)"
-          );
-          break;
-        }
-        mePos.increment();
-
-        // *** Expecting value after the : symbol in value/pair combo
-        // Space/comments here are after the separator
-        jNew = this.CreatePartClone(keepSP, keepCM);
-        let finalPos = jNew.DeserializeMeI(
-          meJsonString,
-          mePos.clone(),
-          true,
-          false,
-          ",",
-          "}"
-        );
-
-        // Check for blank=null (return status -11 and _jsonType=null)
-        // DEBUGGER: FUTURE-NOW: Should not be looking for -11???
-        if (
-          jNew.Status == -11 &&
-          jNew.jsonType == "null" &&
-          _UseFlexJson == true
-        ) {
-          // Note: jNew.status=-11 indicates nothing was found where there should have been a value - for FLEX JSON this is legitimate.
-          jNew._status = 0; // this is OK
-        }
-        if (jNew.Status != 0) {
-          this.StatusErr(
-            -21,
-            "Failed to find value in key:value pair. @Line:" +
-              mePos.lineNumber +
-              " @Position:" +
-              mePos.linePosition +
-              " (e-21) [" +
-              jNew.StatusMessage +
-              "]"
-          );
-          break;
-        } else {
-          // Note: Above, jNew.status=-11 indicates nothing was found where there should have been a value - for FLEX JSON this is legitimate.
-          // *** For all cases: object, array, string, number, boolean, or null
-          jNew.Parent = this;
-          jNew._key = Key;
-          if (preKey) {
-            jNew.preKey = preKey;
-          }
-          if (postKey) {
-            jNew.postKey = postKey;
-          }
-          v.push(jNew); // FUTURE: IS THIS WRONG? SHOULD WE CHECK TO SEE IF THE KEY ALREADY EXISTS? AS IS, THE FIRST VALUE WILL "overshadow" ANY SUBSEQUENT VALUE. MAYBE THIS IS OK.
-          mePos = finalPos;
-        }
-
-        jNew = null;
-
-        // *** Check if we are past the end of the string
-        if (mePos.absolutePosition >= meJsonString.length) {
-          this.StatusErr(
-            -15,
-            "Past end of string before we found the } symbol as the end of the object @Line:" +
-              mePos.lineNumber +
-              " @Position:" +
-              mePos.linePosition +
-              " (e-15)"
-          );
-          break;
-        }
-      } // end if (!skipToNext)
-
-      let cNext = meJsonString[mePos.absolutePosition];
-      // *** Check if we reached the end of the object
-      if (cNext == "}") {
-        break;
-      } // return. we are done buildng the JSON object
-      // *** Comma required between items in object
-      if (cNext != ",") {
-        this.StatusErr(
-          -17,
-          "Expected , symbol to separate value pairs @Line:" +
-            mePos.lineNumber +
-            " @Position:" +
-            mePos.linePosition +
-            " (e-17)"
-        );
-        break;
-      }
-      mePos.increment();
-
-      safety--;
-      if (safety <= 0) {
-        this.StatusErr(
-          -117,
-          "Max deserialization iterations reached in DeserializeObject. @Line:" +
-            mePos.lineNumber +
-            " @Position:" +
-            mePos.linePosition +
-            " (e-117)"
-        );
-        break;
-      }
-    } // end do
-
-    this._value = v;
-    jNew = null;
-    j2 = null;
-    return mePos; // negative value indicated an error
-  } // End DeserializeObject2()
-
-  // DeserializeArray()
-  // *** Look for comma separated value list as a JSON array
-  // NOTE: Parent routine DeserializeMeI() keeps track of the before/after spacing of the array
-  DeserializeArray(meJsonString, start, keepSP, keepCM) {
-    var jNew;
-
-    let v = [];
-    let mePos = start;
-    mePos.increment(); // *** IMPORTANT! Move past [ symbol
-
-    let safety = 99999;
-    while (true) {
-      // *** Expecting value
-      jNew = this.CreatePartClone(keepSP, keepCM);
-      let finalPos = jNew.DeserializeMeI(
-        meJsonString,
-        mePos.clone(),
-        true,
-        false,
-        ",",
-        "]"
-      );
-
-      if (jNew.Status != 0) {
-        this.StatusErr(
-          -21,
-          "Failed to find value in array. @Line:" +
-            mePos.lineNumber +
-            " @Position:" +
-            mePos.linePosition +
-            " (e-21) [" +
-            jNew.StatusMessage +
-            "]"
-        );
-        break;
-      } else {
-        // Note: Above, jNew.status=-11 indicates nothing was found where there should have been a value - for FLEX JSON this is legitimate.
-        // *** For all cases: object, array, string, number, boolean, or null
-        jNew.Parent = this;
-        // If jNew is a blank string, then we need to create an empty array rather than an array with a null value.
-        if (jNew._jsonString.trim() != "") {
-          v.push(jNew);
-        }
-        mePos = finalPos;
-      }
-
-      jNew = null;
-
-      // *** Check if we are past the end of the string
-      if (mePos.absolutePosition >= meJsonString.length) {
-        this.StatusErr(
-          -115,
-          "Past end of string before we found the ] symbol as the end of the object @Line:" +
-            mePos.lineNumber +
-            " @Position:" +
-            mePos.linePosition +
-            " (e-115)"
-        );
-        break;
-      }
-
-      let cNext = meJsonString[mePos.absolutePosition];
-      // *** Check if we reached the end of the object
-      if (cNext == "]") {
-        break;
-      } // return. we are done buildng the JSON object
-      // *** Comma required between items in object
-      if (cNext != ",") {
-        this.StatusErr(
-          -37,
-          "Expected , symbol to separate values @Line:" +
-            mePos.lineNumber +
-            " @Position:" +
-            mePos.linePosition +
-            " (e-37)"
-        );
-        break;
-      }
-      mePos.increment();
-
-      safety--;
-      if (safety <= 0) {
-        this.StatusErr(
-          -119,
-          "Max deserialization iterations reached in DeserializeObject. @Line:" +
-            mePos.lineNumber +
-            " @Position:" +
-            mePos.linePosition +
-            " (e-119)"
-        );
-        break;
-      }
-    } // end do
-
-    this._value = v;
-    jNew = null;
-    return mePos; // negative value indicated an error
-  } // End DeserializeArray()
-  DeserializeFile(FilePath, OkToClip = false) {
-    //if ( !System.IO.File.Exists(FilePath) ) { _status=-31; return _status; }
-    try {
-      /*
-            fs.readFile(FilePath, (err, data) => { 
-                if (err) throw err; 
-              
-                const fsData = data.toString(); 
-                this.Deserialize(fsData,0,OkToClip);
-            }) 
-            */
-      const fsData = fs.readFileSync(FilePath, "utf8");
-      this.Deserialize(fsData, 0, OkToClip);
-    } catch (err) {
-      this._status = -32;
-      this.statusMsg = err.message;
-      return this._status;
-    }
-  }
-
-  DeserializeFlexFile(
-    FilePath,
-    OkToClip = false,
-    spacing_flag = 1, // default = keep spacing & comments
-    comments_flag = 1
-  ) {
-    this.UseFlexJson = true;
-    if (spacing_flag >= 0 || comments_flag >= 0) {
-      this.keepSpacingAndComments(spacing_flag, comments_flag);
-    }
-    return this.DeserializeFile(FilePath, OkToClip);
-  }
-
-  // WriteToFile()
-  // If object is setup as FlexJSON and with KeepSpacing/KeepComments, then file will be written accordingly
-  // Return: 0=ok, -1=error, -2=could not write because of invalid FlexJson object
-  WriteToFile(FilePath) {
-    try {
-      let outString = this.jsonString;
-      if (this._status == 0) {
-        fs.writeFileSync(FilePath, outString, { encoding: "utf8" });
-      } else {
-        return -2;
-      }
-    } catch {
-      return -1;
-    }
-    return 0;
-  }
-
-  StatusErr(nErr, strErr) {
-    this._status = nErr;
-    this.AddStatusMessage(strErr);
-  } // End
-
-  // FUTURE: Replace this with this.statusMsg=...
-  // AddStatusMessage()
-  // Set _statusMsg to the new message/error string
-  // Also add the message to a log in stats object, if stats are being tracked.
-  AddStatusMessage(msg) {
-    this.statusMsg = msg;
-    if (this.NoStatsOrMsgs) {
-      return;
-    }
-    if (!this.trackingStats) {
-      return;
-    } // verifies that _meta.stats exists as an object
-  }
-
-  // Convert Javascript type to FlexJson type
-  convertType(v) {
-    if (v === null) {
-      return "null";
-    }
-    const vType = typeof v;
-    switch (vType) {
-      case "bigint":
-      case "number":
-        return "number";
-
-      case "boolean":
-        return "boolean";
-
-      case "object": // must be FlexJson object or it is not a true "object"
-        return ""; // indicates an error/invlid type
-
-      case "FlexJson":
-        return FlexJson.jsonType;
-
-      case "function":
-        return ""; // indicate error/invalid type
-
-      default:
-        return "string";
-    }
-  }
-}
-
-module.exports = FlexJson;
+/**
+ * FlexJson - Flexible JSON Parser and Manipulator
+ * 
+ * A JSON library that supports:
+ * - Comments (both // line and block comments)
+ * - Single-quoted, double-quoted, and unquoted strings
+ * - Trailing commas
+ * - Whitespace/comment preservation for round-trip editing
+ * 
+ * @module FlexJson
+ * @see https://github.com/tedtyree/FlexJson
+ */
+
+const FlexJsonConstants = require("./FlexJsonConstants.js");
+const FlexJsonPosition = require("./FlexJsonPosition.js");
+const FlexJsonMeta = require("./FlexJsonMeta.js");
+const fs = require("fs");
+
+// ============================================================================
+// Helper Functions
+// ============================================================================
+
+/**
+ * Check if a string is exactly 4 valid hexadecimal characters
+ * Used for validating \uXXXX unicode escape sequences
+ * @param {string} str - The string to check
+ * @returns {boolean} True if valid 4-digit hex
+ */
+function IsHex4(str) {
+  if (str == null || str.length !== 4) return false;
+  return /^[0-9A-Fa-f]{4}$/.test(str);
+}
+
+// ============================================================================
+// FlexJsonError Class
+// ============================================================================
+
+/**
+ * Custom error class for FlexJson parsing and serialization errors
+ * @extends Error
+ */
+class FlexJsonError extends Error {
+  /**
+   * @param {number} status - Negative error code
+   * @param {string} message - Human-readable error description
+   */
+  constructor(status, message) {
+    super(message);
+    this.name = "FlexJsonError";
+    this.status = status;
+  }
+}
+
+// ============================================================================
+// FlexJson Class
+// ============================================================================
+
+/**
+ * FlexJson - A flexible JSON node that can represent objects, arrays, or primitives
+ * Each node maintains its own type, value, and optional formatting metadata
+ */
+class FlexJson {
+  // ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
+  // Core Properties
+  // ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
+  
+  _status = 0;              // 0 = OK, negative = error
+  _jsonType = "";           // "object", "array", "string", "number", "boolean", "null"
+  _key = null;              // Key name (for items within an object)
+  _value = null;            // The actual value (primitive or array of FlexJson children)
+  _value_valid = false;     // Whether _value has been set
+  _jsonString = "";         // Serialized JSON string cache
+  _jsonString_valid = false; // Whether _jsonString is up-to-date
+
+  // ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
+  // Configuration Properties
+  // ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
+  
+  Parent;                           // Reference to parent FlexJson node
+  ALLOW_SINGLE_QUOTE_STRINGS = true; // Allow 'single quoted' strings
+  ENCODE_SINGLE_QUOTES = false;      // Encode ' as \' when serializing
+  _UseFlexJson = false;              // Enable flex mode (comments, unquoted strings)
+  _throwOnError = true;              // Throw FlexJsonError on errors (false = silent)
+
+  // ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
+  // Metadata Properties
+  // ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
+  
+  _meta = null;         // Stores spacing, comments, and status messages
+  _NoStatsOrMsgs = false; // Disable metadata tracking for performance
+
+  // ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
+  // Constructor
+  // ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
+
+  /**
+   * Create a new FlexJson instance
+   * @param {string} [InitialJSON] - Optional JSON string to parse immediately
+   * @param {boolean} [UseFlexJsonFlag] - Enable flex mode for parsing
+   * @param {boolean} [ThrowOnError] - If true (default), throw errors; if false, use silent mode
+   */
+  constructor(InitialJSON, UseFlexJsonFlag, ThrowOnError) {
+    if (ThrowOnError === true || ThrowOnError === false) {
+      this._throwOnError = ThrowOnError;
+    }
+    if (UseFlexJsonFlag === true || UseFlexJsonFlag === false) {
+      this.UseFlexJson = UseFlexJsonFlag;
+    }
+    if (InitialJSON) {
+      this.Deserialize(InitialJSON + "", 0, false);
+    }
+  }
+
+  // ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
+  // Internal Helper Methods
+  // ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
+
+  /** Initialize metadata object if not already created */
+  createMetaIfNeeded(force = false) {
+    if (this._NoStatsOrMsgs && !force) {
+      return;
+    }
+    if (!this._meta) {
+      this._meta = {};
+    }
+  }
+
+  /** Get a metadata property with optional default value */
+  _getMetaProp(name, defaultVal = null) {
+    return this._meta && this._meta[name] != null ? this._meta[name] : defaultVal;
+  }
+
+  /** Set a metadata property (creates meta object if needed) */
+  _setMetaProp(name, value) {
+    this.createMetaIfNeeded();
+    if (this._meta) {
+      this._meta[name] = value;
+    }
+  }
+
+  // ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
+  // Status and Error Properties
+  // ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
+
+  get trackingStats() {
+    if (this._meta == null || this._meta.status == null) {
+      return false;
+    }
+    return true;
+  }
+
+  get statusMsg() {
+    if (this._meta != null && this._meta.statusMsg != null) {
+      return this._meta.statusMsg;
+    }
+    return "";
+  }
+  set statusMsg(value) {
+    if (this.NoStatsOrMsgs) {
+      return;
+    }
+    this.createMetaIfNeeded();
+    if (this._meta != null) {
+      this._meta.statusMsg = value;
+    }
+    if (this._meta.msgLogOn) {
+      if (this._meta != null) {
+        this._meta.msgLog.add(value);
+      }
+    }
+  }
+
+  get tmpStatusMsg() {
+    if (this._meta && this._meta.tmpStatusMsg) {
+      return this._meta.tmpStatusMsg;
+    }
+    return "";
+  }
+  set tmpStatusMsg(value) {
+    this.createMetaIfNeeded();
+    if (this._meta) {
+      this._meta.tmpStatusMsg = value;
+    }
+  }
+
+  get key() {
+    return this._key;
+  }
+
+  set key(value) {
+    this._key = "" + value; // convert to string (future: allow numeric key?)
+  }
+
+  get preSpace() { return this._getMetaProp("preSpace"); }
+  set preSpace(value) { this._setMetaProp("preSpace", value); }
+
+  get postSpace() { return this._getMetaProp("postSpace"); }
+  set postSpace(value) { this._setMetaProp("postSpace", value); }
+
+  // ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
+  // Whitespace/Comment Preservation Properties (for round-trip editing)
+  // ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
+
+  get finalSpace() { return this._getMetaProp("finalSpace"); }
+  set finalSpace(value) { this._setMetaProp("finalSpace", value); }
+
+  get preKey() { return this._getMetaProp("preKey"); }
+  set preKey(value) { this._setMetaProp("preKey", value); }
+
+  get postKey() { return this._getMetaProp("postKey"); }
+  set postKey(value) { this._setMetaProp("postKey", value); }
+
+  /** Preserve whitespace when deserializing */
+  get keepSpacing() { return this._getMetaProp("keepSpacing", false); }
+  set keepSpacing(value) { this._setMetaProp("keepSpacing", value); }
+
+  /** Preserve comments when deserializing */
+  get keepComments() { return this._getMetaProp("keepComments", false); }
+  set keepComments(value) { this._setMetaProp("keepComments", value); }
+
+  // ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
+  // Mode Configuration Properties
+  // ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
+
+  /** Enable flex mode (comments, unquoted strings, single quotes) */
+  get UseFlexJson() {
+    return this._UseFlexJson;
+  }
+  set UseFlexJson(value) {
+    this._UseFlexJson = value;
+    this.InvalidateJsonString(1);
+  }
+
+  /** If true (default), throw FlexJsonError on errors. If false, use silent mode. */
+  get throwOnError() {
+    return this._throwOnError;
+  }
+  set throwOnError(value) {
+    this._throwOnError = value === true;
+  }
+
+  // ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
+  // Core Getters
+  // ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
+
+  /** Error status: 0 = OK, negative = error */
+  get Status() {
+    return this._status;
+  }
+
+  /** JSON type: "object", "array", "string", "number", "boolean", or "null" */
+  get jsonType() {
+    return this._jsonType;
+  }
+
+  /** Serialized JSON string (triggers serialization if needed) */
+  get jsonString() {
+    if (this._status != 0) {
+      return "";
+    }
+    if (!this._jsonString_valid) {
+      if (!this._value_valid) {
+        // *** Neither is valid - this JSON object is null
+        return "";
+      } else {
+        // *** First we need to serialize
+        this.SerializeMe();
+        if (this._status != 0) {
+          return "";
+        } // *** ERROR - status is invalid
+        return this._jsonString;
+      }
+    } else {
+      // jsonString was already valid.
+      return this._jsonString;
+    }
+  } // end getJsonString()
+
+  set jsonString(value) {
+    //if (trackingStats) { IncStats("stat_jsonString_set"); }
+    if (
+      this._status == 0 &&
+      this._jsonString_valid &&
+      this._jsonString == value
+    ) {
+      return;
+    } else {
+      this.Clear(false, 1); // *** This clears _value AND notifies Parent that we have changed.
+      this._jsonString = value;
+      this._jsonString_valid = true; // *** This does not indicate 'valid JSON syntax' but only that the string has been populated.
+    }
+  } //End Set jsonString
+
+  // Gets Array.Length or Dictionary.Count for array/object.  Gets 1 for all other types (string, number, null, etc.)  Returns 0 if _value is not valid.
+  get length() {
+    if (this._status != 0 || !this._value_valid) {
+      return 0;
+    }
+    if (this._jsonType == "null") {
+      return 0;
+    }
+    if (this._jsonType != "array" && this._jsonType != "object") {
+      return 1;
+    }
+    // otherwise we are a _jsonType="object" or _jsonType="array"
+    try {
+      return this._value.length;
+    } catch {
+      return -1;
+    } //Error occurred... return -1 to indicate an error
+  }
+  // There is no "set" for length
+
+  Clear(ClearParent = true, src = 0, bClearStats = false) {
+    this._status = 0;
+    this._jsonType = "";
+    this._value = null;
+    this._value_valid = false;
+    this.InvalidateJsonString(src); // *** Resets _jsonString and _jsonString_valid (and notifies Parent of changes)
+    this.endpos = 0;
+    if (ClearParent) {
+      this.Parent = null;
+    }
+  } // end Clear()
+
+  InvalidateJsonString(src = 0) {
+    this._jsonString = "";
+    this._jsonString_valid = false;
+    // *** if our jsonString is invalid, { the PARENT jsonString would also be invalid
+    if (!(this.Parent == null)) {
+      this.Parent.InvalidateJsonString(2);
+    }
+  } // end InvalidateJsonString()
+
+  keepSpacingAndComments(spacing_flag = -1, comments_flag = -1) {
+    if (typeof spacing_flag == "boolean") {
+      this.keepSpacing = spacing_flag;
+    } else {
+      if (spacing_flag == 0) {
+        this.keepSpacing = false;
+      }
+      if (spacing_flag == 1) {
+        this.keepSpacing = true;
+      }
+    }
+    if (typeof comments_flag == "boolean") {
+      this.keepComments = comments_flag;
+    } else {
+      if (comments_flag == 0) {
+        this.keepComments = false;
+      }
+      if (comments_flag == 1) {
+        this.keepComments = true;
+      }
+    }
+  }
+
+  ValidateValue() {
+    if (this._status != 0) {
+      return false;
+    } // *** ERROR - status is invalid
+    if (!this._value_valid) {
+      if (!this._jsonString_valid) {
+        // *** Neither is valid - this JSON object is null - Cannot validate value
+        return false;
+      } else {
+        // *** First we need to Deserialize
+        DeserializeMe();
+        if (this._status != 0) {
+          return false;
+        } // *** ERROR - status is invalid - failed to Deserialize
+        return true;
+      }
+    } else {
+      return true;
+    }
+  }
+
+  value(idx, dotNotation = true) {
+    return this.v(idx, dotNotation);
+  }
+
+  v(idx, dotNotation = true) {
+    //if (trackingStats) { IncStats("stat_Value_get"); } // FUTURE-NEW
+    if (!idx) {
+      // return the value of this item
+      if (!this.ValidateValue()) {
+        return null;
+      } // *** Unable to validate/Deserialize the value
+      // If object or array, return null
+      if (this._jsonType == "object" || this._jsonType == "array") {
+        return null;
+      } // FUTURE-NEW: return object/array converted into javascript object/array? (indicate iteration level in method parameters)
+      return this._value;
+    } else {
+      return this.i(idx, dotNotation).v();
+    }
+  }
+
+  get thisValue() {
+    return this.v();
+  }
+  set thisValue(value) {
+    // sets the value of the FlexJson object and the jsonType
+    this.InvalidateJsonString(); // indicate that the JsonString has changed
+    this._status = 0;
+    this._jsonType = this.convertType(value);
+    if (this._jsonType == "string") {
+      this._value = value + ""; // force conversion to string
+      this._value_valid = true;
+    } else if (this._jsonType) {
+      this._value = value;
+      this._value_valid = true;
+    } else {
+      this._jsonType = "error";
+      this._value = null;
+      this._value_valid = false;
+    }
+  }
+
+  toJsonArray(idx, dotNotation = true) {
+    //if (trackingStats) { IncStats("stat_Value_get"); } // FUTURE-NEW
+    if (!idx) {
+      // return the value of this item
+      if (!this.ValidateValue()) {
+        return null;
+      } // *** Unable to validate/Deserialize the value
+      // If object or array, return null
+      if (this._jsonType == "object" || this._jsonType == "array") {
+        return this._value;
+      } // FUTURE-NEW: return object/array converted into javascript object/array? (indicate iteration level in method parameters)
+      return null;
+    } else {
+      return this.i(idx, dotNotation).toJsonArray();
+    }
+    return null;
+  }
+
+  ConvertToArray() {
+    // convert this FlexJson from an Object to an Array
+    // We can do this because the only real different between an array and an object is that the object has key values.
+    if (this._jsonType != "object") {
+      return;
+    }
+    this._jsonType = "array";
+    this.InvalidateJsonString();
+  }
+
+  item(idx, dotNotation = true) {
+    return this.i(idx, dotNotation);
+  }
+  i(idx, dotNotation = true) {
+    //if (trackingStats) { IncStats("stat_Item_get"); } // FUTURE-NEW
+
+    if (Number.isInteger(idx)) {
+      if (this.jsonType != "array" && this.jsonType != "object") {
+        return FlexJson.CreateNull();
+      }
+      if (idx < 0 || idx > this.length) {
+        return null;
+      } // error: we are past the end of the array/object
+      return this._value[idx];
+    }
+
+    var searchList;
+    let nextItem = this;
+    let k = -99; // tells loop not to perform 'next' function
+    if (dotNotation) {
+      searchList = idx.split(".");
+    } else {
+      searchList = [idx];
+    }
+
+    for (let sToken of searchList) {
+      let sKey = sToken.trim();
+      k = -1;
+      // Note: missing sKey causes failure to find item FUTURE: should we throw an error?
+      if (
+        sKey &&
+        (nextItem._jsonType == "object" || nextItem._jsonType == "array")
+      ) {
+        let nKey = null;
+        try {
+          let nCheck = parseInt(sKey);
+          if (!isNaN(nCheck)) {
+            nKey = nCheck;
+          }
+        } catch (e) {}
+        if (nKey) {
+          if (nKey < 0 || nKey >= this._value.length) {
+            break;
+          }
+          k = nKey;
+        } else {
+          if (nextItem._jsonType == "object") {
+            k = nextItem.indexOfKey(sKey);
+          } else {
+            // type array: error because IDX for an array must be an integer
+            // FUTURE - throw error here?
+            break;
+          }
+        }
+      }
+      if (k < 0) {
+        break;
+      }
+      nextItem = nextItem._value[k];
+    }
+    if (k < 0) {
+      return FlexJson.CreateNull();
+    } // NOTE! You can check that there is no PARENT on this null object to see that it was NOT-FOUND
+
+    return nextItem;
+  }
+
+  forEach(callback) {
+    if (this.jsonType == "object" || this.jsonType == "array") {
+      for (let i = 0; i < this.length; i++) {
+        callback(this.i(i));
+      } // end for
+    } else {
+      callback(this); // if we are not an object/array, then callback one time for this object
+      // FUTURE: Should we call back 0 times if we are a NULL or status!=0?
+    }
+  } // end forEach()
+
+  // This replaces addToObjBase and addToArrayBase (if array, second argument is not needed)
+  addToBase(value, idx = "") {
+    this.add(value, idx, false);
+  }
+
+  add(value, idx = "", dotNotation = true) {
+    var newV;
+    if (
+      value !== null &&
+      typeof value === "object" &&
+      value.constructor.name === "FlexJson"
+    ) {
+      newV = value; // FUTURE: clone?
+    } else {
+      newV = new FlexJson();
+      newV.thisValue = value; // This also sets the jsonType
+    }
+    newV.Parent = this;
+    newV._throwOnError = this._throwOnError; // Inherit error handling mode
+
+    // Can only add to an Object or Array
+    if (this._jsonType == "object") {
+      let foundItem = this.i(idx, dotNotation);
+      if (foundItem.Parent) {
+        // Item exists... replace the value
+        foundItem.thisValue = value; // this also sets jsonType
+        this.InvalidateJsonString(); // indicate that the JsonString has changed.
+      } else {
+        this.InvalidateJsonString(); // indicate that the JsonString has changed.
+        // Item does not exist... we need to add the item (be aware of dotNotation)
+        if (dotNotation && idx.indexOf(".") >= 0) {
+          // FUTURE: WHAT TO DO HERE!!
+        } else {
+          newV.key = idx;
+          this._value.push(newV);
+          //}
+        } // else
+      } // else
+    } else if (this._jsonType == "array") {
+      this.InvalidateJsonString(); // indicate that the JsonString has changed.
+      // Always push array value onto the end of the array
+      newV.key = "";
+      this._value.push(newV);
+    } else {
+      throw "ERROR: add() is only available for FlexJson object or array types.";
+    }
+  }
+
+  indexOfKey(Search) {
+    if (Search == null) {
+      return -1;
+    }
+    let s = Search.toLowerCase();
+    if (!this.ValidateValue()) {
+      return -1;
+    }
+    if (this._jsonType != "object") {
+      return -1;
+    } // Future: do we want to search for values here?  probably not.  Implement IndexOf for search of values?
+    let k = 0;
+    // NOTE: Here we do a linear search.  FUTURE: if list is sorted, do a binary search.
+    for (let o of this._value) {
+      try {
+        if (o._key.toLowerCase() == s) {
+          return k;
+        }
+      } catch {}
+      k++;
+    }
+    return -1;
+  }
+
+  contains(idx, dotNotation = true) {
+    let foundItem = this.i(idx, dotNotation);
+    if (foundItem.Parent) {
+      return true;
+    } else {
+      return false;
+    }
+  }
+
+  getStr(idx, defaultValue = "", dotNotation = true) {
+    let foundItem = this.i(idx, dotNotation);
+    if (foundItem.Parent) {
+      return foundItem.toStr(defaultValue);
+    } else {
+      return defaultValue;
+    }
+  }
+
+  getNum(idx, defaultValue = 0, dotNotation = true) {
+    // FUTURE-NEW: is there a more efficient way?
+    let foundItem = this.i(idx, dotNotation);
+    if (foundItem.Parent) {
+      return foundItem.toNum(defaultValue);
+    } else {
+      return defaultValue;
+    }
+  }
+
+  getBool(idx, defaultValue = false, dotNotation = true) {
+    // FUTURE-NEW: is there a more efficient way?
+    let foundItem = this.i(idx, dotNotation);
+    if (foundItem.Parent) {
+      return foundItem.toBool(defaultValue);
+    } else {
+      return defaultValue;
+    }
+  }
+
+  toStr(defaultValue = "") {
+    if (this._status != 0) {
+      return defaultValue;
+    } // Invalid status
+    if (!this._value_valid) {
+      return defaultValue;
+    }
+    if (this._jsonType == FlexJsonConstants.typeString) {
+      return this._value;
+    }
+    if (
+      this._jsonType == FlexJsonConstants.typeNull ||
+      this._jsonType == FlexJsonConstants.typeObject ||
+      this._jsonType == FlexJsonConstants.typeArray
+    ) {
+      return defaultValue;
+    }
+    return this._value + "";
+  }
+
+  toNum(defaultValue = "") {
+    if (this._status != 0) {
+      return defaultValue;
+    } // Invalid status
+    if (!this._value_valid) {
+      return defaultValue;
+    }
+    if (this._jsonType == FlexJsonConstants.typeNumber) {
+      return this._value;
+    }
+    if (
+      this._jsonType == FlexJsonConstants.typeNull ||
+      this._jsonType == FlexJsonConstants.typeObject ||
+      this._jsonType == FlexJsonConstants.typeArray
+    ) {
+      return defaultValue;
+    }
+    return Number(this._value);
+  }
+
+  toBool(defaultValue = "") {
+    if (this._status != 0) {
+      return defaultValue;
+    } // Invalid status
+    if (!this._value_valid) {
+      return defaultValue;
+    }
+    if (this._jsonType == FlexJsonConstants.typeBoolean) {
+      return this._value;
+    }
+    if (
+      this._jsonType == FlexJsonConstants.typeNull ||
+      this._jsonType == FlexJsonConstants.typeObject ||
+      this._jsonType == FlexJsonConstants.typeArray
+    ) {
+      return defaultValue;
+    }
+    return this.parseBoolean(this._value);
+  }
+
+  /** Parse a value as boolean (handles string "false", "False", "FALSE") */
+  parseBoolean(v) {
+    return !v || v === "false" || v === "False" || v === "FALSE" ? false : true;
+  }
+
+  // ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
+  // Static Factory Methods
+  // ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
+
+  /** Create a FlexJson node representing null */
+  static CreateNull() {
+    let j = new FlexJson();
+    j._value = null;
+    j._jsonType = "null";
+    j._value_valid = true;
+    j._jsonString = "null";
+    j._jsonString_valid = true;
+    j._status = 0;
+    return j;
+  }
+
+  // ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
+  // Serialization Methods
+  // ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
+
+  /**
+   * Serialize this FlexJson object to a JSON string
+   * Updates the internal _jsonString cache
+   * @returns {number} 0 = success, -1 = error
+   */
+  SerializeMe() {
+    let parts = [];
+    let i = 0;
+    let k = 0;
+    let preKey = "";
+    let postKey = "";
+    //if (this.trackingStats) { IncStats("stat_SerializeMe"); }
+    if (this._status != 0) {
+      return -1;
+    }
+    if (!this.ValidateValue()) {
+      return -1;
+    }
+    try {
+      let preSpace = this.preSpace;
+      if (preSpace) {
+        // Here we ignore keepSpacing/keepComments - these flags are only used during the deserialize process
+        parts.push(preSpace); // preSpace of overall object/array or item
+      }
+      switch (this._jsonType) {
+        case "object":
+          parts.push("{");
+          i = 0;
+          this._value.forEach((o) => {
+            if (i > 0) {
+              parts.push(",");
+            }
+            let k = o.SerializeMe();
+
+            // Here we ignore keepSpacing/keepComments - these flags are only used during the deserialize process
+            // preSpace and postSpace are already added during the SerializeMe() call above.  Here we add preKye and postKey.
+            let oPreKey = o.preKey || "";
+            let oPostKey = o.postKey || "";
+
+            if (k == 0 && o.Status == 0) {
+              parts.push(
+                oPreKey +
+                  '"' +
+                  o.key.toString() +
+                  '"' +
+                  oPostKey +
+                  ":" +
+                  o.jsonString
+              );
+            } else {
+              this.StatusErr(
+                -53,
+                "ERROR: Failed to serialize Object item " +
+                  i +
+                  " [err-53][" +
+                  o.Status +
+                  ":" +
+                  o.StatusMessage +
+                  "]"
+              );
+              return -1;
+            }
+            i++;
+          }); // end foreach
+          parts.push("}");
+          break;
+        case "array":
+          parts.push("[");
+          i = 0;
+          this._value.forEach((o) => {
+            if (i > 0) {
+              parts.push(",");
+            }
+            k = o.SerializeMe();
+            if (k == 0 && o.Status == 0) {
+              parts.push(o.jsonString);
+            } else {
+              this.StatusErr(
+                -52,
+                "ERROR: Failed to serialize Array item " + i + " [err-52]"
+              );
+              return -1;
+            }
+            i++;
+          });
+          parts.push("]");
+          break;
+        case "null":
+          parts.push("null");
+          break;
+        case "string":
+          parts.push('"' + this.EncodeString(this.toStr()) + '"');
+          break;
+        default:
+          parts.push(this.toStr()); // FUTURE: better approach? seems prone to problems
+          break;
+      }
+      let postSpace = "" + (this.postSpace || "") + (this.finalSpace || "");
+      if (postSpace) {
+        parts.push(postSpace);
+      }
+      this._jsonString = parts.join("");
+      this._jsonString_valid = true;
+    } catch (err94) {
+      this._jsonString = "";
+      this.InvalidateJsonString(1);
+      this.StatusErr(
+        -94,
+        "ERROR: SerializeMe() failed to serialize the FlexJson object. [err-94] " +
+          err94.message
+      );
+      return -1;
+    }
+    return 0;
+  } // end SerializeMe()
+
+  /** Encode a string for JSON output (escape special characters) */
+  EncodeString(vString = "") {
+    let s = vString;
+    s = s.replace(/\\/g, "\\\\"); // Must be first to avoid double-escaping
+    s = s.replace(/\t/g, "\\t");
+    s = s.replace(/\n/g, "\\n");
+    s = s.replace(/\r/g, "\\r");
+    s = s.replace(/"/g, '\\"');
+    if (this.ENCODE_SINGLE_QUOTES) {
+      s = s.replace(/'/g, "\\'");
+    }
+    return s;
+  }
+
+  // ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
+  // Deserialization Methods
+  // ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
+
+  /**
+   * Deserialize a JSON string (strict mode - standard JSON only)
+   * @param {string} snewString - The JSON string to parse
+   * @param {number} [start=0] - Starting position in the string
+   * @param {boolean} [OkToClip=false] - Allow extra content after JSON
+   * @returns {number} Status code (0 = success)
+   */
+  Deserialize(snewString, start = 0, OkToClip = false) {
+    if (this.trackingStats) {
+      IncStats("stat_Deserialize");
+    }
+    this.Clear(false, 1);
+    this._jsonString = snewString;
+    this._jsonString_valid = true;
+
+    let startPos = new FlexJsonPosition(0, start, start);
+    // FUTURE: determine start position LINE COUNT???
+    // if (start>0) { lineCount = countLines(ref _jsonString, start); }
+
+    this.DeserializeMeI(this._jsonString, startPos, OkToClip);
+    return this._status;
+  } // End Function
+
+  DeserializeFlex(snewString, start = 0, OkToClip = false) {
+    this.UseFlexJson = true;
+    this.Deserialize(snewString, start, OkToClip);
+    return this._status;
+  } // End Function
+
+  DeserializeMeI(
+    meJsonString,
+    start,
+    OkToClip = false,
+    MustBeString = false,
+    SearchFor1 = "*",
+    SearchFor2 = "*",
+    SearchFor3 = "*"
+  ) {
+    var c;
+    var c2;
+    let getSpace = "";
+    let meString = "";
+    //if (trackingStats) { IncStats("stat_DeserializeMeI"); } // FUTURE-NEW
+    this._status = 0;
+    this.StartPosition = start.clone(); // store in meta (if ok to do so)
+    let meStatus = FlexJsonConstants.ST_BEFORE_ITEM;
+    let quoteChar = "";
+    this._key = null; // *** Default
+    this._value = null; // *** Default
+    this._value_valid = false; // *** In case of error, default is invalid
+    this._jsonType = FlexJsonConstants.typeNull; // default
+    let jsonEndPoint = meJsonString.length - 1;
+
+    let mePos = start.clone(); // FlexJsonPosition USE THIS TO TRACK POSITION, THEN SET endpos ONCE DONE OR ON ERROR
+    let keepSP = this.keepSpacing;
+    let keepCM = this.keepComments;
+
+    //FlexJsonPosition startOfMe = null;
+    let safety = jsonEndPoint + 999;
+    let ok = false;
+    let breakBreak = false;
+    let storeStatus = FlexJsonConstants.ST_BEFORE_ITEM; // should not matter, but just in case
+    while (
+      meStatus >= 0 &&
+      this._status >= 0 &&
+      mePos.absolutePosition <= jsonEndPoint
+    ) {
+      c = meJsonString.charAt(mePos.absolutePosition);
+      if (mePos.absolutePosition < jsonEndPoint) {
+        c2 = meJsonString.substring(mePos.absolutePosition, mePos.absolutePosition + 2);
+      } else {
+        c2 = "";
+      }
+
+      switch (meStatus) {
+        case FlexJsonConstants.ST_BEFORE_ITEM:
+          if (SearchFor1 != "*" && c == SearchFor1) {
+            breakBreak = true;
+            break;
+          } // Found search character
+          if (SearchFor2 != "*" && c == SearchFor2) {
+            breakBreak = true;
+            break;
+          } // Found search character
+          if (SearchFor3 != "*" && c == SearchFor3) {
+            breakBreak = true;
+            break;
+          } // Found search character
+          if (c == " " || c == "\t" || c == "\n" || c == "\r") {
+            // white space before item
+            ok = true;
+            if (keepSP) {
+              getSpace += c;
+            }
+          } else if (c == "{") {
+            if (MustBeString) {
+              this.StatusErr(
+                -124,
+                "Invalid character '{' found. Expected string. @Line:" +
+                  mePos.lineNumber +
+                  ", @Position:" +
+                  mePos.linePosition +
+                  " [err-124]"
+              );
+              breakBreak = true;
+              break;
+            }
+            ok = true;
+            //startOfMe=mePos;
+            this._jsonType = FlexJsonConstants.typeObject;
+            mePos = this.DeserializeObject(meJsonString, mePos, keepSP, keepCM);
+            meStatus = FlexJsonConstants.ST_AFTER_ITEM;
+            if (this._status != 0) {
+              breakBreak = true;
+              break;
+            } // ERROR message should have already been generated.
+          } else if (c == "[") {
+            if (MustBeString) {
+              this.StatusErr(
+                -125,
+                "Invalid character '[' found. Expected string. @Line:" +
+                  mePos.lineNumber +
+                  ", @Position:" +
+                  mePos.linePosition +
+                  " [err-125]"
+              );
+              breakBreak = true;
+              break;
+            }
+            ok = true;
+            //startOfMe=mePos;
+            this._jsonType = FlexJsonConstants.typeArray;
+            mePos = this.DeserializeArray(meJsonString, mePos, keepSP, keepCM);
+            meStatus = FlexJsonConstants.ST_AFTER_ITEM;
+            if (this._status != 0) {
+              breakBreak = true;
+              break;
+            } // ERROR message should have already been generated.
+          } else if (c == '"') {
+            ok = true;
+            //startOfMe=mePos;
+            this._jsonType = FlexJsonConstants.typeString;
+            quoteChar = '"';
+            this._stringQuote = '"';
+            meStatus = FlexJsonConstants.ST_STRING;
+          } else if (this.ALLOW_SINGLE_QUOTE_STRINGS && c == "'") {
+            ok = true;
+            //startOfMe=mePos;
+            this._jsonType = FlexJsonConstants.typeString;
+            quoteChar = "'";
+            this._stringQuote = "'";
+            meStatus = FlexJsonConstants.ST_STRING;
+          } else if (this._UseFlexJson) {
+            if (c2 == "//") {
+              // start of to-end-of-line comment
+              ok = true;
+              meStatus = FlexJsonConstants.ST_EOL_COMMENT;
+              mePos.increment(); // so we skip 2 characters
+              if (keepCM) {
+                getSpace += c2;
+              }
+            }
+            if (c2 == "/*") {
+              // start of asterix comment
+              ok = true;
+              meStatus = FlexJsonConstants.ST_AST_COMMENT;
+              mePos.increment(); // so we skip 2 characters
+              if (keepCM) {
+                getSpace += c2;
+              }
+            }
+          }
+          // With or without FlexJSON, we allow simple strings without quotes - cannot contain commas, spaces, special characters, etc
+          // Later we will determine if this is a number, boolean, null, or unquoted-string (string is only allowed with FlexJSON)
+          if (
+            (c >= "A" && c <= "Z") ||
+            (c >= "a" && c <= "z") ||
+            (c >= "0" && c <= "9") ||
+            c == "-" ||
+            c == "_" ||
+            c == "."
+          ) {
+            ok = true;
+            //startOfMe=mePos;
+            this._jsonType = "nqstring"; // NOTE! THIS IS NOT A REAL TYPE - IT IS A FLAG FOR LATER
+            this._stringQuote = " ";
+            meStatus = FlexJsonConstants.ST_STRING_NO_QUOTE;
+          }
+          if (!ok) {
+            // generate error condition - invalid character
+            this.StatusErr(-102, "ERROR: Invalid character. [err-102]");
+            breakBreak = true;
+            break;
+          }
+          // if we are no longer in pre-space territory, the we need to store the whitespace/comments
+          if (meStatus >= FlexJsonConstants.ST_STRING) {
+            if (keepCM || keepSP) {
+              this.preSpace = getSpace;
+              getSpace = ""; // clear
+            }
+          }
+          if (
+            meStatus == FlexJsonConstants.ST_STRING ||
+            meStatus == FlexJsonConstants.ST_STRING_NO_QUOTE
+          ) {
+            meString = "";
+            if (c != '"' && c != "'") {
+              meString += c;
+            }
+          }
+          break;
+        case FlexJsonConstants.ST_AFTER_ITEM:
+          if (SearchFor1 != "*" && c == SearchFor1) {
+            breakBreak = true;
+            break;
+          } // Found search character
+          if (SearchFor2 != "*" && c == SearchFor2) {
+            breakBreak = true;
+            break;
+          } // Found search character
+          if (SearchFor3 != "*" && c == SearchFor3) {
+            breakBreak = true;
+            break;
+          } // Found search character
+          if (c == " " || c == "\t" || c == "\n" || c == "\r") {
+            // white space before item
+            ok = true;
+            if (keepSP) {
+              getSpace += c;
+            }
+          }
+          if (this._UseFlexJson) {
+            if (c2 == "//") {
+              // start of to-end-of-line comment
+              ok = true;
+              storeStatus = meStatus;
+              meStatus = FlexJsonConstants.ST_EOL_COMMENT_POST;
+              mePos.increment(); // so we skip 2 characters
+              if (keepCM) {
+                getSpace += c2;
+              }
+            }
+            if (c2 == "/*") {
+              // start of asterix comment
+              ok = true;
+              storeStatus = meStatus;
+              meStatus = FlexJsonConstants.ST_AST_COMMENT_POST;
+              mePos.increment(); // so we skip 2 characters
+              if (keepCM) {
+                getSpace += c2;
+              }
+            }
+          }
+          if (!ok) {
+            // generate error condition (unless OKToClip)
+            if (OkToClip) {
+              // if we are keeping comments+ then we should probably grab this garbage text
+              // This will allow us to modify a FlexJSON text file/block and write it back "AS IS"
+              if (keepCM) {
+                let finalGarbage = meJsonString.substring(
+                  mePos.absolutePosition,
+                  meJsonString.length
+                );
+                getSpace += finalGarbage;
+              }
+              breakBreak = true;
+              break;
+            }
+            this.StatusErr(
+              -192,
+              "ERROR: Additional text found after end of JSON. [err-192]"
+            );
+            breakBreak = true;
+            break;
+          }
+          break;
+        case FlexJsonConstants.ST_EOL_COMMENT:
+        case FlexJsonConstants.ST_EOL_COMMENT_POST:
+          if (c2 == FlexJsonConstants.NEWLINE) {
+            ok = true;
+            if (keepSP) {
+              getSpace += c2;
+            }
+            meStatus = storeStatus;
+
+            mePos.incrementLine(2);
+            continue; // NOTE: Here we must skip the end of the do loop so that we do not increment the counter again
+          } else if (c == "\n" || c == "\r") {
+            ok = true;
+            if (keepSP) {
+              getSpace += c;
+            }
+            meStatus = storeStatus;
+          } else {
+            // absorb all comment characters
+            ok = true;
+            if (keepSP) {
+              getSpace += c;
+            }
+          }
+          break;
+        case FlexJsonConstants.ST_AST_COMMENT:
+        case FlexJsonConstants.ST_AST_COMMENT_POST:
+          if (c2 == "*/") {
+            ok = true;
+            if (keepSP) {
+              getSpace += c2;
+            }
+            meStatus = storeStatus;
+
+            mePos.increment(); // increment by 1 here - increments again at bottom of do loop
+          } else {
+            // absorb all comment characters
+            ok = true;
+            if (keepSP) {
+              getSpace += c;
+            }
+          }
+          break;
+        case FlexJsonConstants.ST_STRING:
+          if (c == quoteChar) {
+            // we reached the end of the string
+            ok = true;
+            meStatus = FlexJsonConstants.ST_AFTER_ITEM;
+          } else if (c == "\\") {
+            // escaped character
+            mePos.increment();
+            c = meJsonString[mePos.absolutePosition];
+            switch (c) {
+              case "\\":
+              case "/":
+              case "'":
+              case '"':
+                meString += c;
+                break;
+              case "t":
+                meString += "\t"; //Tab character
+                break;
+              case "b":
+                meString += "\b"; // Backspace character
+                break;
+              case "f":
+                meString += "\f"; // Form feed character
+                break;
+              case "n":
+                meString += "\n"; //New Line Character
+                break;
+              case "r":
+                meString += "\r"; //LineFeedCarriageReturn
+                break;
+              case "v":
+                meString += "\v"; // Vertical tab character
+                break;
+              case "u":
+                // *** Here we need to get the next 4 digits and turn them into a character
+                if (mePos.absolutePosition > jsonEndPoint - 4) {
+                  this.StatusErr(
+                    -157,
+                    "ERROR: Invalid \\u escape sequence. [err-157]"
+                  );
+                  breakBreak = true;
+                  break;
+                }
+                c2 = meJsonString.substring(mePos.absolutePosition + 1, mePos.absolutePosition + 5);
+                if (IsHex4(c2)) {
+                  let charCode = parseInt(c2, 16);
+                  meString += String.fromCharCode(charCode);
+                  mePos.increment(4);
+                } else {
+                  // *** Invalid format
+                  this.StatusErr(
+                    -151,
+                    "Expected \\u escape sequence to be followed by a valid four-digit hex value @Line:" +
+                      mePos.lineNumber +
+                      " @Position:" +
+                      mePos.linePosition +
+                      " (e-151)"
+                  );
+                  breakBreak = true;
+                  break;
+                }
+                break;
+              default:
+                // *** Invalid format
+                this.StatusErr(
+                  -152,
+                  "The \\ escape character is not followed by a valid value @Line:" +
+                    mePos.lineNumber +
+                    " @Position:" +
+                    mePos.linePosition +
+                    " (e-152)"
+                );
+                breakBreak = true;
+                break;
+            } //End switch
+          } else {
+            meString += c;
+          }
+          break;
+        case FlexJsonConstants.ST_STRING_NO_QUOTE:
+          if (SearchFor1 != "*" && c == SearchFor1) {
+            breakBreak = true;
+            break;
+          } // Found search character
+          if (SearchFor2 != "*" && c == SearchFor2) {
+            breakBreak = true;
+            break;
+          } // Found search character
+          if (SearchFor3 != "*" && c == SearchFor3) {
+            breakBreak = true;
+            break;
+          } // Found search character
+          if (
+            (c >= "A" && c <= "Z") ||
+            (c >= "a" && c <= "z") ||
+            (c >= "0" && c <= "9") ||
+            c == "-" ||
+            c == "_" ||
+            c == "."
+          ) {
+            ok = true;
+            meString += c;
+          } else if (c2 == FlexJsonConstants.NEWLINE) {
+            // consume this as whitespace
+            ok = true;
+            if (keepSP) {
+              getSpace += c2;
+            }
+            mePos.incrementLine(2);
+            meStatus = FlexJsonConstants.ST_AFTER_ITEM;
+            continue; // so that we do not increment mePos again
+          } else if (c == " " || c == "\t" || c == "\r" || c == "\n") {
+            // consume this as whitespace
+            ok = true;
+            if (keepSP) {
+              getSpace += c;
+            }
+            meStatus = FlexJsonConstants.ST_AFTER_ITEM;
+          } else {
+            // not a valid character
+            this.StatusErr(
+              -159,
+              "Invalid character found in non-quoted string: char:[" +
+                c +
+                "] @Line:" +
+                mePos.lineNumber +
+                " @Position:" +
+                mePos.linePosition +
+                " (e-159)"
+            );
+            breakBreak = true;
+            break;
+          }
+          break;
+      }
+      if (breakBreak) {
+        break;
+      }
+      // move to next character
+      if (c == "\n") {
+        mePos.incrementLine(1);
+      } else {
+        mePos.increment();
+      }
+      safety--;
+      if (safety <= 0) {
+        this.StatusErr(
+          -169,
+          "Maximum iterations reached: DeserializeMe(): @Line:" +
+            mePos.lineNumber +
+            " @Position:" +
+            mePos.linePosition +
+            " (e-169)"
+        );
+        break;
+      }
+    }
+
+    if (this._status == 0) {
+      switch (this._jsonType) {
+        case FlexJsonConstants.typeString:
+          this._value = meString;
+          break;
+        case "nqstring": // NOTE! This is objType must be converted to another type here! nqstring is not a real type.
+          let tmpString = meString; // do not need to trim since we should have consumed the whitespace in getSpace
+          if (!MustBeString) {
+            if (tmpString.length < 7) {
+              var tmpStringUpper = tmpString.trim().toUpperCase();
+              if (tmpStringUpper == "" || tmpStringUpper == "NULL") {
+                this._value = "";
+                this._jsonType = FlexJsonConstants.typeNull;
+              } else if (tmpStringUpper == "TRUE") {
+                this._value = true;
+                this._jsonType = FlexJsonConstants.typeBoolean;
+              } else if (tmpStringUpper == "FALSE") {
+                this._value = false;
+                this._jsonType = FlexJsonConstants.typeBoolean;
+              }
+            }
+            // If the above did not match, lets see if this text is numeric...
+            if (this._jsonType == "nqstring") {
+              try {
+                let valueCheck = parseFloat(tmpString);
+                if (!isNaN(valueCheck)) {
+                  this._value = valueCheck;
+
+                  // It worked... keep going...
+                  this._jsonType = FlexJsonConstants.typeNumber;
+                }
+              } catch (e) {}
+            }
+          }
+          // If STILL not identified, then it must be a STRING (ONLY valid as an unquoted string if using FlexJson!)
+          if (this._jsonType == "nqstring") {
+            this._value = tmpString;
+            this._jsonType = FlexJsonConstants.typeString;
+            if (!this._UseFlexJson) {
+              // ERROR: we found an unquoted string and we are not using FlexJson
+              // NOTE! Error occurred at the START of this item
+              this.StatusErr(
+                -199,
+                "Encountered unquoted string: @Line:" +
+                  start.lineNumber +
+                  " @Position:" +
+                  start.linePosition +
+                  " (e-199)"
+              );
+            }
+          }
+          break;
+        // NOTE: other cases fall through: object, array, null(default if nothing found)
+      } // end switch
+    } // end if (this._status != 0)
+
+    // indicate if the new _value is valid
+    if (this._status == 0) {
+      this._value_valid = true;
+    } else {
+      this._value_valid = false;
+    }
+
+    // Store original JSON string and mark as "valid"
+    if (this._status == 0) {
+      this._jsonString = meJsonString.substring(
+        start.absolutePosition,
+        mePos.absolutePosition
+      );
+      this._jsonString_valid = true;
+    } else {
+      this._jsonString = meJsonString;
+      this._jsonString_valid = false;
+    }
+    if (getSpace != null) {
+      this.finalSpace = getSpace;
+    }
+    this.EndPosition = mePos;
+
+    return mePos;
+  }
+
+  CreatePartClone(keepSP = false, keepCM = false) {
+    let jClone = new FlexJson();
+    if (this.UseFlexJson) {
+      jClone.UseFlexJson = true;
+    }
+    if (keepSP) {
+      jClone.keepSpacing = true;
+    }
+    if (keepCM) {
+      jClone.keepComments = true;
+    }
+    jClone.ALLOW_SINGLE_QUOTE_STRINGS = this.ALLOW_SINGLE_QUOTE_STRINGS;
+    jClone._throwOnError = this._throwOnError; // Propagate error handling mode
+    return jClone;
+  }
+
+  DeserializeObject(meJsonString, start, keepSP, keepCM) {
+    var j2;
+    var jNew;
+    let Key = "";
+    let preKey = "";
+    let postKey = "";
+    var c;
+
+    let v = [];
+    let mePos = start;
+    mePos.increment(); // *** IMPORTANT! Move past { symbol
+    let skipToNext = false;
+
+    let safety = 99999;
+    while (true) {
+      skipToNext = false;
+      j2 = this.CreatePartClone(keepSP, keepCM);
+      let newPos = j2.DeserializeMeI(
+        meJsonString,
+        mePos.clone(),
+        true,
+        true,
+        ":",
+        ",",
+        "}"
+      ); // finding a } means there are no more items in the object
+
+      if (j2._status == 0 && j2._jsonType == FlexJsonConstants.typeNull) {
+        // special case where item is NULL/BLANK - ok to skip...
+        c = meJsonString.charAt(newPos.absolutePosition);
+        if (c == "," || c == "}") {
+          mePos = newPos;
+          skipToNext = true;
+        } else {
+          this.StatusErr(
+            -18,
+            "Failed to find key in key:value pair @Line:" +
+              mePos.lineNumber +
+              " @Position:" +
+              mePos.linePosition +
+              " (e-18) [" +
+              j2.StatusMessage +
+              "]"
+          );
+          break;
+        }
+      } else if (j2._status != 0) {
+        this.StatusErr(
+          -19,
+          "Failed to find key in key:value pair @Line:" +
+            mePos.lineNumber +
+            " @Position:" +
+            mePos.linePosition +
+            " (e-19) [" +
+            j2.StatusMessage +
+            "]"
+        );
+        break;
+        // }
+      } else if (j2._jsonType != "string") {
+        this.StatusErr(
+          -21,
+          "Key name in key:value pair must be a string @Line:" +
+            mePos.lineNumber +
+            " @Position:" +
+            mePos.linePosition +
+            " (e-21)"
+        );
+        break;
+      } else {
+        // capture the white space/comments here
+        if (keepCM || keepSP) {
+          preKey = j2.preSpace;
+          postKey = j2.finalSpace;
+        }
+        Key = j2._value; // already verified that this is type "string"
+        this._keyQuote = j2._stringQuote;
+        mePos = newPos;
+      }
+
+      j2 = null;
+
+      if (!skipToNext) {
+        let cColon = "\0";
+        if (mePos.absolutePosition < meJsonString.length) {
+          cColon = meJsonString.charAt(mePos.absolutePosition);
+        }
+        // *** Consume the :
+        if (cColon != ":") {
+          this.StatusErr(
+            -16,
+            "Expected : symbol in key:value pair @Line:" +
+              mePos.lineNumber +
+              " @Position:" +
+              mePos.linePosition +
+              " (e-16)"
+          );
+          break;
+        }
+        mePos.increment();
+
+        // *** Expecting value after the : symbol in value/pair combo
+        // Space/comments here are after the separator
+        jNew = this.CreatePartClone(keepSP, keepCM);
+        let finalPos = jNew.DeserializeMeI(
+          meJsonString,
+          mePos.clone(),
+          true,
+          false,
+          ",",
+          "}"
+        );
+
+        // Check for blank=null (return status -11 and _jsonType=null)
+        // DEBUGGER: FUTURE-NOW: Should not be looking for -11???
+        if (
+          jNew.Status == -11 &&
+          jNew.jsonType == "null" &&
+          this._UseFlexJson == true
+        ) {
+          // Note: jNew.status=-11 indicates nothing was found where there should have been a value - for FLEX JSON this is legitimate.
+          jNew._status = 0; // this is OK
+        }
+        if (jNew.Status != 0) {
+          this.StatusErr(
+            -21,
+            "Failed to find value in key:value pair. @Line:" +
+              mePos.lineNumber +
+              " @Position:" +
+              mePos.linePosition +
+              " (e-21) [" +
+              jNew.StatusMessage +
+              "]"
+          );
+          break;
+        } else {
+          // Note: Above, jNew.status=-11 indicates nothing was found where there should have been a value - for FLEX JSON this is legitimate.
+          // *** For all cases: object, array, string, number, boolean, or null
+          jNew.Parent = this;
+          jNew._key = Key;
+          if (preKey) {
+            jNew.preKey = preKey;
+          }
+          if (postKey) {
+            jNew.postKey = postKey;
+          }
+          v.push(jNew); // FUTURE: IS THIS WRONG? SHOULD WE CHECK TO SEE IF THE KEY ALREADY EXISTS? AS IS, THE FIRST VALUE WILL "overshadow" ANY SUBSEQUENT VALUE. MAYBE THIS IS OK.
+          mePos = finalPos;
+        }
+
+        jNew = null;
+
+        // *** Check if we are past the end of the string
+        if (mePos.absolutePosition >= meJsonString.length) {
+          this.StatusErr(
+            -15,
+            "Past end of string before we found the } symbol as the end of the object @Line:" +
+              mePos.lineNumber +
+              " @Position:" +
+              mePos.linePosition +
+              " (e-15)"
+          );
+          break;
+        }
+      } // end if (!skipToNext)
+
+      let cNext = meJsonString[mePos.absolutePosition];
+      // *** Check if we reached the end of the object
+      if (cNext == "}") {
+        break;
+      } // return. we are done buildng the JSON object
+      // *** Comma required between items in object
+      if (cNext != ",") {
+        this.StatusErr(
+          -17,
+          "Expected , symbol to separate value pairs @Line:" +
+            mePos.lineNumber +
+            " @Position:" +
+            mePos.linePosition +
+            " (e-17)"
+        );
+        break;
+      }
+      mePos.increment();
+
+      safety--;
+      if (safety <= 0) {
+        this.StatusErr(
+          -117,
+          "Max deserialization iterations reached in DeserializeObject. @Line:" +
+            mePos.lineNumber +
+            " @Position:" +
+            mePos.linePosition +
+            " (e-117)"
+        );
+        break;
+      }
+    } // end do
+
+    this._value = v;
+    jNew = null;
+    j2 = null;
+    return mePos; // negative value indicated an error
+  } // End DeserializeObject2()
+
+  // DeserializeArray()
+  // *** Look for comma separated value list as a JSON array
+  // NOTE: Parent routine DeserializeMeI() keeps track of the before/after spacing of the array
+  DeserializeArray(meJsonString, start, keepSP, keepCM) {
+    var jNew;
+
+    let v = [];
+    let mePos = start;
+    mePos.increment(); // *** IMPORTANT! Move past [ symbol
+
+    let safety = 99999;
+    while (true) {
+      // *** Expecting value
+      jNew = this.CreatePartClone(keepSP, keepCM);
+      let finalPos = jNew.DeserializeMeI(
+        meJsonString,
+        mePos.clone(),
+        true,
+        false,
+        ",",
+        "]"
+      );
+
+      if (jNew.Status != 0) {
+        this.StatusErr(
+          -21,
+          "Failed to find value in array. @Line:" +
+            mePos.lineNumber +
+            " @Position:" +
+            mePos.linePosition +
+            " (e-21) [" +
+            jNew.StatusMessage +
+            "]"
+        );
+        break;
+      } else {
+        // Note: Above, jNew.status=-11 indicates nothing was found where there should have been a value - for FLEX JSON this is legitimate.
+        // *** For all cases: object, array, string, number, boolean, or null
+        jNew.Parent = this;
+        // If jNew is a blank string, then we need to create an empty array rather than an array with a null value.
+        if (jNew._jsonString.trim() != "") {
+          v.push(jNew);
+        }
+        mePos = finalPos;
+      }
+
+      jNew = null;
+
+      // *** Check if we are past the end of the string
+      if (mePos.absolutePosition >= meJsonString.length) {
+        this.StatusErr(
+          -115,
+          "Past end of string before we found the ] symbol as the end of the object @Line:" +
+            mePos.lineNumber +
+            " @Position:" +
+            mePos.linePosition +
+            " (e-115)"
+        );
+        break;
+      }
+
+      let cNext = meJsonString[mePos.absolutePosition];
+      // *** Check if we reached the end of the object
+      if (cNext == "]") {
+        break;
+      } // return. we are done buildng the JSON object
+      // *** Comma required between items in object
+      if (cNext != ",") {
+        this.StatusErr(
+          -37,
+          "Expected , symbol to separate values @Line:" +
+            mePos.lineNumber +
+            " @Position:" +
+            mePos.linePosition +
+            " (e-37)"
+        );
+        break;
+      }
+      mePos.increment();
+
+      safety--;
+      if (safety <= 0) {
+        this.StatusErr(
+          -119,
+          "Max deserialization iterations reached in DeserializeObject. @Line:" +
+            mePos.lineNumber +
+            " @Position:" +
+            mePos.linePosition +
+            " (e-119)"
+        );
+        break;
+      }
+    } // end do
+
+    this._value = v;
+    jNew = null;
+    return mePos; // negative value indicated an error
+  } // End DeserializeArray()
+  DeserializeFile(FilePath, OkToClip = false) {
+    //if ( !System.IO.File.Exists(FilePath) ) { _status=-31; return _status; }
+    try {
+      /*
+            fs.readFile(FilePath, (err, data) => { 
+                if (err) throw err; 
+              
+                const fsData = data.toString(); 
+                this.Deserialize(fsData,0,OkToClip);
+            }) 
+            */
+      const fsData = fs.readFileSync(FilePath, "utf8");
+      this.Deserialize(fsData, 0, OkToClip);
+    } catch (err) {
+      // Only handle file I/O errors here, not FlexJsonErrors from Deserialize
+      if (err instanceof FlexJsonError) {
+        throw err; // Re-throw FlexJsonError
+      }
+      this.StatusErr(-32, "ERROR: Failed to read file: " + err.message);
+      return this._status;
+    }
+  }
+
+  DeserializeFlexFile(
+    FilePath,
+    OkToClip = false,
+    spacing_flag = 1, // default = keep spacing & comments
+    comments_flag = 1
+  ) {
+    this.UseFlexJson = true;
+    if (spacing_flag >= 0 || comments_flag >= 0) {
+      this.keepSpacingAndComments(spacing_flag, comments_flag);
+    }
+    return this.DeserializeFile(FilePath, OkToClip);
+  }
+
+  // WriteToFile()
+  // If object is setup as FlexJSON and with KeepSpacing/KeepComments, then file will be written accordingly
+  // Return: 0=ok, -1=error, -2=could not write because of invalid FlexJson object
+  WriteToFile(FilePath) {
+    try {
+      let outString = this.jsonString;
+      if (this._status == 0) {
+        fs.writeFileSync(FilePath, outString, { encoding: "utf8" });
+      } else {
+        return -2;
+      }
+    } catch {
+      return -1;
+    }
+    return 0;
+  }
+
+  StatusErr(nErr, strErr) {
+    this._status = nErr;
+    this.AddStatusMessage(strErr);
+    if (this._throwOnError) {
+      throw new FlexJsonError(nErr, strErr);
+    }
+  } // End
+
+  // FUTURE: Replace this with this.statusMsg=...
+  // AddStatusMessage()
+  // Set _statusMsg to the new message/error string
+  // Also add the message to a log in stats object, if stats are being tracked.
+  AddStatusMessage(msg) {
+    this.statusMsg = msg;
+    if (this.NoStatsOrMsgs) {
+      return;
+    }
+    if (!this.trackingStats) {
+      return;
+    } // verifies that _meta.stats exists as an object
+  }
+
+  // Convert Javascript type to FlexJson type
+  convertType(v) {
+    if (v === null) {
+      return "null";
+    }
+    const vType = typeof v;
+    switch (vType) {
+      case "bigint":
+      case "number":
+        return "number";
+
+      case "boolean":
+        return "boolean";
+
+      case "object": // must be FlexJson object or it is not a true "object"
+        return ""; // indicates an error/invlid type
+
+      case "FlexJson":
+        return FlexJson.jsonType;
+
+      case "function":
+        return ""; // indicate error/invalid type
+
+      default:
+        return "string";
+    }
+  }
+}
+
+module.exports = FlexJson;
+module.exports.FlexJsonError = FlexJsonError;