How to Convert JSON to Excel

Rick Akura
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How to Convert JSON to Excel
In this post, we'll guide you through converting JSON data into a format that is readable in Microsoft Excel. 

While JSON is a widely used format in programming and databases, Excel doesn't natively support it. However, by converting JSON to a CSV file, you can easily open and work with the data in Excel. 

We'll provide step-by-step instructions to help you seamlessly import your JSON file into Excel.

Table of Contents

  1. What is JSON?
  2. What are the applications of JSON files?
  3. Import JSON to Excel: Step-by-Step Guide
  4. Key Applications of Excel
  5. Limitations & Troubleshooting JSON in Excel
  6. FAQs
  7. Final Thoughts

What is JSON?

JSON (JavaScript Object Notation) is a widely used file format for storing and exchanging data. It provides a standardized way to represent structured data as a collection of key-value pairs. JSON files are lightweight, easy to read, and commonly used for transmitting data on websites and web applications.

JSON

JSON files have a ".json" extension based on a text format. The syntax of JSON is similar to JavaScript objects, making it intuitive and easy to understand. It is highly favored in web development due to its simplicity and compatibility with various programming languages.

When combined with Excel, JSON files offer enhanced data import capabilities and analysis possibilities. Using Power Query, you can import JSON files into Excel and leverage the power of Excel's functionalities to work with the imported data efficiently.

What are the applications of JSON files?

JSON files have a wide range of applications in programming and data exchange. Here are some key uses of JSON documents:

  1. Programming: JSON is extensively used in programming languages like JavaScript, Angular, Node.js, and React to store and manipulate data within the code. It provides a lightweight and flexible format for data representation.
  2. Cross-Language Compatibility: JSON is language-agnostic, meaning various programming languages can adopt it. This flexibility contributes to its popularity as a data interchange format.
  3. Server-Client Data Transfer: JSON files are commonly used for transferring data from a server to a client in web applications. The structured nature of JSON allows for efficient and organized data transmission.
  4. Web Communication: JSON's lightweight design makes it well-suited for communication over the web. It is widely used for sending and receiving data between web servers and clients.
  5. Data Import: Many applications and APIs facilitate seamless data import from JSON files. This simplifies the process of integrating JSON data into different software systems.
  6. Serialization and Network Transmission: JSON is an effective format for serializing and transmitting complex data structures over the network. It allows for efficient data representation and reduces overhead during transmission.

Import JSON to Excel: Step-by-Step Guide

If you're using MS Excel 2016 or newer versions on Windows and want to import a JSON file, follow these straightforward steps.

  1. Open MS Excel: Access MS Excel by clicking on the Start Menu and searching for it or clicking on the Excel icon on your Task Bar.
  2. Create a New Workbook: Once you open MS Excel, click "Blank Workbook" in the New section to create a blank spreadsheet.
    Create a New Workbook
  3. Locate the Data Tab: In the Ribbon menu of MS Excel, find and click on the "Data" tab.
  4. Import Data: Under the Data tab, click "Get Data" in the "Get & Transform Data" section. Then select "From File" and choose "From JSON" from the options.
    Import Data
  5. Select your JSON File: A window will appear for importing the JSON file. Browse and select the drive or folder where your JSON file is located, and choose the file. Click on "Import," and the Power Query Editor window will open. Here, you can customize how you want the JSON data to appear in the spreadsheet.
  6. Convert Data Into Table: To convert the JSON data into a table, choose the "Into Table" option. Finally, click "Close & Load" in the Home tab of the Power Query Editor. Your JSON data will now be displayed in a tabular format in MS Excel.

Remember to save your spreadsheet by going to the File menu. Additionally, you can export the data as a CSV file if needed.

For MS Excel 2010-2013 users, the process is slightly different. You can follow these steps:

  1. Open MS Excel from the Start Menu.
  2. Open a New Spreadsheet.
  3. Under the Power Query tab, click on "From Other Sources" and select "Blank Query."
    From Other Sources
  4. In the Query Editor, choose "Advanced Editor."
    Advanced Editor
  5. Enter the query string in the instructions, replacing the file path with the path to your JSON file.
  6. Once done, save your spreadsheet.

Following these steps will allow you to import JSON files into MS Excel for analysis and manipulation.

Key Applications of Excel

Excel, developed by Microsoft, has a wide range of applications in various fields. Here are some key uses of Excel:

  1. User-Friendly Interface: Excel provides a user-friendly interface that is easy to navigate and understand. Users can quickly grasp the basic functionalities and utilize Excel for data management and analysis.
  2. Graphical Representation: Excel offers powerful tools for data visualization, allowing users to present their data in charts, graphs, and other visual formats. This graphical representation enhances data understanding and facilitates effective analysis.
  3. Data Analysis for Decision-Making: Organizations rely on Excel for data analysis to make informed decisions. It enables businesses to examine sales data, customer information, and other metrics, aiding in strategic decision-making and improving overall productivity.
  4. Financial Modeling and Analysis: Excel is widely used in financial modeling and analysis. It provides built-in formulas and functions that simplify complex calculations, making it a valuable financial record maintenance and analysis tool.
  5. Extensive Functionality: Excel offers a broad range of functions for evaluating equations, performing mathematical computations, and manipulating data. These functions can be customized to meet specific requirements and even allow users to create their own functions.
  6. Business Analysis and Planning: Excel plays a crucial role in business analysis by enabling organizations to analyze and interpret data trends, identify insights, and plan for future growth. It provides tools for data manipulation, filtering, and sorting, allowing for detailed analysis of business metrics.

Limitations & Troubleshooting JSON in Excel

Flattening JSON Structure: While JSON is widely used and versatile, importing it into Excel can be challenging, especially when dealing with complex files. Flattening the JSON structure and making it usable in Excel can be time-consuming, especially if you're unfamiliar with the data schema. 

However, an alternative approach is to leverage algorithms that can automatically convert JSON to CSV, providing a more streamlined solution.

JSON & Excel's Max File Size: Excel has certain limitations on the size of the data it can handle. The maximum row limit is 1,048,576, and columns are limited to 16,384. 

If your JSON file is large, exceeding a few megabytes, it can cause Excel to crash or become unresponsive. While JSON is suitable for handling hierarchically structured data, this structure can pose challenges when working with Excel. 

To overcome Excel's row limit and efficiently work with large JSON files, consider converting them to Excel-compatible formats online.

FAQs

How to convert JSON to Excel free?

To convert JSON to Excel for free, you can use online JSON to Excel converters or libraries in programming languages like Python.

How to convert JSON to CSV in Excel?

To convert JSON to CSV in Excel, you can open the JSON file in a text editor, copy the contents, paste them into Excel, and then save the file as a CSV.

How to convert JSON to Excel 2007?

To convert JSON to Excel 2007, you can follow the same steps as converting JSON to CSV in Excel and then save the file in the .xlsx format.

How to convert the JSON format?

To convert the JSON format, you can use various tools or programming libraries that provide functions to parse and transform JSON data into a different format, such as CSV or Excel.

How to convert JSON file to CSV?

To convert a JSON file to CSV, you can use online converters, programming languages like Python with CSV libraries, or manually extract and reformat the JSON data into a CSV structure.

Final Thoughts

Converting JSON to Excel can be valuable for analyzing and working with data. Following the steps outlined in this guide, you can easily import JSON into Excel and leverage the spreadsheet software's powerful data manipulation and analysis features. 

Whether you're a programmer, analyst, or business user, converting JSON to Excel opens up new possibilities for efficiently working with and visualizing your data.

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Tags: How To
Author: Rick Akura