5 Ways to Open JSON Files in Excel Easily

Introduction to JSON Files and Excel

JSON (JavaScript Object Notation) is a lightweight data-interchange format that’s easy for humans to read and write and easy for machines to parse and generate. On the other hand, Microsoft Excel is a powerful tool for data analysis and manipulation, particularly known for its spreadsheet functionalities. While JSON and Excel are fundamentally different, there’s often a need to open JSON files in Excel for various data analysis tasks. Here are five ways you can achieve this seamlessly:

1. Manual Copy-Paste Method

The simplest method to get JSON data into Excel involves a bit of manual work but is straightforward for small data sets:

• Open the JSON file in a text editor like Notepad or any text editing software.
• Copy the entire JSON content.
• Open a new Excel workbook, and paste the data into a cell.

📝 Note: This method is limited as it doesn’t convert JSON arrays or nested objects into tabular format.

2. Using Online Converters

There are numerous online tools designed to convert JSON data into formats that Excel can easily import:

• Search for “JSON to Excel converter” online.
• Upload your JSON file or paste the JSON content.
• Convert the JSON to CSV or XLS format, which you can then open directly with Excel.

🚨 Note: Be cautious when uploading sensitive data to online services, as they might not be secure.

3. Using Excel’s Power Query

Power Query in Excel is a powerful tool for data manipulation, including the ability to import JSON files:

• Open Excel and go to the Data tab.
• Choose ‘Get Data’ and then ‘From File’ > ‘From JSON’.
• Navigate to your JSON file, select it, and click ‘Import’.
• Excel will open a preview window where you can expand and select the data you wish to import.

4. Excel VBA Script

Visual Basic for Applications (VBA) in Excel can automate the process of opening JSON files:

• Open the Excel workbook where you want to import the data.
• Press ‘Alt + F11’ to open the VBA editor.
• Insert a new module and write or paste VBA code that imports JSON data into Excel.

A simple script might look like this:

Sub JSONtoExcel()
    Dim jsonObject As Object
    Set jsonObject = CreateObject(“ScriptControl”)
    jsonObject.Language = “JScript”
    jsonObject.AddCode “function getprop(o, s) { return o[s]; }”
    jsonObject.AddCode “function jsonParse(s) { return eval(‘(’ + s + ‘)’); }”

Dim jsonString As String, data As Object
jsonString = "{""data"":[{""name"":""John"",""age"":30}, {""name"":""Jane"",""age"":25}]}"
Set data = jsonObject.Eval("jsonParse('" & Replace(jsonString, "'", "\'") & "')")

Dim i As Integer
For i = 1 To data("data").Length
    With ActiveSheet
        .Cells(i + 1, 1) = jsonObject.Eval("getprop(getprop(data.data(" & i & "), 'name'), 'toString')")
        .Cells(i + 1, 2) = jsonObject.Eval("getprop(getprop(data.data(" & i & "), 'age'), 'toString')")
    End With
Next i


End Sub

5. Third-Party Add-ins

There are various Excel add-ins available that simplify the process of importing JSON data:

• Install an Excel add-in like JSON Importer or PowerTools for JSON.
• Open Excel and access the add-in from the Ribbon.
• Import your JSON file and choose the way data is to be presented in Excel.

🔍 Note: Some add-ins might require a one-time purchase or a subscription, but they can offer advanced features like bulk import or regular expression-based data extraction.

By understanding these methods, you can choose the most suitable approach for integrating JSON data with Excel, enhancing your data analysis capabilities. Whether you opt for a quick manual method, leverage Excel's built-in features, or automate the process with scripts, Excel's versatility accommodates various needs for working with JSON files.

Can I import nested JSON data into Excel?

+

Yes, Excel’s Power Query is adept at handling nested JSON structures. It allows you to expand and drill down into nested objects, flattening them into a tabular format.

Are there any limitations to using online JSON to Excel converters?

+

Online converters might have file size limits, privacy concerns, and may not provide the most accurate or complete data mapping due to the complexity of JSON structures.

What if I need to update my Excel data with changes from the original JSON file?

+

You might need to re-import the JSON file or set up an automated process through VBA scripting to regularly refresh the data from the source JSON file.