Question

How would you parse a JSON column into a usable format in Power BI?

In one of my Power BI projects, I need to work with a dataset that includes a column containing JSON data. I’m facing challenges in extracting key-value pairs from the JSON and converting them into a structured table format for analysis. Could you share the best practices or steps to parse and transform JSON data within Power BI effectively?

Answer 1

So, you want to parse a JSON column in Power BI:

Power Query Method:

Should load a dataset and enter Transform data. Use the JSON. Document to parse JSON column into records. Expand the records into columns with the button Expand.

Python Method (when dealing with complex JSON):

Enable Python in Power BI under Options. Use the Python Script option in Power Query to fetch and parse the JSON. Use pandas.json_normalize () to flatten nested JSON into a table.

Splitting into JSONs:

Perform the Split Column by Delimiter operation in Power Query to convert those rows with their values by key-value pairs. Best Practices: Handle nested structures, validate data types, and filter early unnecessary data for better performance.

Comments

Power BI offers multiple ways to parse JSON data, including using Power Query’s built-in tools or leveraging Python for complex scenarios.

Answer 2

To parse a JSON column in Power BI, use Power Query's "Transform" feature: select the column, click "Transform > JSON," then expand the resulting record to create a structured table.