load json into excel using office js web addin - excel

Question

if I have json string which looks like this: [{"id":1,"name":"manish"},{"id":1,"name":"John"}]
can I just office js to simply load it in table. I saw this https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/office/dev/add-ins/excel/excel-add-ins-tables#import-json-data-into-a-table
but then when I add more columns in my json I will have to do code changes and code is not generic enough. I could live with it but was wondering if there is a better way.

Answer 1

You can use Object.keys(obj).length to count the number of properties in one of your JSON objects. Something like myObjects[0].keys(obj).length.
Then get a Range object for the cell that will be the upper-left cell of the table; for example, getRange("A1").
Then use that Range object's getResizedRange method and pass 1 as the first parameter (rows) and pass the number of properties in your JSON object as the second parameter (columns).
Use the Range object that is returned by getResizedRange as the first parameter to the sheet.tables.add method.

Answer 2

Expanding on #RickKirkham answer and the link in the OP from https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/office/dev/add-ins/excel/excel-add-ins-tables#import-json-data-into-a-table I build a "more generic" approach. My issue was that I have no control over the JSON response, I don't know how many rows, columns etc. I first tried to just use A1 and expected it to expand as needed, but that didn't work.
I did finally get it to work as I wanted below:
var transactions = [
{
"DATE": "2017",
"MERCHANT": "The Phone Company",
"CATEGORY": "Communications",
"AMOUNT": "120"
},
{
"DATE": "2017",
"MERCHANT": "Southridge Video",
"CATEGORY": "Entertainment",
"AMOUNT": "40"
}
];
var sheet = context.workbook.worksheets.getItem("Sheet1");
var rng = sheet.getRangeByIndexes(0, 0, 1, Object.keys(transactions[0]).length)
var expensesTable = sheet.tables.add(rng, true);
expensesTable.name = "ExpensesTable";
expensesTable.getHeaderRowRange().values = [Object.keys(transactions[0])];
for (let i = 0; i < transactions.length; i++) {
expensesTable.rows.add(null, [Object.values(transactions[i])]);
}
if (Office.context.requirements.isSetSupported("ExcelApi", "1.2")) {
sheet.getUsedRange().format.autofitColumns();
sheet.getUsedRange().format.autofitRows();
}
sheet.activate();
PS: Very new to JS/Office JS atm.