JSON

How to Use the Power Fx JSON Function in Power Apps

What is JSON data?

JSON stands for JavaScript Object Notation, which is a lightweight data format used to exchange data between web services. It is easy to read and write, and can be used with various programming languages. JSON data is structured into key-value pairs, similar to how a dictionary is structured. For example, a JSON object representing a person’s information could look like this:


{

"name": "John Doe",

"age": 30,

"email": "johndoe@example.com",

"phone": "123-456-7890"

}


How to use the Power Fx JSON function

The Power Fx JSON function is used to parse JSON data and convert it into a format that can be used in your Power Apps. Here’s how to use it:

Step 1: Create a text input control

First, create a text input control where the user can enter the JSON data. You can do this by dragging and dropping the Text input control from the toolbox onto the canvas.

Step 2: Create a label control

Next, create a label control where the parsed JSON data will be displayed. You can do this by dragging and dropping the Label control from the toolbox onto the canvas.

Step 3: Add the Power Fx JSON function

Now, add the Power Fx JSON function to the label control. To do this, select the label control, go to the Properties pane, and click on the fx button next to the Text property. This will open the formula bar.

In the formula bar, type the following formula:


JSON(❰text input control❱.Text)


Replace `❰text input control❱` with the name of your text input control. This formula tells Power Apps to parse the JSON data entered in the text input control.

Step 4: Test the application

Finally, test your application by entering some JSON data in the text input control and clicking outside the control. The parsed data should be displayed in the label control.

Advanced features of the Power Fx JSON function

The Power Fx JSON function has several advanced features that can be useful in specific scenarios. Here are some of them:

Parsing nested JSON data

If your JSON data contains nested objects or arrays, you can still parse it using the Power Fx JSON function. Simply use the dot notation to access the nested values. For example, consider the following JSON data:


{

"name": "John Doe",

"age": 30,

"contact": {

"email": "johndoe@example.com",

"phone": "123-456-7890"

}

}


To parse the email value, you can use the following formula:


JSON(❰text input control❱.Text).contact.email


Converting JSON data to a table

If your JSON data represents a table, you can convert it into a table format using the Power Fx JSON function. To do this, use the Table function along with the JSON function. For example, consider the following JSON data:


[

{

"name": "John Doe",

"age": 30,

"email": "johndoe@example.com",

"phone": "123-456-7890"

},

{

"name": "Jane Smith",

"age": 25,

"email": "janesmith@example.com",

"phone": "987-654-3210"

}

]


To convert this data into a table format, use the following formula:


Table(JSON(❰text input control❱.Text))


Handling errors in JSON data

If your JSON data contains errors, the Power Fx JSON function will throw an error. To handle this error, use the Error function along with the JSON function. For example, consider the following JSON data:


{

"name": "John Doe",

"age": 30,

"email": "johndoe@example.com",

"phone": "123-456-7890"

"address": {

"street": "123 Main St",

"city": "Anytown",

"state": "CA"

}

}


Note that there is a missing comma after the phone value. This will cause an error when the JSON data is parsed. To handle this error, use the following formula:


IfError(

JSON(❰text input control❱.Text),

"Invalid JSON data"

)


This formula tells Power Apps to display a custom error message if the JSON data is invalid.

The Power Fx JSON function is a powerful tool that can be used to parse JSON data and convert it into a format that can be used in your Power Apps. By following the steps outlined in this article, you can start using this function in your applications today.

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