Dec 03, 2024 10:36 AM
Our team is moving from Power Automate Flows to Airtable and I would like to see if its possible to replicate the automations. I understand that some features are very similar however Power Automate has a 'Parse JSON' feature that Airtable does not have. Do you know the best way to replicate this into Airtable?
Dec 03, 2024 02:05 PM - edited Dec 03, 2024 02:05 PM
You may want to see if the Data Fetcher extension can do what you're looking for. Besides that, there aren't any native tools for Airtable to parse JSON in such a way where you can use the parsed JSON data in an automated way, although you can edit JSON code with this JSON editor extension.
You might also be able to parse JSON by writing your own custom JavaScripts.
Otherwise, you can parse JSON data with Make's JSON tools, which is the tool I use for all of my advanced Airtable automations. Make's JSON tools include several different functions, including a Parse JSON module.
If you’ve never used Make before, I’ve assembled a bunch of Make training resources in this thread. For example, here is one of the ways that you could instantly trigger a Make automation from Airtable. I also give live demonstrations of how to use Make in many of my Airtable podcast appearances.
Hope this helps! If you’d like to hire an expert Airtable consultant to help you with anything Airtable-related, please feel free to contact me through my website: Airtable consultant — ScottWorld
Dec 03, 2024 05:55 PM
As an Airtable Certified Expert
Have you explored using Airtable’s scripting capabilities to handle JSON parsing? It can be a powerful workaround for situations where direct functionality is lacking.
I have extensive experience in automating workflows and integrating different tools, particularly in transitioning from platforms like Power Automate to Airtable. While the lack of a native ‘Parse JSON’ feature in Airtable can be a hurdle, I can help you set up scripts to parse data effectively using the scripting block or webhooks.
Leveraging these capabilities, I can ensure that your automations run smoothly, replicating the functionality you’re accustomed to.
I’m available to discuss the specifics and help you implement the best solution for your team. Let’s connect!
Best,
Sofiyullah
Dec 03, 2024 07:08 PM
Try using the 'Run a Script' action within Airtable automations. Uses JavaScript so you can do whatever you need, really
Here's an example:
// example json string
const jsonString = '{"name": "jerry", "age": 30, "hobbies": ["coffee", "cars"]}';
const parsedData = JSON.parse(jsonString)
console.log(parsedData.name)
console.log(parsedData.age)
console.log(parsedData.hobbies)
output.set('parsedData', parsedData)
You can see that 'output.set' bit? That's what lets you use it within the rest of the automation. For example, here I'm using the parsed data from the JSON string to create a new record:
There's a repeating group feature function as well, so if your JSON is an array you can do actions line by line: https://support.airtable.com/docs/repeating-groups-of-automation-actions