Google Sheets, a widely used spreadsheet tool, often needs to be converted into more developer-friendly formats for further processing or integration. Enter JSON, a lightweight data interchange format that's become a staple in modern web applications and APIs.

This article explores two efficient methods for converting Google Sheets to JSON: using Google Apps Script and Airbyte. Whether you're building data pipelines, integrating spreadsheet data into your applications, or simply need a more programmatically accessible format, these techniques will streamline your workflow and enhance your data engineering toolkit.

Understanding Google Sheets

Google Sheets, a cloud-based spreadsheet tool, facilitates online creation, editing, and sharing of spreadsheets. As a free alternative to Excel, it offers diverse features like formulas, charts, and real-time collaboration. Integrated with Google Drive and Forms, it serves as a versatile tool for both personal and professional purposes.

Characteristics of Google Sheets:

• Cloud-based spreadsheet program
• Allows real-time collaboration
• Offers features like formulas, charts, and conditional formatting
• Integrates with other Google apps like Drive and Forms
  

What is a JSON File?

A JSON File is a structured data tool used for storing and exchanging data. It's based on JavaScript Object Notation (JSON), a lightweight format easy for humans to read and machines to parse. JSON files commonly transfer data in web apps, with key-value pairs resembling JavaScript syntax. Users, including developers and analysts, use JSON File to create, edit, and validate JSON data easily.

Characteristics of JSON File:

• Lightweight data interchange format
• Easy for humans to read and write
• Easy for machines to parse and generate
• Consists of key-value pairs
• Syntax similar to JavaScript

Why convert Google Sheets to JSON?

1. Data Portability

Converting Google Sheets to JSON makes your data more portable and easier to integrate into diverse data pipelines and applications.

2. API Compatibility

Many modern APIs use JSON as their primary data format. Converting your Sheets data to JSON allows seamless integration with these APIs, facilitating data exchange between different services and platforms.

3. Structured Data Representation

JSON provides a clear, hierarchical structure for data, which can be more suitable for complex data models than the tabular format of Google Sheets. This structure can make data parsing and manipulation more efficient in many programming environments.

4. Automated Data Processing

JSON is easily parsed by most programming languages, making it ideal for automated data processing tasks. This can significantly streamline ETL (Extract, Transform, Load) processes in data engineering workflows.

5. Real-time Data Access

When combined with Google Sheets API, converting to JSON can enable real-time access to data, allowing for dynamic data retrieval and updates in your applications or data pipelines.

Practical Applications for converting Google Sheets to JSON file

• Sales Analytics: Monitor and analyze sales data in Google Sheets, utilizing JSON integration for automated reporting and insights.
• Inventory Control: Manage inventory efficiently in Google Sheets, integrating with e-commerce platforms via JSON to ensure real-time updates.
• Project Management: Track project progress in Google Sheets, converting project data to JSON format for comprehensive visualization and analysis.

Survey Insights: Collect and analyze survey responses in Google Sheets, harnessing JSON for structured analysis and actionable insights.


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Methods to Move Data From Google Sheets to JSON

• Method 1: Connecting Google Sheets to JSON using Airbyte.
• Method 2: Connecting Google Sheets to JSON manually.

Method 1: Connecting Google Sheets to JSON using Airbyte

Prerequisites

1. A Google Sheets account to transfer your customer data automatically from.
2. A JSON File Destination account.
3. An active Airbyte Cloud account, or you can also choose to use Airbyte Open Source locally. You can follow the instructions to set up Airbyte on your system using docker-compose.

Airbyte is an open-source data integration platform that consolidates and streamlines the process of extracting and loading data from multiple data sources to data warehouses. It offers pre-built connectors, including Google Sheets and JSON File Destination, for seamless data migration.

When using Airbyte to move data from Google Sheets to JSON File Destination, it extracts data from Google Sheets using the source connector, converts it into a format JSON File Destination can ingest using the provided schema, and then loads it into JSON File Destination via the destination connector. This allows businesses to leverage their Google Sheets data for advanced analytics and insights within JSON File Destination, simplifying the ETL process and saving significant time and resources.

Step 1: Set up Google Sheets as a source connector

• Open your Google Sheets account and create a new project or select an existing one.
• Go to the Google Cloud Console and select your project.
• Click on the "APIs & Services" tab and then select "Credentials".
• Click on the "Create Credentials" button and select "Service Account Key".
• Fill in the required fields and select "JSON" as the key type.
• Click on "Create" and your JSON key file will be downloaded.
• Open the JSON key file and copy the "client_email" and "private_key" values.
• Go to Airbyte and select your workspace.
• Click on "Sources" and then select "Google Sheets".
• Paste the "client_email" and "private_key" values into the respective fields.
• Enter the name of the spreadsheet you want to connect to.
• Click on "Test Connection" to ensure that the connection is successful.
• If the test is successful, click on "Create Source" to save the connection.
• You can now use the Google Sheets source connector to extract data from your spreadsheet and integrate it with other tools and platforms.

Step 2: Set up JSON File Destination as a destination connector

• Open the Airbyte platform and navigate to the "Destinations" tab on the left-hand side of the screen.
• Scroll down until you find the "JSON File" destination connector and click on it.
• Click on the "Create new connection" button.
• Enter a name for your connection and click on the "Next" button.
• Fill in the required fields for your JSON File destination, such as the file path and format.
• Test the connection by clicking on the "Test" button.
• If the test is successful, click on the "Save & Sync" button to save your connection and start syncing data to your JSON File destination.
• You can also schedule your syncs by clicking on the "Schedule" button and selecting the frequency and time for your syncs.
• To view your synced data, navigate to the file path you specified in your JSON File destination and open the file in a text editor or JSON viewer.

Step 3: Set up a connection to sync your Google Sheets data to JSON File Destination

Once you've successfully connected Google Sheets as a data source and JSON File Destination as a destination in Airbyte, you can set up a data pipeline between them with the following steps:

• Create a new connection: On the Airbyte dashboard, navigate to the 'Connections' tab and click the '+ New Connection' button.
• Choose your source: Select Google Sheets from the dropdown list of your configured sources.
• Select your destination: Choose JSON File Destination from the dropdown list of your configured destinations.
• Configure your sync: Define the frequency of your data syncs based on your business needs. Airbyte allows both manual and automatic scheduling for your data refreshes.
• Select the data to sync: Choose the specific Google Sheets objects you want to import data from towards JSON File Destination. You can sync all data or select specific tables and fields.
• Select the sync mode for your streams: Choose between full refreshes or incremental syncs (with deduplication if you want), and this for all streams or at the stream level. Incremental is only available for streams that have a primary cursor.
• Test your connection: Click the 'Test Connection' button to make sure that your setup works. If the connection test is successful, save your configuration.
• Start the sync: If the test passes, click 'Set Up Connection'. Airbyte will start moving data from Google Sheets to JSON File Destination according to your settings.

Remember, Airbyte keeps your data in sync at the frequency you determine, ensuring your JSON File Destination data warehouse is always up-to-date with your Google Sheets data.

Method 2: Connecting Google Sheets to JSON manually

Moving data from Google Sheets to JSON format without using third-party connectors or integrations involves using Google Apps Script, which is a built-in scripting language for Google Workspace applications. Below is a step-by-step guide to accomplish this task:

Step 1: Prepare Your Google Sheet

1. Open your Google Sheets document.

2. Ensure that your data is structured in a way that can be easily converted into JSON. Typically, this means having the first row of the sheet contain column headers, which will become the keys in your JSON objects, and the subsequent rows contain the corresponding data.

Step 2: Open the Script Editor

1. In your Google Sheets document, click on `Extensions` in the top menu.

2. Select `Apps Script` from the dropdown menu to open the script editor.

Step 3: Write the Google Apps Script

1. In the Apps Script editor, delete any code that is there by default.

2. Write a new script to convert your sheet data to JSON. Here's a basic template you can start with:

‍

```javascript

function sheetToJson() {

var sheet = SpreadsheetApp.getActiveSpreadsheet().getActiveSheet();

var rows = sheet.getDataRange().getValues();

var headers = rows.shift(); // Removes the first row and saves it as headers

‍

var jsonData = rows.map(function(row) {

var obj = {};

headers.forEach(function(header, index) {

obj[header] = row[index];

});

return obj;

});

‍

var jsonString = JSON.stringify(jsonData, null, 2);

Logger.log(jsonString);

return jsonString;

}

```

‍

3. This script reads the active sheet, uses the first row as the keys for the JSON object, and maps each subsequent row to a JSON object.

Step 4: Save and Run the Script

1. Click on the disk icon or `File` > `Save` to save your script. Give it a name when prompted.

2. To run the script, click on the play button (▶️) in the toolbar.

3. You may be prompted to authorize the script to access your Google Sheets data. Follow the prompts to grant the necessary permissions.

Step 5: View the Logs

1. Once the script has run, click on `Execution log` in the Apps Script editor to see the output of your script.

2. You should see the JSON string logged there. This is the JSON representation of your Google Sheets data.

Step 6: Export the JSON Data

1. If you want to save the JSON data to a file or use it elsewhere, you can modify the script to create a file in Google Drive or output it in another way.

For example, to create a new file in your Google Drive with the JSON data, you can add the following code at the end of the `sheetToJson` function:

‍

```javascript

function sheetToJson() {

// ... (previous code)

‍

var jsonString = JSON.stringify(jsonData, null, 2);

‍

// Create a new file in Google Drive with the JSON data

var file = DriveApp.createFile('data.json', jsonString, MimeType.PLAIN_TEXT);

‍

Logger.log('JSON file created with ID: ' + file.getId());

}

```

2. Run the script again, and a new file named `data.json` containing your data will be created in your Google Drive.

Step 7: Retrieve the JSON File

1. Go to your Google Drive.

2. Find and download the `data.json` file to your local system.

By following these steps, you can convert your Google Sheets data to JSON format and download it without the need for third-party connectors or integrations.

‍

Benefits of Using Airbyte

Airbyte streamlines the integration process between Google Sheets and JSON formats, offering several benefits:

• Efficiency: Airbyte simplifies integration through its user-friendly interface, reducing the time and effort required for setup and configuration.
• Real-time Sync: Users can achieve real-time data synchronization between Google Sheets and JSON, ensuring data consistency and accuracy across systems.
• Automated Transformation: Airbyte automates data transformation tasks, allowing users to map fields and apply transformations effortlessly, reducing manual intervention.
• Scalability: Built to handle large datasets, Airbyte offers reliable performance and scalability, catering to integration projects of any size.
• Monitoring and Alerting: Comprehensive monitoring features enable users to track pipeline status and receive alerts for issues, ensuring timely resolution and data integrity.
• Cost-effectiveness: Airbyte's open-source nature and community-driven approach make it a cost-effective solution, eliminating hefty licensing fees.
• Extensibility: Its modular architecture allows for easy customization and integration with third-party tools, enhancing overall functionality and flexibility.
• Documentation and Support: Airbyte provides extensive documentation and community support, empowering users to leverage its features effectively and troubleshoot issues efficiently.

Best Practices for Google Sheets to JSON Conversion

Data Preparation

• Normalize data structure in Google Sheets
• Use consistent column headers as they'll become JSON keys
• Avoid merged cells and complex formatting

Data Type Handling

• Explicitly define data types in your conversion logic
• Pay special attention to dates, numbers, and boolean values
• Use appropriate JSON data types (string, number, boolean, null)

Error Handling and Validation

• Implement robust error handling in your conversion script
• Validate the JSON output using JSON schema
• Log any data inconsistencies or conversion errors

Wrapping Up

To summarize, this tutorial has shown you how to:

1. Configure a Google Sheets account as an Airbyte data source connector.
2. Configure JSON File Destination as a data destination connector.
3. Create an Airbyte data pipeline that will automatically be moving data directly from Google Sheets to JSON File Destination after you set a schedule
   

With Airbyte, creating data pipelines take minutes, and the data integration possibilities are endless. Airbyte supports the largest catalog of API tools, databases, and files, among other sources. Airbyte's connectors are open-source, so you can add any custom objects to the connector, or even build a new connector from scratch without any local dev environment or any data engineer within 10 minutes with the no-code connector builder.

We look forward to seeing you make use of it! We invite you to join the conversation on our community Slack Channel, or sign up for our newsletter. You should also check out other Airbyte tutorials, and Airbyte’s content hub!