Convert JSON array object to String in Powershell

Question

I am working with a JSON like that looks like this:

[
    {
        "Ack":  "no",
        "Rule":  "dont",
        "Tags":  [
                     "server"
                 ],
        "Type":  "blue"
    },

    {
        "Ack":  "no1",
        "Rule":  "knock",
        "Tags":  [
                     "yellow",
                     "green"
                 ],
        "Type":  "multiplecolour"
    }

]

I need to convert the Tags array into a comma-separated string [and replace the array with the converted string in the JSON file]. I have tried converting from JSON, but I am struggling to convert the array into string in a clean way, still learning PS so please bear with me.

Glenn · Accepted Answer · 2019-10-11 21:22:41Z

6

ConvertFrom-Json may work for you. Here's an example of converting your JSON string to an array of PowerShell objects, then joining the tags for each object with a comma delimiter:

$json = @"
[
    {
        "Ack":  "no",
        "Rule":  "dont",
        "Tags":  [
                     "server"
                 ],
        "Type":  "blue"
    },
    {
        "Ack":  "no1",
        "Rule":  "knock",
        "Tags":  [
                     "yellow",
                     "green"
                 ],
        "Type":  "multiplecolour"
    }
]
"@

(ConvertFrom-Json -InputObject $json) `
    | ForEach-Object { $_.Tags = ($_.Tags -join ","); $_ } `
    | ConvertTo-Json `
    | Out-File -FilePath new.json

EDIT: Note (as @mklement0 points out), the parentheses around ConvertFrom-Json are required to force the enumeration of the results as an array of objects through the pipeline.

edited Oct 11, 2019 at 21:22

answered Oct 11, 2019 at 20:10

Glenn

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6 Comments

mklement0 Over a year ago

Nice, though it's worth pointing out that (...) is required, because it forces enumeration of the array that ConvertFrom-Json sends as a whole through the pipeline.

mklement0 Over a year ago

@mri.o: Please state all requirements up front in the future - it is not clear from your question as currently stated. Perhaps Glenn is willing to update his answer, but the short of it is that you must use $_.Tags = $_.Tags -join "," instead, and pipe to ConvertTo-Json.

mr i.o Over a year ago

$jsonParameters = (ConvertFrom-Json -InputObject $content) $jsonParameters | ForEach-Object { $_.Tags -join "," } | ConvertTo-Json | out-file new.json - this is how I piped it, the content of new.json is only the tag strings. @Glenn. It doesn't create it properly.

Glenn Over a year ago

@mri.o So, your intent is to reproduce the JSON with the only difference being that "Tags" is no longer an array, but a string property, which contains one or more comma-delimited values? For example, it becomes this for the second array element? "Tags": "yellow,green"

mr i.o Over a year ago

Learnt something new today, thanks @Glenn, latest update works!

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