I am dealing with some JSON data that I am retrieving from a database. If the result contains a single value, it creates a single object. If there are multiple values, it creates an array of objects.
My issue is that having to try and handle this bees a problem when dealing with loops.
Example Data:
// Single result from DB
var obj = {
"records": {
"recordID": 1,
"recordName": 'test'
}
}
// Multiple results from DB
var obj = {
"records": [{
"recordID": 1,
"recordName": 'test'
}, {
"recordID": 2,
"recordName": 'test again'
}]
}
I have a function that loops over all of the records for example and this bees problematic when we only have one result because we are no longer looping over an array.
Due to some of my objects being pretty large, I am trying to e up with a function that I can initialize my object with when I get it back from the database before handling it.
This function would loop through all of the keys and check to see if the key exists in an array of "Does this need to be an array?" flags. If it finds a match, check to see if its a single object and if so, convert it to an array of that single object.
Here is some pseudo code of what I am trying to do:
// Input
var obj = {
"records": {
"recordID": 1,
"recordName": 'test'
},
"photos": {
"photoID": 1,
"photoName": 'test flower'
},
"leaveMeAlone": {
"nopeID": 1,
"nopeName": 'tester'
}
}
function convertToArray(obj) {
var keysToArray = ['records', 'photos'];
// Loop over keys
for (var k in obj) {
// Properties
if (obj.hasOwnProperty(k)) {
// This key is in our array.
if (keysToArray.indexOf(k) > -1) {
// If this is a single object, turn it into an array containing a single object
if (!Array.isArray(obj[k])) {
// Turn this value into an array of the single object
/* Stuck Here */
}
}
}
}
/* Return
var obj = {
"records": [{
"recordID": 1,
"recordName": 'test'
}],
"photos": [{
"photoID": 1,
"photoName": 'test flower'
}],
"leaveMeAlone": {
"nopeID": 1,
"nopeName": 'tester'
}
}
*/
}
// run
convertToArray(obj);I am dealing with some JSON data that I am retrieving from a database. If the result contains a single value, it creates a single object. If there are multiple values, it creates an array of objects.
My issue is that having to try and handle this bees a problem when dealing with loops.
Example Data:
// Single result from DB
var obj = {
"records": {
"recordID": 1,
"recordName": 'test'
}
}
// Multiple results from DB
var obj = {
"records": [{
"recordID": 1,
"recordName": 'test'
}, {
"recordID": 2,
"recordName": 'test again'
}]
}
I have a function that loops over all of the records for example and this bees problematic when we only have one result because we are no longer looping over an array.
Due to some of my objects being pretty large, I am trying to e up with a function that I can initialize my object with when I get it back from the database before handling it.
This function would loop through all of the keys and check to see if the key exists in an array of "Does this need to be an array?" flags. If it finds a match, check to see if its a single object and if so, convert it to an array of that single object.
Here is some pseudo code of what I am trying to do:
// Input
var obj = {
"records": {
"recordID": 1,
"recordName": 'test'
},
"photos": {
"photoID": 1,
"photoName": 'test flower'
},
"leaveMeAlone": {
"nopeID": 1,
"nopeName": 'tester'
}
}
function convertToArray(obj) {
var keysToArray = ['records', 'photos'];
// Loop over keys
for (var k in obj) {
// Properties
if (obj.hasOwnProperty(k)) {
// This key is in our array.
if (keysToArray.indexOf(k) > -1) {
// If this is a single object, turn it into an array containing a single object
if (!Array.isArray(obj[k])) {
// Turn this value into an array of the single object
/* Stuck Here */
}
}
}
}
/* Return
var obj = {
"records": [{
"recordID": 1,
"recordName": 'test'
}],
"photos": [{
"photoID": 1,
"photoName": 'test flower'
}],
"leaveMeAlone": {
"nopeID": 1,
"nopeName": 'tester'
}
}
*/
}
// run
convertToArray(obj);- 2 Why the inconsistent data storing at the first place? If there's a single object, it shoud be stored into an array as well as multiple objects. – Teemu Commented Sep 14, 2017 at 4:49
- @Teemu - The database is MsSQL and when dealing with multiple nested records, we return the result as XML from the stored procedure (not on 2016 yet which allows for a JSON response). Our DB class that I am unable to change then converts the nested XML structure into the JSON data. In short, it's something out of my control so looking for a solution for the time being. – SBB Commented Sep 14, 2017 at 4:52
- 1 What library is it using to convert XML to JSON? There might be a way to always force a collection for certain elements – Phil Commented Sep 14, 2017 at 4:53
- 1 I would send some nasty greetings to the DB department, or at least a humble wish ... – Teemu Commented Sep 14, 2017 at 4:55
- 1 @SBB if there's a chance for any particular record to be an array, it should always be an array. Dealing with data structure inconsistencies is just a nightmare – Phil Commented Sep 14, 2017 at 4:59
3 Answers
Reset to default 4You can use below method which I created. It will check if object is an array or not. If not then it will put object inside an array and will return.
function convertToArray(obj) {
if (obj.records instanceof Array) {
return obj.records;
} else {
return [obj.records];
}
}
JSFiddle https://jsfiddle/r4otdrq0/
You could take an iterative and recursive approach by converting given properties to an array, if not already an array.
If all keys are unique, you could use an early return by deleting the properties of the array, or changing the the path from depth first to breadth first search.
function convert(object, keys) {
Object.keys(object).forEach(function (k) {
if (object[k] && typeof object[k] === 'object') {
convert(object[k], keys);
}
if (keys.indexOf(k) !== -1 && !Array.isArray(object[k])) {
object[k] = [object[k]];
}
});
}
var object = { records: { recordID: 1, recordName: 'test' }, photos: { photoID: 1, photoName: 'test flower' }, leaveMeAlone: { nopeID: 1, nopeName: 'tester' }, nested: { convert: { foo: 1, bar: 2 } } },
keys = ['records', 'photos', 'convert'];
convert(object, keys);
console.log(object);.as-console-wrapper { max-height: 100% !important; top: 0; }Note that I've replaced the values inline so the object that is passed in is mutated. Other than that I'm hoping it's pretty self-explanatory.
// Input
var obj = {
"records": {
"recordID": 1,
"recordName": 'test'
},
"photos": {
"photoID": 1,
"photoName": 'test flower'
},
"leaveMeAlone": {
"nopeID": 1,
"nopeName": 'tester'
}
}
function convertToArray(obj) {
var keysToArray = ['records', 'photos'];
keysToArray.forEach(function(key) {
if (key in obj && !Array.isArray(obj[key])) {
obj[key] = [obj[key]];
}
});
return obj;
}
console.log(convertToArray(obj));Based on your ment below it would seem that you need to perform this conversion on nested objects. Below is an example that will do that by calling itself recursively for arrays and objects. Note that it only checks the keys when deciding whether to convert to an array, it does not care about the path used to get there. This is fine so long as you are sure that the same key names will not be used in different places with different expectations:
function convertToArray(obj, keysToConvert) {
if (Array.isArray(obj)) {
obj.forEach(function(entry) {
convertToArray(entry, keysToConvert);
});
}
else if (obj && typeof obj === 'object') {
Object.keys(obj).forEach(function(key) {
if (keysToConvert.indexOf(key) !== -1 && !Array.isArray(obj[key])) {
obj[key] = [obj[key]];
}
convertToArray(obj[key], keysToConvert);
});
}
return obj;
}
var obj = {
"data": {
"VersionForTarget": "1",
"rules": {
"rule": {
"RuleParentID": "84",
"RuleVersionID": "2",
"MappedValue": "1",
"ProcessingOrder": "1",
"MetaInsertUtc": "2017-03-03T17:54:34.643",
"Value": "Recorded",
"IsRuleRetired": "0",
"UserImpactCount": "27130",
"attributes": {
"attribute": {
"AttributeID": "2",
"AttributeName": "Role",
"attributeDetails": {
"attributeDetail": [{
"RuleDetailID": "10964",
"AttributeID": "2",
"OperatorID": "3",
"AttributeValue": "172",
"RuleParentID": "84",
"Value": "Account Manager",
"IsValueRetired": "0",
"OperatorName": "In List",
"SqlOperator": "IN"
},
{
"RuleDetailID": "10966",
"AttributeID": "2",
"OperatorID": "3",
"AttributeValue": "686",
"RuleParentID": "84",
"Value": "Agent",
"IsValueRetired": "0",
"OperatorName": "In List",
"SqlOperator": "IN"
}
]
}
}
}
}
}
}
}
console.log(convertToArray(obj, ['rule', 'attribute', 'attributeDetail']))