Flatten JSON Objects Extension

For more advanced options in converting a data layer, see the Data Layer Converter.

Prerequisites

• See About Extensions

Requirements

• utag v4.38 or later. For more information about updating the utag.js template, see our knowledge base article Best Practices for Updating to the Latest Version of utag.js.

How it works

The following are a few examples that demonstrate how the Flatten JSON Objects extension works:

• Objects such as parent -> child are flattened as parent.child.
• Array objects such as parent -> array -> [obj1,objN] are flattened as parent.array0.obj1key and parent.arrayN.objNkey.
• For arrays an additional parent.array.array-size value are set automatically.

Using the extension

Once the extension is added, the following configuration options are available:

• JSON Object: A JSON object variable that you wish to flatten.
• Output Object: Output object variable to contain the results.

Example

Here is an example of a JSON object including a parent to child relationship and an array:

var person_object = {
  "firstName" : "John",
  "lastName" : "Doe",
  "age" : 25,
  "address" : {
    "streetAddress" : "1234 Main St",
    "city" : "Los Angeles",
    "state" : "CA",
    "postalCode" : "90010"
  },
  "phoneNumber" : [
    {
      "type" : "home",
      "number" : "310-555-1234"
    },
    {
      "type" : "fax",
      "number" : "310-555-5678"
    }
  ]
};

When flattened, the object becomes:

var person_flatobject = {
    "address.city" : "Los Angeles",
    "address.postalCode" : "90010"
    "address.state" : "CA",
    "address.streetAddress": "1234 Main St",
    "age" : 25,
    "firstName" : "John",
    "lastName" : "Doe",
    "phoneNumber.array-size" : 2
    "phoneNumber0.number" : "310-555-1234"
    "phoneNumber0.type"  : "home",
    "phoneNumber1.number" : "310-555-5678"
    "phoneNumber1.type"  : "fax"
};

If items from the new object need to be referenced as data layer variables, use the notation as stated in person_flatobject. For example, access the state data in the address as person_flatobject.address.state.