Connect to JSON data source

To use JSON data in Bold Reports®, create a JSON data source that retrieves data from a JSON file, a string in JSON format, or an external URL.

How do I create a JSON data source?

To create a JSON data source in the Bold Reports® Web Report Designer, open the Data configuration panel and choose the JSON connection type.

  1. Click the Data icon in the configuration panel. Data icon configuration panel
  2. In the DATA configuration panel, click the NEW DATA button. New Data Panel
  3. In the connection type panel, choose the JSON data source type. Connection types panel
  4. Specify the data source name without special characters in the Name field. JSON datasource properties

You can connect JSON data using the following three options:

  • Inline - Inline data.
  • File Path - Load from disk.
  • External - Load from external URL.

Source types

Inline data

To use inline JSON data in the Bold Reports® Web Report Designer, paste a JSON string into the Inline text area.

  1. Choose Inline in the Type drop-down.

  2. Specify a string that contains JSON data in the Inline text area.

    [
{
   "ID": 1,
   "IDBook": 1,
   "FirstName": "First Name 1",
   "LastName": "Last Name 1"
},
{
   "ID": 2,
   "IDBook": 1,
   "FirstName": "First Name 2",
   "LastName": "Last Name 2"
}
]

  3. Click Connect to open the query design pane. The query design pane shows the specified JSON data’s structure in the left pane. Left schema

  4. Drag and drop the table from the left pane in the query design view page and execute. New connection panel

  5. Click Finish to save the data source with a relevant name and continue designing the report. New connection panel

Load from disk

To load a JSON file from disk in the Bold Reports® Web Report Designer, upload the file and connect.

  1. Choose the File option in the Type field. The upload option appears, as shown in the following image. New connection panel
  2. Click the three-dotted button to open the upload box. Browse the JSON file and click open. New connection panel
  3. Click Connect to open the query design pane. New connection panel
  4. The query design pane shows the specified JSON data’s structure in the left pane. Left schema
  5. Drag and drop the table from the left pane in the query design view page and execute. New connection panel
  6. Click Finish to save the data source with a relevant name and continue designing the report. New connection panel

Load from external URL

To load JSON data from an external URL in the Bold Reports® Web Report Designer, specify the URL and connect.

  1. Choose the External option in the Type field. New connection panel

  2. Specify an external URL in the External text area. New connection panel

  3. Click Connect to open the query design pane. The query design pane shows the specified JSON data’s structure in the left pane.

  4. Drag and drop the table from the left pane in the query design view page and execute. New connection panel

  5. Click Finish to save the data source with a relevant name and continue designing the report. New connection panel

    Note:

    • In schema tree, the nested fields in the JSON data will be shown as flat structure.
    • When the JSON data contains duplicate key names at different levels, Bold Reports® ensures uniqueness and avoids conflicts by appending the parent keys to each field name using the following format: <fieldName>__<topLevelParentKey>_<nextParentKey>_..._<immediateParentKey>_.

Frequently asked questions

How are nested JSON fields shown?

In the schema tree, the nested fields in the JSON data are shown as a flat structure.

How does Bold Reports® handle duplicate JSON key names?

Bold Reports® appends the parent keys to each field name to ensure uniqueness, using the format <fieldName>__<topLevelParentKey>_<nextParentKey>_..._<immediateParentKey>_.

See also