Skip to main content
cancel
Showing results for 
Search instead for 
Did you mean: 

The Power BI Data Visualization World Championships is back! Get ahead of the game and start preparing now! Learn more

Reply
dc7669
Resolver I
Resolver I

How to decode JSON data that I retrieved via API

Hi,

 

I tried to retrieve data via API into PowerBI Desktop. 

 

The API request itself is good and brought back data. 

But, below is the screen I encounter.  

dc7669_0-1741386638485.png

How can this data be decoded. 

I would like a table with columns of 

ID_BURN_PERMIT, COUNTY, AREA,...etc 

 

Each record, everything within {}, shall be a row. 

 

Any idea? 

 

Should I specify in the API request to let PowerBI knows that the returned result is JSON data? 

Or

SHould I use "Extract Table Using Example"?   I tried that but I could not get it to work.

 

Thanks.

 

Dchan

1 ACCEPTED SOLUTION
Deku
Super User
Super User

Have a look at how the powerquery JSON connector decodes JSON files. It should allow you to easily generate a tabular format

 

Would avoid extract table from example


Did I answer your question?
Please help by clicking the thumbs up button and mark my post as a solution!

View solution in original post

3 REPLIES 3
dc7669
Resolver I
Resolver I

Hi Deku,

 

Thanks for the reply...... I may have figured it out......

 

In Web link, I added application  application/json like below

dc7669_2-1741387931326.png

Then, when the data is returned, I got the data without them being in a table.

Then, I convert the data into Table.

dc7669_4-1741388107505.png

Then, all the data are in Column 1, row 1.

dc7669_5-1741388140694.png

Then, I right click on column1, then, select Transform, and then JSON. 

I got a List.

dc7669_6-1741388215181.png

Then, I right click on "Expand" icon and select "Expand to New Rows".  I got this: 

dc7669_7-1741388268046.png

Then, I right click on the "Expand" icon to show all columns in a table!  

 

This is the Advanced Editor screen for me for the above steps.  

 

dc7669_3-1741388066259.png

 

 

When I go back to the "Recent Resources", I got this:

dc7669_8-1741388418484.png

The "Open File As" option was NOT available before. 

 

So, I guess I got it.  But, I wonder if this is the best way as it did involve a few steps. 

 

Thanks.

 

Dc7669

 

LGTM


Did I answer your question?
Please help by clicking the thumbs up button and mark my post as a solution!
Deku
Super User
Super User

Have a look at how the powerquery JSON connector decodes JSON files. It should allow you to easily generate a tabular format

 

Would avoid extract table from example


Did I answer your question?
Please help by clicking the thumbs up button and mark my post as a solution!

Helpful resources

Announcements
Power BI DataViz World Championships

Power BI Dataviz World Championships

The Power BI Data Visualization World Championships is back! Get ahead of the game and start preparing now!

December 2025 Power BI Update Carousel

Power BI Monthly Update - December 2025

Check out the December 2025 Power BI Holiday Recap!

FabCon Atlanta 2026 carousel

FabCon Atlanta 2026

Join us at FabCon Atlanta, March 16-20, for the ultimate Fabric, Power BI, AI and SQL community-led event. Save $200 with code FABCOMM.