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

Data Days is here! Join us now for 60+ days of learning, challenges, and connection. Learn more

Reply
Anonymous
Not applicable

JSON and Direct Query

Hi PBI Community, 

I need some assistance, I am trying to parse JSON out of a column. The current connection type is Direct query to an SQL server. Unfortunatly because of this connection type i cannot use the "transform function" in the query editor to quickly parse out the JSON. 

What options do i have while still remaining connected via direct query? 

 

 

Data looks like
 JSON.PNG

1 ACCEPTED SOLUTION
Anonymous
Not applicable

@Anonymous,

Instead of parsing JSON in Power BI Desktop, using SQL statement to combine relational rows and JSON elements with CROSS APPLY and OPENJSON() functions during the import process, then import all the data.

For moredetails about query JSON data using T-SQL, please review the following articles.

https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/sql/t-sql/functions/openjson-transact-sql
https://sqlwithmanoj.com/2015/11/02/store-json-data-in-a-table-openjson-and-json_value-functions-sql...


Regards,
Lydia

View solution in original post

3 REPLIES 3
Anonymous
Not applicable

To clarify the direction I took for any readers of this in the future, I ended up switching the data connection type to import in order to gain full power query and dax functionality which will enable me to use "Path" and "Pathitem". 

Cheers

Anonymous
Not applicable

@Anonymous,

Instead of parsing JSON in Power BI Desktop, using SQL statement to combine relational rows and JSON elements with CROSS APPLY and OPENJSON() functions during the import process, then import all the data.

For moredetails about query JSON data using T-SQL, please review the following articles.

https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/sql/t-sql/functions/openjson-transact-sql
https://sqlwithmanoj.com/2015/11/02/store-json-data-in-a-table-openjson-and-json_value-functions-sql...


Regards,
Lydia

Hi,

 

I have same problem but we are using DirectQuery into BigQuery tables, which I don't have access to how the column is parsed. Is there some other solution to working with JSON in a DirectQuery column, apart from string manipulation in DAX?

Helpful resources

Announcements
Fabric Data Days is here Carousel

Fabric Data Days 2026

Don't miss out on Data Days, June 15 through August 7. Learn Fabric, Power BI, SQL, AI and more.

May Power BI Update Carousel

Power BI Monthly Update - May 2026

Check out the May 2026 Power BI update to learn about new features.

Power BI DataViz World Championships carousel

Power BI DataViz World Championships - June 2026

A new Power BI DataViz World Championship is coming this June! Don't miss out on submitting your entry.