JSON File Reader - Elementum Documentation

The JSON File Reader transforms raw JSON data into structured, usable objects within your automation workflows. With AI-powered analysis and intelligent type detection, it automatically understands your JSON structure and suggests appropriate field mappings for use in automation workflows.

Key Features

AI-Assisted Analysis

Automatically analyzes JSON structure and suggests field types and mappings

Intelligent Type Detection

Recognizes dates, numbers, text, and boolean values automatically

Live Preview

See how your JSON will be parsed before saving your configuration

Multiple Input Sources

Works with API responses, file uploads, and direct JSON input

Supported JSON Formats

The JSON File Reader can process various JSON data structures:

Simple JSON Objects

Flat objects - Single-level key-value pairs
Nested objects - Multi-level object structures
Arrays - JSON arrays with multiple items
Mixed types - Objects with various data types

Complex JSON Structures

API responses - RESTful API JSON responses
Configuration files - JSON configuration data
Data exports - JSON data from external systems
Webhook payloads - JSON data from webhook events

Input Sources

Text Value Reference - Direct JSON input or paste
API Request Actions - Responses from external APIs
Data Transform Actions - Processed data from other automations
Record Triggers - JSON fields from record updates

Creating a JSON File Reader

Navigate to File Readers

In your application, go to File Readers section

Create New Reader

Click + File Reader and select JSON from the document type options

Configure Basic Settings

Name: Enter a descriptive name (e.g., “API Response Parser”)Description: Optional description for your team

Set Up JSON Analysis

The Elementum Intelligence system will analyze your JSON structure and automatically:

Identify arrays and objects
Detect field types (Text, Number, Date, Boolean)
Suggest appropriate mappings
Provide real-time preview of parsed data

Test with Sample JSON

Input sample JSON data to validate field extraction and type detection

Configuration Options

Field Type Mapping

The system automatically detects and maps field types:

Text Fields

Text (default for strings)
Date with format selection
DateTime with timezone support
Number for numeric strings
Decimal for precise calculations
Boolean for true/false values

Number Fields

Number (integer values)
Decimal (floating point, default for numbers)

Boolean Fields

Automatically detected and mapped as boolean type
Handles true/false, 1/0, and yes/no variations

Date Format Recognition

The system supports various date formats:

ISO 8601 standard formats
Common regional formats (MM/DD/YYYY, DD/MM/YYYY)
Custom format specification
Automatic timezone detection

Working with JSON Data

Simple JSON Objects

{
  "name": "John Doe",
  "age": 30,
  "active": true,
  "created_date": "2024-01-15T10:30:00Z"
}

The system will automatically detect:

name as Text
age as Number
active as Boolean
created_date as DateTime

Complex JSON Arrays

{
  "cars": [
    {
      "name": "Model Y",
      "year": 2024,
      "electric": true
    }
  ]
}

Using in Automations

Integration with Automation Workflows

The JSON File Reader integrates with automation workflows for comprehensive data processing:

API Response → JSON File Reader → Transform Data → Update Records → Generate Report

Common Automation Patterns

API Data Processing

Trigger: API Request Action (JSON response) File Reader: Parse API response data Actions:

Transform Data to clean values
Create Record with parsed data
Update Record Fields with new information
Send Email Notification with results

Webhook Processing

Trigger: Webhook Received (JSON payload) File Reader: Extract webhook data Actions:

AI Classification to determine event type
Search Records to find related entries
Update Record Fields with webhook data
Post Comment with processing status

Configuration Processing

Trigger: File Upload (JSON config) File Reader: Parse configuration data Actions:

Transform Data to validate settings
Update Record Fields with configuration
Start Approval Process if required
Generate Report with config summary

File Reader Actions

Create Action - Add a File Reader action to your automation
Select Type - Choose your configured JSON File Reader
Configure Input - Connect your JSON source
Map Output - Use the parsed fields in subsequent actions

Best Practices

Data Validation

Use Branch actions to validate critical fields before processing to prevent automation failures

Consistent Structure

Maintain consistent JSON structures across related automations for reliable processing

Type Accuracy

Choose appropriate field types during configuration to ensure accurate data handling

Testing

Test with sample data before deploying to production environments

Advanced Features

Nested Object Handling

The JSON File Reader handles complex nested structures:

{
  "user": {
    "profile": {
      "name": "John Doe",
      "preferences": {
        "theme": "dark",
        "notifications": true
      }
    }
  }
}

Access nested values using dot notation: user.profile.name

Array Processing

For JSON arrays, use Repeat For Each actions:

Configure the File Reader to parse your JSON array
Add a Repeat For Each action
Set the array field as the iteration source
Process individual array items within the loop

Dynamic Field Processing

Adapt field processing based on JSON structure:

JSON Input → AI Classification (structure type) → Dynamic Field Mapping → JSON File Reader

Benefits:

Handles varying JSON structures
Optimizes parsing for specific data formats
Reduces configuration complexity
Improves processing accuracy

Error Handling and Troubleshooting

Common Issues

Invalid JSON Format

Symptoms: JSON parsing fails with syntax errorsCauses:

Missing brackets, quotes, or commas
Malformed JSON structure
Invalid characters in JSON

Solutions:

Check for syntax errors using JSON validators
Verify JSON structure matches expected format
Use Transform Data to clean JSON before parsing
Implement IF conditions to handle malformed data

Missing Field Values

Symptoms: Expected fields return null or empty valuesCauses:

Field names don’t match JSON keys (case-sensitive)
Optional fields missing in source JSON
Nested object path incorrect

Solutions:

Verify field names match exactly (case-sensitive)
Use Branch actions to handle optional fields
Check nested object paths and dot notation
Add default values for missing fields

Type Conversion Errors

Symptoms: Data type mismatches in automation actionsCauses:

Field types don’t match JSON data types
String values expected as numbers
Date format not recognized

Solutions:

Ensure field types match the actual data
Use Transform Data for type conversion
Configure date formats properly
Implement data validation steps

Validation Strategies

Always validate critical JSON fields using Branch actions before processing to ensure data quality and prevent automation failures.

Validation Techniques:

Required field validation
Format validation (dates, numbers, emails)
Range validation for numeric fields
Pattern matching for structured data
Cross-field validation for consistency

Performance Optimization

Processing Speed

Optimization Techniques:

Use specific field mappings rather than parsing entire JSON
Implement caching for repeated JSON structures
Process large JSON files in batches
Use appropriate field types for optimal performance

Memory Management

Memory Optimization:

Limit JSON size for processing
Clear variables after processing
Use streaming for very large JSON files
Monitor system resources during processing

Comparison with Other File Readers

When to Use JSON File Reader

Choose JSON File Reader when:

Processing API responses and webhook payloads
Working with structured JSON data
Need intelligent type detection
Handling configuration files

Consider alternatives when:

Processing unstructured documents (Text File Reader)
Working with business forms (Purchase Orders Reader)
Handling spreadsheet data (Table File Reader)
Requiring AI-powered analysis (Elementum Intelligence Reader)

Performance Comparison

Feature	JSON File Reader	Text File Reader	Table File Reader
Speed	⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐	⭐⭐	⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Accuracy	⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐	⭐⭐⭐	⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Flexibility	⭐⭐⭐⭐	⭐⭐	⭐⭐⭐⭐
Cost	⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐	⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐	⭐⭐⭐⭐

Next Steps

Automation System

Learn how to integrate JSON File Readers with automation workflows

AI Services

Enhance JSON processing with AI classification and analysis

Table File Reader

Process structured data from spreadsheets and CSV files

Elementum Intelligence Reader

Upgrade to AI-powered document analysis for complex data extraction

The JSON File Reader provides intelligent parsing capabilities for structured JSON data. Use it for API integrations, webhook processing, and any workflow requiring JSON data extraction and transformation.

Overview

Workflow Orchestration

Agents & AI

Data

Security

​Key Features

AI-Assisted Analysis

Intelligent Type Detection

Live Preview

Multiple Input Sources

​Supported JSON Formats

​Creating a JSON File Reader

​Configuration Options

​Field Type Mapping

​Date Format Recognition

​Working with JSON Data

​Simple JSON Objects

​Complex JSON Arrays

​Using in Automations

​Integration with Automation Workflows

​Common Automation Patterns

​File Reader Actions

​Best Practices

Data Validation

Consistent Structure

Type Accuracy

Testing

​Advanced Features

​Nested Object Handling

​Array Processing

​Dynamic Field Processing

​Error Handling and Troubleshooting

​Common Issues

​Validation Strategies

​Performance Optimization

​Processing Speed

​Memory Management

​Comparison with Other File Readers

​When to Use JSON File Reader

​Performance Comparison

​Next Steps

Automation System

AI Services

Table File Reader

Elementum Intelligence Reader

Key Features

Supported JSON Formats

Creating a JSON File Reader

Configuration Options

Field Type Mapping

Date Format Recognition

Working with JSON Data

Simple JSON Objects

Complex JSON Arrays

Using in Automations

Integration with Automation Workflows

Common Automation Patterns

File Reader Actions

Best Practices

Advanced Features

Nested Object Handling

Array Processing

Dynamic Field Processing

Error Handling and Troubleshooting

Common Issues

Validation Strategies

Performance Optimization

Processing Speed

Memory Management

Comparison with Other File Readers

When to Use JSON File Reader

Performance Comparison

Next Steps