🟢GoogleSheet DataToJson

🚀 Google Sheets to JSON: Generate Apps Script Code Instantly

Transform your spreadsheet data into JSON format with custom Google Apps Script

Published on August 27, 2025 | 8 min read | Google Apps Script Tutorial

Are you tired of manually converting Google Sheets data to JSON format? Whether you're a developer building APIs, a data analyst sharing datasets, or someone who needs to export spreadsheet data regularly, this tutorial will show you how to automate the entire process using Google Apps Script.

In today's data-driven world, the ability to quickly convert spreadsheet data into JSON format is invaluable. JSON (JavaScript Object Notation) is the standard format for data exchange between web applications, APIs, and databases. Google Sheets, while excellent for data organization and collaboration, doesn't have a built-in JSON export feature.

That's where Google Apps Script comes in. This powerful platform allows you to write custom JavaScript code that runs in Google's cloud, giving you the ability to automate tasks, integrate with other Google services, and extend the functionality of Google Sheets.

🎯 What You'll Learn

⚡ Instant Code Generation

Generate custom Apps Script code tailored to your specific column requirements, with real-time preview and customization options.

🎛️ Flexible Column Selection

Choose columns by letters (A, B, C), numbers (1, 2, 3), or ranges (A-F) to match your exact data structure.

💾 Automated File Management

Automatically save JSON files to Google Drive, create organized folders, and generate shareable URLs.

📊 Smart Data Processing

Handle data conversion, skip empty rows, add timestamps, and maintain data integrity throughout the process.

🔧 Common Use Cases

Before we dive into the tool, let's explore some real-world scenarios where converting Sheets to JSON is essential:

• API Development: Export product catalogs, user data, or inventory information for REST APIs
• Web Applications: Feed dynamic data from spreadsheets directly into websites and web apps
• Data Analysis: Share clean, structured datasets with data science teams or external partners
• Mobile Apps: Provide JSON endpoints for mobile applications that need frequently updated content
• Automation: Integrate spreadsheet data with webhook services, Zapier, or other automation tools
• Reporting: Generate JSON reports for dashboards, analytics platforms, or business intelligence tools

📋 Prerequisites

To follow along with this tutorial, you'll need:

1. A Google account with access to Google Sheets
2. Basic understanding of spreadsheet structure (rows, columns, headers)
3. Familiarity with JSON format (helpful but not required)
4. 5-10 minutes to set up and test your first conversion

🛠️ Interactive Apps Script Generator

Use the tool below to generate your custom Google Apps Script code. Simply configure your settings, and the code will be generated in real-time!

🚀 Apps Script Generator

Generate Google Apps Script code to convert Sheets to JSON

📋 Configuration

Column Selection Method:

Column Letters (A, B, C) Column Numbers (1, 2, 3) Column Range (A-F)

Column Letters:

Enter column letters separated by commas

Column Numbers:

Enter column numbers separated by commas (1=A, 2=B, etc.)

Column Range:

to

Define start and end columns for range

Start Row:

Row where data starts (header row is usually 1)

Header Row:

Row containing column headers

Number of Rows (optional):

Limit number of rows to process

Options:

Convert Numbers

Skip Empty Rows

Create Output Sheet

Save to Drive

Add Timestamp to Filename

Suggested JSON File Name:

Your suggested filename. If empty, will auto-generate: stockData_YYYY-MM-DD_HH-MM-SS.json

Google Drive Folder Name:

Name of the folder where the JSON file will be saved. Will be created if it doesn't exist.

Sheet Name for URL Output:

Name of the sheet where the JSON file URL will be written.

Cell for URL Output:

Cell where the JSON file URL will be written (e.g., A1, L2).

💡 Filename Examples:
• stockData.json
• inventory_data_2025.json
• monthly_stock_report.json
• warehouse_data.json

Function Name:

⚡ Real-time Code Generation Active

📄 Generated Apps Script Code

Generating your custom Apps Script code in real-time...

🚀 How to Use Your Generated Code

Once you've generated your custom code using the tool above, follow these steps to implement it in Google Sheets:

1. Open Google Sheets: Navigate to the spreadsheet containing your data
2. Access Apps Script: Go to Extensions → Apps Script
3. Clear Default Code: Delete any existing code in the editor
4. Paste Your Code: Copy the generated code from above and paste it into the editor
5. Save the Project: Click the save button (💾) and give your project a name
6. Run the Function: Click the ▶️ run button to execute your conversion
7. Grant Permissions: Authorize the script to access your Google Drive and Sheets
8. Check Results: View the logs and check your Drive folder for the JSON file

🔍 Understanding the Generated Code

Your generated code includes several key features:

🎯 Column Selection Logic

Handles different column input methods and converts them to proper column numbers for processing.

🛡️ Error Handling

Includes comprehensive error checking for invalid ranges, missing sheets, and data validation.

📊 Data Processing

Converts data types, handles empty rows, and creates properly formatted JSON structure.

📁 File Management

Creates Drive folders, manages file versions, and generates shareable URLs automatically.

💡 Pro Tips for Success

Data Preparation

• Clean Headers: Ensure your header row has clear, descriptive column names
• Consistent Data Types: Keep data types consistent within columns
• Remove Formulas: Convert calculated cells to values before processing
• Handle Special Characters: Be mindful of quotes and special characters in your data

Performance Optimization

• Limit Row Count: Use the "Number of Rows" option for large datasets
• Process in Batches: For very large datasets, consider processing in smaller chunks
• Schedule Regular Updates: Use time-based triggers for automatic updates
• Monitor Execution Time: Apps Script has a 6-minute execution limit

File Organization

• Descriptive Names: Use meaningful names for your JSON files and folders
• Version Control: Enable timestamps for maintaining file versions
• Folder Structure: Organize your Drive folders by project or data type
• Access Control: Set appropriate sharing permissions for your JSON files

🔧 Advanced Customizations

The generated code is designed to be flexible and customizable. Here are some advanced modifications you can make:

Custom Data Filtering

// Add custom filtering logic if (value === 'EXCLUDE' || value === null) { continue; // Skip this row }

Data Transformation

// Convert dates to specific format if (value instanceof Date) { value = Utilities.formatDate(value, Session.getScriptTimeZone(), 'yyyy-MM-dd'); }

Multiple Output Formats

// Generate both JSON and CSV var csvData = convertToCSV(jsonArray); folder.createFile(fileName.replace('.json', '.csv'), csvData, 'text/csv');

🔄 Automating the Process

Once your script is working perfectly, you can automate it to run on a schedule:

1. Open Triggers: In the Apps Script editor, click on the clock icon (⏰) or go to Triggers
2. Add Trigger: Click "Add Trigger" and configure your automation settings
3. Choose Frequency: Select from hourly, daily, weekly, or monthly updates
4. Set Parameters: Configure any specific timing requirements for your use case
5. Save and Test: Save your trigger and monitor the execution logs

📧 Email Notifications

Add email notifications to stay informed about your automated conversions:

// Add this at the end of your function MailApp.sendEmail({ to: 'your-email@gmail.com', subject: 'JSON Export Completed', body: 'Your sheet data has been successfully converted to JSON.\n' + 'File URL: ' + fileUrl + '\n' + 'Total records processed: ' + jsonArray.length });

🐛 Troubleshooting Common Issues

⚠️ Permission Errors

Solution: Re-run the script and grant all requested permissions. Check that your Google account has access to both Sheets and Drive.

📍 Column Not Found

Solution: Verify your column references match your actual sheet structure. Use the exact column letters or numbers as they appear.

🕐 Execution Timeout

Solution: Reduce the number of rows processed at once, or break your data into smaller chunks for processing.

📄 Empty JSON Output

Solution: Check that your start row and column references are correct, and that there's actually data in the specified range.

🔍 Debug Mode

To troubleshoot issues, you can enable detailed logging in your script:

// Add this near the beginning of your function var debug = true; if (debug) { Logger.log('Sheet name: ' + sheet.getName()); Logger.log('Total rows: ' + sheet.getLastRow()); Logger.log('Column numbers: ' + columnNumbers); }

🌟 Real-World Examples

📊 E-commerce Inventory Management

A popular use case is converting product inventory data for e-commerce websites:

// Example output structure for inventory [ { "SKU": "PROD-001", "Product Name": "Premium Widget", "Price": 29.99, "Stock": 150, "Category": "Electronics" }, { "SKU": "PROD-002", "Product Name": "Standard Widget", "Price": 19.99, "Stock": 75, "Category": "Electronics" } ]

📈 Financial Data Export

Converting financial reports for dashboard integration:

// Example output for financial data [ { "Month": "January 2025", "Revenue": 125000.50, "Expenses": 89000.25, "Profit": 36000.25, "Growth": "12.5%" } ]

👥 Customer Data Processing

Exporting customer information for CRM integration:

// Example customer data structure [ { "Customer ID": "CUST-001", "Name": "John Smith", "Email": "john@example.com", "Last Purchase": "2025-01-15", "Total Orders": 5 } ]

🔗 Integration Possibilities

Once you have your JSON data, you can integrate it with various platforms and services:

🌐 Web Applications

Use the generated JSON URLs as API endpoints for your websites, providing real-time data updates directly from your spreadsheets.

📱 Mobile Apps

Feed your mobile applications with fresh data from Google Sheets without complex backend infrastructure.

⚡ Zapier & Automation

Connect your JSON exports to thousands of apps through Zapier, creating powerful automation workflows.

📊 BI Tools

Import JSON data into business intelligence platforms like Tableau, Power BI, or Google Data Studio.

🚀 Next Steps and Advanced Features

🔄 Version Control

Implement version control for your JSON exports to track changes over time:

// Create versioned files var timestamp = Utilities.formatDate(new Date(), 'UTC', 'yyyy-MM-dd_HH-mm-ss'); var versionedFileName = 'data_v' + timestamp + '.json';

🔐 Security Considerations

• Access Control: Set proper sharing permissions on your Google Drive folders
• Sensitive Data: Avoid including personally identifiable information in public JSON files
• URL Security: Consider the security implications of shareable JSON URLs
• Data Validation: Implement input validation to prevent malicious data injection

📈 Performance Monitoring

Monitor your script's performance and optimize as needed:

// Performance monitoring var startTime = new Date().getTime(); // ... your conversion code ... var endTime = new Date().getTime(); Logger.log('Conversion completed in ' + (endTime - startTime) + 'ms');

📚 Additional Resources

To further expand your Google Apps Script skills, check out these resources:

• Google Apps Script Documentation: Official documentation and API reference
• Stack Overflow: Community support for specific coding challenges
• Google Apps Script GitHub: Sample projects and code repositories
• YouTube Tutorials: Video guides for visual learners
• Apps Script Community: Forums and discussion groups

🎉 Conclusion

Congratulations! You now have a powerful tool to convert Google Sheets data to JSON format automatically. This solution will save you countless hours of manual work and provide a reliable, scalable way to share your spreadsheet data with web applications, APIs, and other systems.

Remember: Start with simple conversions and gradually add more complex features as you become comfortable with the process. The generated code is fully customizable, so don't hesitate to modify it to fit your specific needs.

💬 Questions or Need Help?

Found this tutorial helpful? Have questions about implementing your own solution? Feel free to reach out!

Share this post with others who might benefit from automated Sheets to JSON conversion!