README.md

VBA JSON Parser

Backus-Naur Form JSON Parser based on RegEx for VBA.

Purpose and Features

• Converts JSON string to a structure of nested Dictionaries and Arrays. JSON Objects {} are represented by Dictionaries, providing .Count, .Exists(), .Item(), .Items, .Keys properties and methods. JSON Arrays [] are the conventional zero-based VB Arrays, so UBound() allows to get the number of elements. Such approach makes easy and straightforward access to structure elements.
• Serialize and beautify JSON structure.
• Builds 2D Array based on table-like JSON structure.
• Flattens JSON structure.
• Serialize JSON structure into YAML format string.
• Parser complies with JSON Standard.
• Allows few non-stantard features in JSON string parsing: single quoted and unquoted object keys, single quoted strings, capitalised True, False and Null constants, and trailing commas.
• Invulnerable for malicious JS code injections.

Compatibility

Supported by MS Windows Office 2003+ (Excel, Word, Access, PowerPoint, Publisher, Visio etc.), CorelDraw, AutoCAD and many others applications with hosted VBA. And even VB6.

Deployment

Import JSON.bas module into the VBA Project for JSON processing. No references are necessary in the VBA Project due to late bind.

How to import?

Download and save JSON.bas to a file - open the page with JSON.bas code, right-click on Raw button, choose Save link as... (for Chrome):

Import JSON.bas into the VBA Project - open Visual Basic Editor by pressing Alt+F11, right-click on Project Tree, choose Import File, select saved JSON.bas:

Usage

Here is simple example for MS Excel, put the below code into standard module:

Option Explicit

Sub Test()
    
    Dim sJSONString As String
    Dim vJSON
    Dim sState As String
    Dim vFlat
    
    ' Retrieve JSON response
    With CreateObject("MSXML2.XMLHTTP")
        .Open "GET", "http://trirand.com/blog/phpjqgrid/examples/jsonp/getjsonp.php?qwery=longorders&rows=1000", True
        .Send
        Do Until .ReadyState = 4: DoEvents: Loop
        sJSONString = .ResponseText
    End With
    ' Parse JSON response
    JSON.Parse sJSONString, vJSON, sState
    ' Check response validity
    Select Case True
        Case sState <> "Object"
            MsgBox "Invalid JSON response"
        Case Not vJSON.Exists("rows")
            MsgBox "JSON contains no rows"
        Case Else
            ' Convert JSON nested rows array to 2D Array and output to worksheet #1
            Output ThisWorkbook.Sheets(1), vJSON("rows")
            ' Flatten JSON
            JSON.Flatten vJSON, vFlat
            ' Convert to 2D Array and output to worksheet #2
            Output ThisWorkbook.Sheets(2), vFlat
            ' Serialize JSON and save to file
            CreateObject("Scripting.FileSystemObject") _
                .OpenTextFile(ThisWorkbook.Path & "\sample.json", 2, True, -1) _
                .Write JSON.Serialize(vJSON)
            ' Convert JSON to YAML and save to file
            CreateObject("Scripting.FileSystemObject") _
                .OpenTextFile(ThisWorkbook.Path & "\sample.yaml", 2, True, -1) _
                .Write JSON.ToYaml(vJSON)
            MsgBox "Completed"
    End Select
    
End Sub

Sub Output(oTarget As Worksheet, vJSON)
    
    Dim aData()
    Dim aHeader()
    
    ' Convert JSON to 2D Array
    JSON.ToArray vJSON, aData, aHeader
    ' Output to target worksheet range
    With oTarget
        .Activate
        .Cells.Delete
        With .Cells(1, 1)
            .Resize(1, UBound(aHeader) - LBound(aHeader) + 1).Value = aHeader
            .Offset(1, 0).Resize( _
                    UBound(aData, 1) - LBound(aData, 1) + 1, _
                    UBound(aData, 2) - LBound(aData, 2) + 1 _
                ).Value = aData
        End With
        .Columns.AutoFit
    End With
    
End Sub

More Examples

You can find some usage examples on SO.