javascript convert or wrap object into array for complex JSON

Question

I have a JSON that looks something like this:

var countries = [
{
  name: 'united states',
  program: {
              name: 'usprogram'
           }
},
{
  name: 'mexico',
  program: {
              name: 'mexico program'
           }
},
{
  name: 'panama',
  program: [
             {
               name: 'panama program1'
             },
             {
               name: 'panama program2'
             }
           ]
},
{
  name: 'canada'
}
];

Is there a way to ALWAYS wrap the countries.programs object into an array such that the final output looks something like this? I tried some of the utility functions in underscoreJS, but the solution has eluded me.

var countries = [
{
  name: 'united states',
  program: [    //need to wrap this object into an array
             {
              name: 'usprogram'
             }
           ]
},
{
  name: 'mexico',
  program: [   //need to wrap this object into an array
             {
               name: 'mexico program'
             }
           ]
},
{
  name: 'panama',
  program: [
             {
               name: 'panama program1'
             },
             {
               name: 'panama program2'
             }
           ]
},
{
  name: 'canada'
}
];

Thanks!

How are you making your JSON? Or do you want to convert the member to an array only when you are accessing it? — Sampson
– Sampson, Commented Dec 11, 2012 at 1:50
That's not JSON, that is Javascript objects and arrays. JSON is a text format to represent objects and arrays. — Guffa
– Guffa, Commented Dec 11, 2012 at 1:58

Amadan · Accepted Answer · 2012-12-11 05:23:27Z

19

Not automatic, no. Loop through the countries, then country.program = [].concat(country.program). This last piece of magic will wrap the value if it is not an array, and leave it as-is if it is. Mostly. (It will be a different, but equivalent array).

EDIT per request:

_.each(countries, function(country) {
  country.program = [].concat(country.program);
});

edited Dec 11, 2012 at 5:23

answered Dec 11, 2012 at 1:51

Amadan

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2 Comments

Kevin Over a year ago

I'm not sure what you mean. Could you type out how this would work?

Sky Over a year ago

Good call with [].concat(...)! That was the functionality I was searching for. Cheers.

alex · Accepted Answer · 2012-12-11 01:50:37Z

2

Something like this could work

_.each(countries, function(country) { 
          ! _.isArray(country.program) && (country.program = [country.program]);
                  });

answered Dec 11, 2012 at 1:50

alex

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2 Comments

Kevin Over a year ago

This one worked for me, but JSLint throws this error: Error: Problem at line 24 character 79: Expected an assignment or function call and instead saw an expression. ! _.isArray(country.program) && (country.program = [country.program...

Amadan Over a year ago

@Kevin: It is a style complaint; the program should still work.

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