I have decoded a simple two-dimensional array in JavaScript into a JSON and need to parse it in VBA. The json looks something like this:
[
[
"String1",
"Sring2"
],
[
"String3",
"String4"
]
]
There are always 2 Strings in each array.
The below example shows how to parse JSON and convert to array. Put the below code into VBA Project standard module:
Option Explicit
Sub TestToArray()
' Put source JSON string to "\source.json" file
' Processed table will be placed on the first worksheet
Dim sJSONString As String
Dim vJSON As Variant
Dim sState As String
Dim aData()
Dim aHeader()
sJSONString = ReadTextFile(ThisWorkbook.Path & "\source.json", -2)
JSON.Parse sJSONString, vJSON, sState
JSON.ToArray vJSON, aData, aHeader
With Sheets(1)
.Cells.Delete
.Cells.WrapText = False
If UBound(aHeader) >= 0 Then OutputArray .Cells(1, 1), aHeader
Output2DArray .Cells(2, 1), aData
.Columns.AutoFit
End With
End Sub
Sub OutputArray(oDstRng As Range, aCells As Variant)
With oDstRng
.Parent.Select
With .Resize( _
1, _
UBound(aCells) - LBound(aCells) + 1)
.NumberFormat = "@"
.Value = aCells
End With
End With
End Sub
Sub Output2DArray(oDstRng As Range, aCells As Variant)
With oDstRng
.Parent.Select
With .Resize( _
UBound(aCells, 1) - LBound(aCells, 1) + 1, _
UBound(aCells, 2) - LBound(aCells, 2) + 1)
.NumberFormat = "@"
.Value = aCells
End With
End With
End Sub
Function ReadTextFile(sPath As String, lFormat As Long) As String
' lFormat -2 - System default, -1 - Unicode, 0 - ASCII
With CreateObject("Scripting.FileSystemObject").OpenTextFile(sPath, 1, False, lFormat)
ReadTextFile = ""
If Not .AtEndOfStream Then ReadTextFile = .ReadAll
.Close
End With
End Function
Sub WriteTextFile(sContent As String, sPath As String, lFormat As Long)
With CreateObject("Scripting.FileSystemObject").OpenTextFile(sPath, 2, True, lFormat)
.Write (sContent)
.Close
End With
End Sub
Create one more standard module, name it JSON and put the below code into it, this code provides JSON processing functionality:
Option Explicit
Private sBuffer As String
Private oTokens As Object
Private oRegEx As Object
Private bMatch As Boolean
Private oChunks As Object
Private oHeader As Object
Private aData() As Variant
Private i As Long
Sub Parse(ByVal sSample As String, vJSON As Variant, sState As String)
' Backus–Naur form JSON parser implementation based on RegEx
' Input:
' sSample - source JSON string
' Output:
' vJson - created object or array to be returned as result
' sState - string Object|Array|Error depending on processing
sBuffer = sSample
Set oTokens = CreateObject("Scripting.Dictionary")
Set oRegEx = CreateObject("VBScript.RegExp")
With oRegEx ' Patterns based on specification http://www.json.org/
.Global = True
.MultiLine = True
.IgnoreCase = True ' Unspecified True, False, Null accepted
.Pattern = "(?:'[^']*'|""(?:\\""|[^""])*"")(?=\s*[,\:\]\}])" ' Double-quoted string, unspecified quoted string
Tokenize "s"
.Pattern = "[+-]?(?:\d+\.\d*|\.\d+|\d+)(?:e[+-]?\d+)?(?=\s*[,\]\}])" ' Number, E notation number
Tokenize "d"
.Pattern = "\b(?:true|false|null)(?=\s*[,\]\}])" ' Constants true, false, null
Tokenize "c"
.Pattern = "\b[A-Za-z_]\w*(?=\s*\:)" ' Unspecified non-double-quoted property name accepted
Tokenize "n"
.Pattern = "\s+"
sBuffer = .Replace(sBuffer, "") ' Remove unnecessary spaces
.MultiLine = False
Do
bMatch = False
.Pattern = "<\d+(?:[sn])>\:<\d+[codas]>" ' Object property structure
Tokenize "p"
.Pattern = "\{(?:<\d+p>(?:,<\d+p>)*)?\}" ' Object structure
Tokenize "o"
.Pattern = "\[(?:<\d+[codas]>(?:,<\d+[codas]>)*)?\]" ' Array structure
Tokenize "a"
Loop While bMatch
.Pattern = "^<\d+[oa]>$" ' Top level object structure, unspecified array accepted
If .Test(sBuffer) And oTokens.Exists(sBuffer) Then
Retrieve sBuffer, vJSON
sState = IIf(IsObject(vJSON), "Object", "Array")
Else
vJSON = Null
sState = "Error"
End If
End With
Set oTokens = Nothing
Set oRegEx = Nothing
End Sub
Private Sub Tokenize(sType)
Dim aContent() As String
Dim lCopyIndex As Long
Dim i As Long
Dim sKey As String
With oRegEx.Execute(sBuffer)
If .Count = 0 Then Exit Sub
ReDim aContent(0 To .Count - 1)
lCopyIndex = 1
For i = 0 To .Count - 1
With .Item(i)
sKey = "<" & oTokens.Count & sType & ">"
oTokens(sKey) = .Value
aContent(i) = Mid(sBuffer, lCopyIndex, .FirstIndex - lCopyIndex + 1) & sKey
lCopyIndex = .FirstIndex + .Length + 1
End With
Next
End With
sBuffer = Join(aContent, "") & Mid(sBuffer, lCopyIndex, Len(sBuffer) - lCopyIndex + 1)
bMatch = True
End Sub
Private Sub Retrieve(sTokenKey, vTransfer)
Dim sTokenValue As String
Dim sName As String
Dim vValue As Variant
Dim aTokens() As String
Dim i As Long
sTokenValue = oTokens(sTokenKey)
With oRegEx
.Global = True
Select Case Left(Right(sTokenKey, 2), 1)
Case "o"
Set vTransfer = CreateObject("Scripting.Dictionary")
aTokens = Split(sTokenValue, "<")
For i = 1 To UBound(aTokens)
Retrieve "<" & Split(aTokens(i), ">", 2)(0) & ">", vTransfer
Next
Case "p"
aTokens = Split(sTokenValue, "<", 4)
Retrieve "<" & Split(aTokens(1), ">", 2)(0) & ">", sName
Retrieve "<" & Split(aTokens(2), ">", 2)(0) & ">", vValue
If IsObject(vValue) Then
Set vTransfer(sName) = vValue
Else
vTransfer(sName) = vValue
End If
Case "a"
aTokens = Split(sTokenValue, "<")
If UBound(aTokens) = 0 Then
vTransfer = Array()
Else
ReDim vTransfer(0 To UBound(aTokens) - 1)
For i = 1 To UBound(aTokens)
Retrieve "<" & Split(aTokens(i), ">", 2)(0) & ">", vValue
If IsObject(vValue) Then
Set vTransfer(i - 1) = vValue
Else
vTransfer(i - 1) = vValue
End If
Next
End If
Case "n"
vTransfer = sTokenValue
Case "s"
vTransfer = Replace(Replace(Replace(Replace(Replace(Replace(Replace(Replace( _
Mid(sTokenValue, 2, Len(sTokenValue) - 2), _
"\""", """"), _
"\\", "\"), _
"\/", "/"), _
"\b", Chr(8)), _
"\f", Chr(12)), _
"\n", vbLf), _
"\r", vbCr), _
"\t", vbTab)
.Global = False
.Pattern = "\\u[0-9a-fA-F]{4}"
Do While .Test(vTransfer)
vTransfer = .Replace(vTransfer, ChrW(("&H" & Right(.Execute(vTransfer)(0).Value, 4)) * 1))
Loop
Case "d"
vTransfer = Evaluate(sTokenValue)
Case "c"
Select Case LCase(sTokenValue)
Case "true"
vTransfer = True
Case "false"
vTransfer = False
Case "null"
vTransfer = Null
End Select
End Select
End With
End Sub
Function Serialize(vJSON As Variant) As String
Set oChunks = CreateObject("Scripting.Dictionary")
SerializeElement vJSON, ""
Serialize = Join(oChunks.Items(), "")
Set oChunks = Nothing
End Function
Private Sub SerializeElement(vElement As Variant, ByVal sIndent As String)
Dim aKeys() As Variant
Dim i As Long
With oChunks
Select Case VarType(vElement)
Case vbObject
If vElement.Count = 0 Then
.Item(.Count) = "{}"
Else
.Item(.Count) = "{" & vbCrLf
aKeys = vElement.Keys
For i = 0 To UBound(aKeys)
.Item(.Count) = sIndent & vbTab & """" & aKeys(i) & """" & ": "
SerializeElement vElement(aKeys(i)), sIndent & vbTab
If Not (i = UBound(aKeys)) Then .Item(.Count) = ","
.Item(.Count) = vbCrLf
Next
.Item(.Count) = sIndent & "}"
End If
Case Is >= vbArray
If UBound(vElement) = -1 Then
.Item(.Count) = "[]"
Else
.Item(.Count) = "[" & vbCrLf
For i = 0 To UBound(vElement)
.Item(.Count) = sIndent & vbTab
SerializeElement vElement(i), sIndent & vbTab
If Not (i = UBound(vElement)) Then .Item(.Count) = "," 'sResult = sResult & ","
.Item(.Count) = vbCrLf
Next
.Item(.Count) = sIndent & "]"
End If
Case vbInteger, vbLong
.Item(.Count) = vElement
Case vbSingle, vbDouble
.Item(.Count) = Replace(vElement, ",", ".")
Case vbNull
.Item(.Count) = "null"
Case vbBoolean
.Item(.Count) = IIf(vElement, "true", "false")
Case Else
.Item(.Count) = """" & _
Replace(Replace(Replace(Replace(Replace(Replace(Replace(Replace(vElement, _
"\", "\\"), _
"""", "\"""), _
"/", "\/"), _
Chr(8), "\b"), _
Chr(12), "\f"), _
vbLf, "\n"), _
vbCr, "\r"), _
vbTab, "\t") & _
""""
End Select
End With
End Sub
Function ToString(vJSON As Variant) As String
Select Case VarType(vJSON)
Case vbObject, Is >= vbArray
Set oChunks = CreateObject("Scripting.Dictionary")
ToStringElement vJSON, ""
oChunks.Remove 0
ToString = Join(oChunks.Items(), "")
Set oChunks = Nothing
Case vbNull
ToString = "Null"
Case vbBoolean
ToString = IIf(vJSON, "True", "False")
Case Else
ToString = CStr(vJSON)
End Select
End Function
Private Sub ToStringElement(vElement As Variant, ByVal sIndent As String)
Dim aKeys() As Variant
Dim i As Long
With oChunks
Select Case VarType(vElement)
Case vbObject
If vElement.Count = 0 Then
.Item(.Count) = "''"
Else
.Item(.Count) = vbCrLf
aKeys = vElement.Keys
For i = 0 To UBound(aKeys)
.Item(.Count) = sIndent & aKeys(i) & ": "
ToStringElement vElement(aKeys(i)), sIndent & vbTab
If Not (i = UBound(aKeys)) Then .Item(.Count) = vbCrLf
Next
End If
Case Is >= vbArray
If UBound(vElement) = -1 Then
.Item(.Count) = "''"
Else
.Item(.Count) = vbCrLf
For i = 0 To UBound(vElement)
.Item(.Count) = sIndent & i & ": "
ToStringElement vElement(i), sIndent & vbTab
If Not (i = UBound(vElement)) Then .Item(.Count) = vbCrLf
Next
End If
Case vbNull
.Item(.Count) = "Null"
Case vbBoolean
.Item(.Count) = IIf(vElement, "True", "False")
Case Else
.Item(.Count) = CStr(vElement)
End Select
End With
End Sub
Sub ToArray(vJSON As Variant, aRows() As Variant, aHeader() As Variant)
' Input:
' vJSON - Array or Object which contains rows data
' Output:
' aData - 2d array representing JSON data
' aHeader - 1d array of property names
Dim sName As Variant
Set oHeader = CreateObject("Scripting.Dictionary")
Select Case VarType(vJSON)
Case vbObject
If vJSON.Count > 0 Then
ReDim aData(0 To vJSON.Count - 1, 0 To 0)
oHeader("#") = 0
i = 0
For Each sName In vJSON
aData(i, 0) = "#" & sName
ToArrayElement vJSON(sName), ""
i = i + 1
Next
Else
ReDim aData(0 To 0, 0 To 0)
End If
Case Is >= vbArray
If UBound(vJSON) >= 0 Then
ReDim aData(0 To UBound(vJSON), 0 To 0)
For i = 0 To UBound(vJSON)
ToArrayElement vJSON(i), ""
Next
Else
ReDim aData(0 To 0, 0 To 0)
End If
Case Else
ReDim aData(0 To 0, 0 To 0)
aData(0, 0) = ToString(vJSON)
End Select
aHeader = oHeader.Keys()
Set oHeader = Nothing
aRows = aData
Erase aData
End Sub
Private Sub ToArrayElement(vElement As Variant, sFieldName As String)
Dim sName As Variant
Dim j As Long
Select Case VarType(vElement)
Case vbObject ' collection of objects
For Each sName In vElement
ToArrayElement vElement(sName), sFieldName & IIf(sFieldName = "", "", "_") & sName
Next
Case Is >= vbArray ' collection of arrays
For j = 0 To UBound(vElement)
ToArrayElement vElement(j), sFieldName & IIf(sFieldName = "", "", "_") & "#" & j
Next
Case Else
If Not oHeader.Exists(sFieldName) Then
oHeader(sFieldName) = oHeader.Count
If UBound(aData, 2) < oHeader.Count - 1 Then ReDim Preserve aData(0 To UBound(aData, 1), 0 To oHeader.Count - 1)
End If
j = oHeader(sFieldName)
aData(i, j) = ToString(vElement)
End Select
End Sub
Paste your JSON string to text file and save it as source.json in ANSI or Unicode to the same folder as the workbook, then run TestToArray(). If you add breakpoint at the end of the sub, you will see the variables in locals window as follows:
As you can see there are vJSON which represents the JSON structure - actually it consists of nested 1d-arrays, and 2d-array aData. So you can choose which array to use.
Check VBA-JSON-parser on GitHub for the latest version of JSON parser (import JSON.bas module into the VBA project for JSON processing).
I'm not sure what you mean by parsing an array but may be the following could help you:
Sub arrays()
Dim arr As Variant, arrElem As Variant, elem As Variant
arr = Array(Array("String1", "String2"), _
Array("String3", "String4")) '<--| this is what I think could be your array of arrays like
For Each arrElem In arr '<--| loop through each array elements
For Each elem In arrElem '<--| loop through each array element elements
Debug.Print elem '<--| print each element
Next
Next
End Sub
and this is the result in Immediate Window:
String1
String2
String3
String4
