Getting Started with Excel to JSON Web App - Convert in Seconds

Welcome back to our Excel to JSON series! In our previous post, we introduced the Excel to JSON toolkit and its various components. Today, we’re diving into the quickest and easiest way to convert Excel to JSON: the Web App.

Why Use the Web App?

The Excel to JSON Web App is perfect when you need to convert Excel files quickly without installing any software. Here’s why it’s ideal:

• No Installation Required: Works directly in your browser
• Cross-Platform: Compatible with Windows, Mac, Linux, Android, and iOS
• Instant Access: Start converting immediately
• Privacy-Friendly: All processing happens client-side in your browser
• Multiple Data Sources: Accepts Excel data, CSV data, or copy-paste from any spreadsheet software

Getting Started in 3 Simple Steps

Step 1: Open the Web App

Simply open your web browser (Chrome, Firefox, Safari, Edge, or any modern browser) and navigate to:

https://s.wtsolutions.cn/excel-to-json.html

That’s it! No registration, no login, no installation. The app loads instantly and you’re ready to go.

Step 2: Prepare Your Excel Data

You have three ways to load your Excel data:

Option A: Copy and Paste

The simplest method - just copy your Excel data and paste it directly into the text area provided. You’ll see a live preview of your Excel data below the text area, so you can verify the data before conversion.

What You Can Paste:

• Data copied directly from Excel
• Data from Google Sheets
• Data from Mac Numbers
• Data from any other Excel-compatible software
• Comma-separated CSV data

Option B: Load Excel File

Click the “Load Excel” button to select Excel files from your computer. This is perfect when you have:

• Large Excel files
• Multiple sheets to convert
• Files you want to keep organized

Step 3: Configure and Convert

Before converting, you can customize the conversion settings:

Conversion Mode

Choose between:

• Flat JSON Mode: Best for simple Excel structures without hierarchical data
• Nested JSON Mode: Perfect for Excel data with column headers that indicate nested structures

Header Selection

Choose how to identify headers:

• First Row as Header: The first row becomes JSON keys
• First Column as Header (Pro Feature): The first column becomes JSON keys

Nested Delimiter (Pro Feature)

When using Nested JSON Mode, you can choose how nested keys are separated:

• Dot (.) - Default: student.name
• Underscore (_): student_name
• Double Underscore (__): student__name
• Forward Slash (/): student/name

Once your settings are configured, click the “Go” button and watch the magic happen!

Understanding the Output

After conversion, you’ll see:

1. Live Preview: A preview of your JSON data appears below the “Go” button
2. Multiple Save Options: Three ways to save your JSON
   • Copy and Paste: Copy JSON from textarea and paste anywhere
   • Copy to Clipboard: One-click to copy JSON to clipboard
   • Save to File: Download JSON file directly to your computer

A Practical Example

Let’s walk through converting a simple Excel sheet:

Original Excel Data:

Name	Age	IsStudent
John Doe	25	FALSE
Jane Smith	30	TRUE

Steps:

1. Copy the Excel data (select cells A1:C3 and copy)
2. Paste it into the Web App text area
3. Select Flat JSON Mode (since this is a simple structure)
4. Click “Go”
5. Preview your JSON data
6. Click “Copy to Clipboard”

Resulting JSON:

[
  {
    "Name": "John Doe",
    "Age": 25,
    "IsStudent": false
  },
  {
    "Name": "Jane Smith",
    "Age": 30,
    "IsStudent": true
  }
]

Tips for Best Results

Validate Your Excel Data First

The Web App includes a preview that helps you verify your data is properly formatted before conversion. Look out for:

• Proper header row
• Consistent data types in columns
• No empty cells in header row

Handle Nested Structures

If your Excel has column headers that indicate nesting (like student.name, student.age), use “Nested JSON Mode” for better results.

Example Excel Data:

id	student.name	student.familyname	student.age
1	Meimei	Han	12
2	Lily	Jaskson	15

With Nested JSON Mode and dot delimiter:

[
  {
    "id": 1,
    "student": {
      "name": "Meimei",
      "familyname": "Han",
      "age": 12
    }
  },
  {
    "id": 2,
    "student": {
      "name": "Lily",
      "familyname": "Jaskson",
      "age": 15
    }
  }
]

Use CSV Data When Appropriate

You can also paste comma-separated CSV data directly into the Web App. This is useful when:

• You’re working with CSV exports from other systems
• You have data in text format
• You want to quickly convert CSV to JSON

Limitations to Keep in Mind

The Web App has some limitations:

• First row will always be considered as header
• At least two rows are required (header + data)
• Empty cells in header row are not allowed
• Some Pro features (like custom filename) are only available in Excel/WPS add-ins

When to Use the Web App vs Other Tools

Choose the Web App when:

• You need to convert files quickly without installation
• You’re working on a device without Excel or WPS
• You want to share the conversion process with others
• You only need occasional conversions
• You’re working with data from Google Sheets or other spreadsheet software

Choose the Excel Add-in when:

• You work primarily in Excel
• You need to analyze data immediately after conversion
• You want to integrate Excel to JSON into your Excel workflows
• You prefer a desktop application experience

Choose the WPS Add-in when:

• You prefer WPS Office over Microsoft Excel
• You’re working on Linux
• You want a lighter, faster application
• You’re using WPS’s free tier

Next Steps

Now that you’ve mastered the Web App, you might be wondering about other ways to use Excel to JSON. In our next post, we’ll explore the Excel Add-in, which provides seamless integration directly within Excel - perfect for users who work in Excel all day.

Ready to try the Web App? Visit https://s.wtsolutions.cn/excel-to-json.html and start converting your Excel files today!