Generic way to expand all columns in Power Query from the import of a nested JSON format

[John_Martel]

Hello,

I often deal with complex nested JSON files that consist of array of records of array of records etc... What I would like to do is to be import the JSON file in an "all-expanded mode" where are all the columns of lists and records are expanded . Right now i have to repeatdly click on the "double arrow" on the header of every expandable column to split a column of lists or a column of records until there are no more expandable columns . Given that the JSON files have deep nesting manually clicking to expand columns is not practical, moreoever since the JSON files have varying formats, i cannot create a function from the steps recorded when expanding column after column. Is there a general way to expand all columns in a table?

[edhans · Accepted solution]

I don't think so. When you expand, it changes the shape of the table, and expanding in different orders or ways will change the outcome. Expanding a nested list to rows will impact how a subsequent list expansion will happen, so even if someone were to write function that would loop through all lists and tables and expand, they best they could do is expand them in a specific order (first to last) in a specific way, (to rows, to columns if availalble), all of which can change the results.

[John_Martel]

Thanks for your answer. It makes sense. In my case, I dont really care about the order of the columns. So my best bet is to write a function.