# Excel to JSON

- Human page: https://happytails.ai/en/data-tools/excel-to-json/
- Markdown: https://happytails.ai/en/data-tools/excel-to-json.md
- Structured JSON: https://happytails.ai/agents/en/data-tools/excel-to-json/index.json
- Visibility: public

## Tool capabilities

| Property | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Tool ID | `excel-to-json` |
| Category | data-tools |
| Implementation | Registered implementation. Registration alone is not a production-quality guarantee. |
| Browser execution | Use the visible action or interactive controls. |
| Browser processing | Browser; see tool notes for network behavior. |
| HTTP API | /api/v1/tools/excel-to-json/run |
| Browser-agent interface | run_current_tool |

### Implementation notes

Uses stored cell values; formulas are not recalculated. Check dates, identifiers and cached formula results. CSV/JSON export reads one worksheet.

### Inputs and settings

No free-text input is required. Use the file inputs and/or settings below.

Accepted browser files: `.xlsx,.xls,.ods`. Choose one file.

| Setting | Meaning | Control type | Default | Constraints |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| `sheet` | Worksheet name (blank = first) | text | "" |  |

### HTTP contract

API calls process supplied data on the server. The website origin is `https://happytails.ai`. Server API hosting is not connected on the public website yet. Use your local server origin to test these requests.

```http
POST https://happytails.ai/api/v1/tools/excel-to-json/run
Content-Type: application/json
```

[Detailed operation reference](https://happytails.ai/en/api/tools/excel-to-json.md) · [Shared API guide](https://happytails.ai/en/api.md)

#### Limits

| Limit | Value |
| --- | --- |
| request_bytes | 8388608 |
| input_characters | 1000000 |
| files_bytes | 5242880 |
| max_files | 1 |
| timeout_seconds | 12 |

#### Complete input schema

```json
{
  "type": "object",
  "additionalProperties": false,
  "properties": {
    "input": {
      "type": "string",
      "maxLength": 1000000,
      "default": "",
      "description": "Plain text input. File tools use files instead unless otherwise documented."
    },
    "options": {
      "type": "object",
      "additionalProperties": false,
      "properties": {
        "sheet": {
          "type": "string",
          "description": "Worksheet name (blank = first)",
          "default": ""
        }
      }
    },
    "files": {
      "type": "array",
      "maxItems": 1,
      "items": {
        "type": "object",
        "required": [
          "name",
          "base64"
        ],
        "additionalProperties": false,
        "properties": {
          "name": {
            "type": "string",
            "maxLength": 200,
            "description": "Filename only, no path."
          },
          "mime": {
            "type": "string",
            "maxLength": 150
          },
          "bytes": {
            "type": "integer",
            "minimum": 0,
            "description": "Optional decoded byte count; must match content if supplied."
          },
          "base64": {
            "type": "string",
            "contentEncoding": "base64",
            "description": "File bytes as padded base64. Use the tool-specific limits.files_bytes value for the total decoded input size."
          }
        }
      }
    }
  }
}
```

#### Complete output schema

```json
{
  "type": "object",
  "required": [
    "tool",
    "result"
  ],
  "properties": {
    "tool": {
      "type": "string"
    },
    "result": {
      "type": "object",
      "required": [
        "text",
        "files"
      ],
      "properties": {
        "text": {
          "type": [
            "string",
            "null"
          ]
        },
        "data": {
          "description": "Parsed JSON when the textual result is JSON."
        },
        "name": {
          "type": "string"
        },
        "mime": {
          "type": "string"
        },
        "files": {
          "type": "array",
          "items": {
            "type": "object",
            "required": [
              "name",
              "mime",
              "bytes",
              "base64"
            ],
            "properties": {
              "name": {
                "type": "string"
              },
              "mime": {
                "type": "string"
              },
              "bytes": {
                "type": "integer"
              },
              "base64": {
                "type": "string",
                "contentEncoding": "base64"
              }
            }
          }
        }
      }
    }
  }
}
```

#### Error and retry handling

Failures return a non-200 status and `error.code` plus `error.message`. Correct invalid input before retrying; retry server-busy responses with bounded backoff. Returned files contain Base64 data, not persistent download URLs. Decode and inspect the output before treating conversion as successful. See the shared API guide for the complete status and timeout rules.

### Browser-agent workflow

1. Open the human page in a browser that supports WebMCP.
2. Discover the interface exposed by that page; use its actual schema.
3. Select files on the page first when the tool requires files.
4. Call `run_current_tool` with valid input and settings.
5. Inspect the returned result or error and the displayed output. Retrieve files from the displayed download links.

Calls do not automatically copy or download results. Browser permissions still apply. Interface availability alone is not proof of successful execution.

### Planning specification

Sheet/range selection, header rows and cached formula value behavior.

This describes intended requirements. Use the implementation notes, interface schema and observed output to determine current support.

### Complete machine-readable capability record

```json
{
  "id": "excel-to-json",
  "category": "data-tools",
  "built": true,
  "requirements": "Sheet/range selection, header rows and cached formula value behavior.",
  "implementation": {
    "fields": [
      {
        "key": "sheet",
        "label": "Worksheet name (blank = first)",
        "value": "",
        "type": "text"
      }
    ],
    "files": true,
    "input": false,
    "accept": ".xlsx,.xls,.ods",
    "note": "Uses stored cell values; formulas are not recalculated. Check dates, identifiers and cached formula results. CSV/JSON export reads one worksheet.",
    "experience": {
      "automatic": false,
      "single": false,
      "label": "Your text",
      "placeholder": "Type or paste your input…",
      "help": "Up to 1,000,000 characters. Review the settings before running.",
      "action": "Convert file"
    },
    "mode": "explicit",
    "interactive": false
  },
  "execution": "POST /api/v1/tools/excel-to-json/run",
  "api": {
    "id": "excel-to-json",
    "name": "Excel to JSON",
    "category": "data-tools",
    "description": "Sheet/range selection, header rows and cached formula value behavior.",
    "notes": "Uses stored cell values; formulas are not recalculated. Check dates, identifiers and cached formula results. CSV/JSON export reads one worksheet.",
    "human_path": "/en/data-tools/excel-to-json/",
    "method": "POST",
    "endpoint": "/api/v1/tools/excel-to-json/run",
    "schema_url": "/api/v1/tools/excel-to-json",
    "input_schema": {
      "type": "object",
      "additionalProperties": false,
      "properties": {
        "input": {
          "type": "string",
          "maxLength": 1000000,
          "default": "",
          "description": "Plain text input. File tools use files instead unless otherwise documented."
        },
        "options": {
          "type": "object",
          "additionalProperties": false,
          "properties": {
            "sheet": {
              "type": "string",
              "description": "Worksheet name (blank = first)",
              "default": ""
            }
          }
        },
        "files": {
          "type": "array",
          "maxItems": 1,
          "items": {
            "type": "object",
            "required": [
              "name",
              "base64"
            ],
            "additionalProperties": false,
            "properties": {
              "name": {
                "type": "string",
                "maxLength": 200,
                "description": "Filename only, no path."
              },
              "mime": {
                "type": "string",
                "maxLength": 150
              },
              "bytes": {
                "type": "integer",
                "minimum": 0,
                "description": "Optional decoded byte count; must match content if supplied."
              },
              "base64": {
                "type": "string",
                "contentEncoding": "base64",
                "description": "File bytes as padded base64. Use the tool-specific limits.files_bytes value for the total decoded input size."
              }
            }
          }
        }
      }
    },
    "output_schema": {
      "type": "object",
      "required": [
        "tool",
        "result"
      ],
      "properties": {
        "tool": {
          "type": "string"
        },
        "result": {
          "type": "object",
          "required": [
            "text",
            "files"
          ],
          "properties": {
            "text": {
              "type": [
                "string",
                "null"
              ]
            },
            "data": {
              "description": "Parsed JSON when the textual result is JSON."
            },
            "name": {
              "type": "string"
            },
            "mime": {
              "type": "string"
            },
            "files": {
              "type": "array",
              "items": {
                "type": "object",
                "required": [
                  "name",
                  "mime",
                  "bytes",
                  "base64"
                ],
                "properties": {
                  "name": {
                    "type": "string"
                  },
                  "mime": {
                    "type": "string"
                  },
                  "bytes": {
                    "type": "integer"
                  },
                  "base64": {
                    "type": "string",
                    "contentEncoding": "base64"
                  }
                }
              }
            }
          }
        }
      }
    },
    "processing": "Server; same transformation code as browser tools",
    "limits": {
      "request_bytes": 8388608,
      "input_characters": 1000000,
      "files_bytes": 5242880,
      "max_files": 1,
      "timeout_seconds": 12
    }
  },
  "agent_processing": "Server; same transformation code as browser tools",
  "browser_agent": {
    "supported": true,
    "name": "run_current_tool",
    "discovery": "WebMCP on the human page in a supporting browser",
    "verification": "See audit/API-AUDIT.md; availability is not verification"
  }
}
```

## Page guide

Sheet/range selection, header rows and cached formula value behavior..

## Useful next steps

- [Excel to CSV](https://happytails.ai/en/data-tools/excel-to-csv/): Select sheet. ([Markdown](https://happytails.ai/en/data-tools/excel-to-csv.md))

- [CSV to excel](https://happytails.ai/en/data-tools/csv-to-excel/): Create an Excel workbook from CSV text. ([Markdown](https://happytails.ai/en/data-tools/csv-to-excel.md))

- [JSON to excel](https://happytails.ai/en/data-tools/json-to-excel/): Flatten records, select columns and preserve identifiers and dates. ([Markdown](https://happytails.ai/en/data-tools/json-to-excel.md))

## How to use Excel to JSON

1. Choose a file in XLSX, XLS or ODS.
2. Review the settings, then choose Convert file.
3. Review the result, then use Copy result or a download link when available.

## Working with excel to json

JSON represents structured values and nested objects. CSV and TSV represent rows and columns, making them convenient for spreadsheets and bulk imports. Moving between these formats changes what can be represented directly: a nested object needs a defined mapping to a flat table.

## Common questions

### Can JSON and CSV make a lossless round trip?

Not in every case. CSV does not carry JSON data types or nested structure. Decide how numbers, nulls, missing values and nested arrays should be represented rather than assuming a reverse conversion restores them.

### Why does a comma create an extra column?

A separator inside a cell must be quoted using the rules of the file format. Newlines and quotation marks inside cells also need proper escaping. Changing the delimiter can help, but it does not repair malformed quoting.

Continue your workflow: [Excel to CSV](https://happytails.ai/en/data-tools/excel-to-csv/), [CSV to excel](https://happytails.ai/en/data-tools/csv-to-excel/), [JSON to excel](https://happytails.ai/en/data-tools/json-to-excel/).