convert data of text file into JSON array in bash

Question

I want output in the below JSON array format with command on linux/bash platform . Can anybody help

data in text file

test:test
test1:test1
test4:test4

Expecting output:

{array : 
   [
     {test:test},
     {test1:test1}, 
     {test4:test4}
   ]
}

Note that ” is not ". Just read the input line by line with : as separator and output them in the formar {"something":"something"} then joni the lines with comma. How to read a file line by line How to join lines with delimeter — KamilCuk
– KamilCuk, Commented Mar 3, 2020 at 10:00
I have made changes in the question. Please check if that makes more sense — project_linux
– project_linux, Commented Mar 3, 2020 at 10:10
Your expected output is still not valid JSON. If you want something JSON-like but not, don't call it JSON. — Shawn
– Shawn, Commented Mar 3, 2020 at 10:24

oliv · Accepted Answer · 2020-03-03 10:30:45Z

4

Using jq command line JSON parser:

<file jq -Rs '{array:split("\n")|map(split(":")|{(.[0]):.[1]}?)}'
{
  "array": [
    {
      "test": "test"
    },
    {
      "test1": "test1"
    },
    {
      "test4": "test4"
    }
  ]
}

The options Rs let jq read the whole file as one string.

The script splits this string into pieces in order to have the expected format.

answered Mar 3, 2020 at 10:30

oliv

13.3k30 silver badges52 bronze badges

Sign up to request clarification or add additional context in comments.

1 Comment

project_linux Over a year ago

Can I append new pair (Key/value) to the existing array "test5": "test5" { "array": [ { "test": "test" }, { "test1": "test1" }, { "test4": "test4" }, { "test5”: "test5” } ] }

Shawn · Accepted Answer · 2020-03-03 10:36:30Z

0

Assuming you want actual JSON output:

$ jq -nR '{array: (reduce inputs as $line ([]; . + [$line | split(":") | {(.[0]):.[1]}]))}' input.txt 
{
  "array": [
    {
      "test": "test"
    },
    {
      "test1": "test1"
    },
    {
      "test4": "test4"
    }
  ]
}

answered Mar 3, 2020 at 10:36

Shawn

53.9k3 gold badges29 silver badges74 bronze badges

Comments

Reino · Accepted Answer · 2025-03-16 23:51:01Z

0

With the JSON-parser xidel:

XPath:

$ xidel -s "input.txt" -e '
  {
    "array":x:lines($raw) ! {
      substring-before(.,":"):substring-after(.,":")
    }
  }
'

(x:lines($raw) is a shorthand for tokenize($raw,'\r\n?|\n') and turns $raw into a sequence where every new line is another item)

XQuery:

$ xidel -s "input.txt" -e '
  {
    "array":for $line in x:lines($raw)
      let $item:=tokenize($line,":")
      return {
      $item[1]:$item[2]
    }
  }
'

Collectives™ on Stack Overflow

convert data of text file into JSON array in bash

3 Answers 3

1 Comment

Comments

Comments

Your Answer

Linked

Hot Network Questions

Collectives™ on Stack Overflow

3 Answers 3

1 Comment

Comments

Comments

Your Answer

Sign up or log in

Post as a guest

Linked

Related