Convert complex JSON to flat JSON and assign it to the pivot table

2 Aug 202320 minutes to read

By default, flat JSON can only bind to the pivot table. However, you can connect complex JSON to the pivot table by converting it to flat JSON via code-behind and binding it to the pivot table using the dataSource property in the load event.

In the following example, the complexToFlatJson() method is used to convert complex JSON to flat JSON and bind it to the pivot table using the dataSource property, then modifying the field names in the Rows and Columns based on the converted flat JSON under e-datasourcesettings in the load event.

CSHTML

<ejs-pivotview id="PivotView" height="300" load="load">
    <e-datasourcesettings dataSource="data()" expandAll="false" enableSorting="true">
        <e-formatsettings>
            <e-field name="Amount" format="C0" useGrouping="true"></e-field>
        </e-formatsettings>
        <e-valuesortsettings headerDelimiter="-"></e-valuesortsettings>
        <e-rows>
            <e-field name="ShipDetails"></e-field>
        </e-rows>
        <e-columns>
            <e-field name="OrderDetails"></e-field>
        </e-columns>
        <e-values>
            <e-field name="Freight" caption="Units Sold"></e-field>
        </e-values>
    </e-datasourcesettings>
</ejs-pivotview>
<script>
    function load(args) {
        dataSource = JSON.parse(JSON.stringify(args.dataSourceSettings.dataSource));
        args.dataSourceSettings.dataSource = complexToFlatJson(dataSource);
        var rows = [];
        for (var i = 0; i < args.dataSourceSettings.rows.length; i++) {
            if (args.dataSourceSettings.rows[i].name in parentProp) {
                rows = rows.concat(parentProp[args.dataSourceSettings.rows[i].name]);
            }
            else {
                rows.push(args.dataSourceSettings.rows[i]);
            }
        }
        args.dataSourceSettings.rows = rows;
        var columns = [];
        for (var i = 0; i < args.dataSourceSettings.columns.length; i++) {
            if (args.dataSourceSettings.columns[i].name in parentProp) {
                columns = columns.concat(parentProp[args.dataSourceSettings.columns[i].name]);
            }
            else {
                columns.push(args.dataSourceSettings.columns[i]);
            }
        }
        args.dataSourceSettings.columns = columns;
    }
    function complexToFlatJson(data) {
        var flatArray = [];
        var flatObject = {};
        for (var index = 0; index < data.length; index++) {
            for (var prop in data[index]) {
                var value = data[index][prop];
                if (Array.isArray(value)) {
                    for (var i = 0; i < value.length; i++) {
                        var childProp = [];
                        for (var inProp in value[i]) {
                            flatObject[inProp] = value[i][inProp];
                            var object = {
                                name: inProp,
                            };
                            childProp.push(object);
                        }
                        parentProp[prop] = childProp;
                    }
                }
                else {
                    flatObject[prop] = value;
                }
            }
            flatArray.push(flatObject);
            flatObject = {};
        }
        return flatArray;
    }
    var data = function () {
        return [
            {
                CustomerID: 'VINET',
                Freight: 32.38,
                OrderDetails: [
                    {
                        OrderID: 10248,
                        OrderDate: '1996-07-04T10:10:00.000Z',
                    }
                ],
                ShipDetails: [
                    {
                        ShipName: 'Vins et alcools Chevalier',
                        ShipAddress: "59 rue de l'Abbaye",
                        ShipCity: 'Reims',
                        ShipRegion: null,
                        ShipCountry: 'France',
                        ShippedDate: '1996-07-16T12:20:00.000Z',
                    }
                ]
            },
            {
                CustomerID: 'GALED',
                Freight: 10.14,
                OrderDetails: [
                    {
                        OrderID: 10366,
                        OrderDate: '1996-11-28T00:00:00.000Z',
                    }
                ],
                ShipDetails: [
                    {
                        ShippedDate: '1996-12-30T00:00:00.000Z',
                        ShipName: 'Galería del gastronómo',
                        ShipAddress: 'Rambla de Cataluña, 23',
                        ShipCity: 'Barcelona',
                        ShipRegion: null,
                        ShipCountry: 'Spain',
                    }
                ]
            },
            {
                CustomerID: 'VAFFE',
                Freight: 13.55,
                OrderDetails: [
                    {
                        OrderID: 10367,
                        OrderDate: '1996-12-02T00:00:00.000Z',
                    }
                ],
                ShipDetails: [
                    {
                        ShippedDate: '1996-12-30T00:00:00.000Z',
                        ShipName: 'Vaffeljernet',
                        ShipAddress: 'Smagsloget 45',
                        ShipCity: 'Århus',
                        ShipRegion: null,
                        ShipCountry: 'Denmark',
                    }
                ]
            },
            {
                CustomerID: 'ERNSH',
                Freight: 101.95,
                OrderDetails: [
                    {
                        OrderID: 10368,
                        OrderDate: '1996-11-29T00:00:00.000Z',
                    }
                ],
                ShipDetails: [
                    {
                        ShippedDate: '1996-12-30T00:00:00.000Z',
                        ShipName: 'Ernst Handel',
                        ShipAddress: 'Kirchgasse 6',
                        ShipCity: 'Graz',
                        ShipRegion: null,
                        ShipCountry: 'Austria',
                    }
                ]
            },
            {
                CustomerID: 'SPLIR',
                Freight: 195.68,
                OrderDetails: [
                    {
                        OrderID: 10369,
                        OrderDate: '1996-11-28T00:00:00.000Z',
                    }
                ],
                ShipDetails: [
                    {
                        ShippedDate: '1996-12-30T00:00:00.000Z',
                        ShipName: 'Split Rail Beer & Ale',
                        ShipAddress: 'P.O. Box 555',
                        ShipCity: 'Lander',
                        ShipRegion: 'WY',
                        ShipCountry: 'USA',
                    },
                ]
            }
        ];
    };
</script>

ComplexToFlatJson.cs

public ActionResult Index()
{
    var data = GetPivotData();
    ViewBag.DataSource = data;
    return View();
}