How to convert csv to json for power bi and tableau
- Step 1Export the source data as CSV — Pull the table out of your source system as a UTF-8 CSV with header row.
- Step 2Convert to JSON — Drop the CSV here, pick 'array of objects', leave type inference on.
- Step 3Open the BI tool — In Power BI, choose Get Data →’ JSON. In Tableau, choose Connect →’ JSON file.
- Step 4Point the connector at the file — Both tools auto-detect the schema. Confirm the column types in the field list before publishing.
Frequently asked questions
Why use JSON instead of CSV for Power BI?+
JSON preserves typed numbers and supports nested groupings; CSV stores everything as text and forces a manual type cast in Power Query.
Does Tableau handle nested JSON?+
Yes — Tableau Desktop's JSON connector flattens nested objects into pivoted columns, which works well with the grouped output mode.
Will the file work in Looker Studio too?+
Looker Studio prefers Sheets and BigQuery sources. For Looker, load the JSON into BigQuery first using the NDJSON output, then connect Looker to the table.
Privacy first
Conversion runs locally in your browser. No file is uploaded — only metadata counters are saved for signed-in dashboard stats.