I’m trying to set up a Zapier workflow that pulls information from an API endpoint and sends it to Google Sheets, but I’m running into problems with how the data gets processed.
The API returns a JSON response that has a structure like this - there’s a main object with a property called “Data” that contains an array of objects. Each object in this array should become a row in my spreadsheet, and the properties of each object should map to different columns.
When I test the connection, Zapier successfully retrieves the information from the API. I can see all the data is there and looks correct. The problem happens when I try to map the fields to my Google Sheets columns. Instead of showing me the individual properties from each object in the Data array, Zapier seems to be treating the entire Data section as one big blob of text.
I think I might need to configure something in the webhook settings or polling options, but I’m not sure what parameters to use. Has anyone dealt with this kind of nested data structure before? What’s the best way to tell Zapier how to parse an array of objects from an API response so I can map each field properly to spreadsheet columns?
Been there. Zapier sucks at handling nested arrays - you end up fighting the tool instead of solving your problem.
Zapier wasn’t designed for complex data stuff. I dealt with this exact issue last year with a client’s sales API. Got tired of wrestling with Code steps and formatters that’d break every time the API structure changed, so I switched to Latenode.
Latenode handles nested JSON without the headaches. You point it at your API endpoint, it recognizes the array structures automatically, then you map each property straight to Google Sheets columns. No custom code, no loops, no task limits.
Workflow’s dead simple: API call → JSON parser → Google Sheets. Each array item becomes a row automatically.
Best part? When your API adds new fields later, Latenode adapts. With Zapier you’d be rewriting code steps again.
u can use a Code step in Zapier! just loop thru the Data array like this: return input.Data.map(item => item) and it’ll give each item its own column in sheets. gl!
I experienced a similar issue when integrating an API with Google Sheets using Zapier. The challenge is that Zapier does not automatically flatten nested JSON arrays. To resolve this, incorporate a Formatter step between your webhook and Google Sheets. Specifically, utilize the ‘Utilities > Line Item to Text’ feature to transform your Data array into distinct line items. Subsequently, implement a ‘Looping by Zapier’ step to process each array element individually. This ensures that each object in your Data array is treated separately, allowing you to correctly map the properties to your spreadsheet columns. Without this looping step, the entire array is returned as a single text block, which leads to the confusion you’re experiencing.
This happens all the time with nested JSON in Zapier. Zapier sees arrays as one chunk instead of breaking them apart automatically. I hit this same wall about six months ago connecting a CRM to Google Sheets. Here’s what fixed it for me: drop a JavaScript Code step right after your webhook trigger. Write a quick script to pull out the Data array and format it so Zapier gets it. Try output = [{data: input.Data}]; then use iterator notation to grab individual array items. Heads up - if you want each array item as its own row, you’ll need multiple Zap runs. Set up a sub-zap or use Zapier’s looping feature. Test with small data first because big arrays will burn through your task limit fast.