How to manage nested arrays of objects in Zapier without reverting to separate arrays?

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1 
Hello everyone, I'm encountering a challenge with my JavaScript code in Zapier. I'm trying to process data obtained from Airtable, which arrives as three separate arrays:

```javascript
categoryList[]
itemList[]
descriptionList[]

I loop through these arrays, breaking them apart at the commas, and then organize each value into an individual object that I add to a new array. My ultimate objective is to create a JSON payload for PDFMonkey that looks like this:

{
    "data": [
        {
            "itemName": "sample item",
            "itemCategory": "sample category",
            "itemDescription": "sample description"
        },
        ...
    ]
}

While Zapier returns the correct format, I find that when I try to access the data in following steps, it reverts to separate arrays. The output from my Zapier code appears as:

itemList
1
itemCategory
Kitchen Appliances
itemName
Gas Stove
itemDescription
Brand Model Gas Stove
...

However, during later processing, I receive it as individual arrays like:

itemArrayItemName: itemName[1],itemName[2],...
itemArrayItemCategory: itemCategory[1],itemCategory[2],...
itemArrayItemDescription: itemDescription[1],itemDescription[2],...

Below is the code I am currently using for reference:

// async function

const categories = inputData.categoryList.split(/\s*,\s*/);
const items = inputData.itemList.split(/\s*,\s*/);
const descriptions = inputData.descriptionList.split(/\s*,\s*/);

let constructedArray = [];

for (let index = 0; index < categories.length; index++) {
    const entry = {
        itemCategory: categories[index],
        itemName: items[index],
        itemDescription: descriptions[index]
    };
    constructedArray.push(entry);
}
output = { data: constructedArray };

Is there a method to “flatten” or convert the JSON object so it maintains the desired structure for subsequent Zapier steps? Thank you for your assistance!

2

hey CreativePainter33, you could try using code by zapier to run a node step. Inside it, you can transform your nested arrays into objects directly within zapier. This approach might keep your data in the structure you want. Sometimes zapier needs a little tinker to behave!

3

You might want to consider using a single group operation in the Zapier “Formatter” to concentrate the data into a singular JSON object. Ensuring each of your arrays is consistently ordered is crucial as it helps maintain the alignment of data throughout the process. Pre-process your data before sending to Zapier, enriching it with logic that doesn’t break apart the structure. You have the option to concatenate arrays into a cohesive JSON structure in Code by Zapier or perhaps store and retrieve using a key-value store like Redis, maintaining relationships at every step.