j2tn/README.md

# j2tn

Prototype for a semi-normalized way to convert a nested JSON document to CSV

## Requirements

You will need to install the following Perl modules

- YAML
- JSON
- Text::CSV_XS

For most operating systems this can be achieved by install the following a packages

- `perl-json`
- `perl-yaml`
- `perl-text-csv-xs` or `perl-text-csv`

## Examples for Linux

### help

#### command
```bash
./j2tn.pl help
```

#### output
```text
./j2tn.pl command [options,...] [arguments,...]

commands:
  to-csv in-file-name out-file-name
     use - for the out-file-name to go to std-out
  debug [debug-bit-flag] command
     1 => function calls
     2 => current location
     4 => parsed json
     8 => unparsed json
    16 => internal processed data just before output
  speak command
    echo the command
```

### to-csv

#### command
```bash
./j2tn.pl to-csv <(echo '[{"column1":"data1","column2":[1,2],"column3":3}]') -
```

#### output
```csv
_normlized_,column3,column1,column2
"{""column2"":[1,2]}",3,data1,"1; 2"
```

## Note

To manipulate the `csv` file I suggest `xsv`

- [xsv Source](https://github.com/BurntSushi/xsv)
- [xsv Binary Release](https://github.com/BurntSushi/xsv/releases)