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JSON to Excel WPS Add-in - Perfect for WPS Office Users

Welcome to part 4 of our JSON to Excel series! We've covered the Web App and Excel Add-in, and today we're focusing on the WPS Add-in - the ideal solution for users who prefer WPS Office over Microsoft Excel.

Why Use the WPS Add-in?

WPS Office has gained tremendous popularity, especially in certain regions and among users who appreciate its lightweight, fast, and feature-rich alternative to Microsoft Office. The JSON to Excel WPS Add-in brings the same powerful JSON conversion capabilities to WPS users:

  • Native WPS Integration: Works seamlessly within WPS Spreadsheets
  • Lightweight Performance: Optimized for WPS's efficient architecture
  • Cross-Platform Support: Works on both Windows and Linux
  • Cost-Effective: Perfect for users who prefer WPS's free tier
  • Familiar Workflow: Same intuitive interface as the Excel Add-in

System Requirements

The WPS Add-in is designed for:

  • WPS Office on Windows (latest version)
  • WPS Office on Linux (latest version)

Installing the WPS Add-in

Installation Process

Installing the WPS Add-in follows a side-loading process, which is slightly different from the Excel Add-in:

  1. Visit the Installation Guide: Go to https://json-to-wps-workbook.wtsolutions.cn/publish.html
    • Note: The detailed installation guide is available in Simplified Chinese
  2. Follow the Steps: The guide provides step-by-step instructions for:
    • Downloading the add-in package
    • Installing it in WPS Office
    • Verifying the installation
  3. Access the Add-in: Once installed, you'll find the JSON to Excel functionality in your WPS interface

Video Guides

For visual learners, there are video tutorials available:

English Usage Guide:
The usage interface is the same as the Excel Add-in, so you can also refer to this English video:
Watch the English usage guide

Using the WPS Add-in

Basic Workflow

The WPS Add-in works identically to the Excel Add-in, making it easy if you're familiar with either:

  1. Open WPS Spreadsheets: Launch WPS Office and open a new or existing spreadsheet
  2. Access JSON to Excel: Navigate to the add-in from your toolbar
  3. Load Your Data: Choose your preferred method:
    • Copy and paste JSON data into the text area
    • Click "Load JSON File(s)" to select files (up to 20 with Pro)
  4. Configure Settings: Set your conversion preferences:
    • Conversion Mode (Flat or Nested)
    • Nested Delimiter (Pro feature)
    • Max Depth (Pro feature)
  5. Convert: Click the "Go" button
  6. View Results: Your converted data appears as a new sheet in your WPS workbook

Key Features

Batch Processing (Pro Feature)

Just like the Excel Add-in, the WPS Add-in supports batch processing:

  1. Click "Load JSON File(s)"
  2. Select multiple JSON files (up to 20)
  3. Convert all files simultaneously
  4. Each file becomes a separate sheet

This is particularly useful for:

  • Processing daily reports
  • Converting multiple API responses
  • Handling historical JSON data archives

Custom Conversion Settings

The WPS Add-in includes all the powerful conversion options:

Conversion Mode

  • Flat JSON Mode: For simple structures without nesting
  • Nested JSON Mode: For complex, hierarchical data

Nested Delimiter (Pro)

Customize how nested properties are named:

  • Dot (.) - Default: user.name
  • Underscore (_): user_name
  • Double Underscore (): `username`
  • Forward Slash (/): user/name

Max Depth (Pro)

Control nested object processing depth:

  • Unlimited (default)
  • 1-20 levels

Practical Examples

Example 1: Simple Product Data 

[
  {
    "productId": "P001",
    "name": "Laptop",
    "price": 999.99,
    "stock": 50
  },
  {
    "productId": "P002",
    "name": "Mouse",
    "price": 29.99,
    "stock": 200
  }
]
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Steps:

  1. Copy the JSON
  2. Open WPS Add-in
  3. Paste the JSON
  4. Select Flat JSON Mode
  5. Click "Go"
  6. Analyze in WPS with formulas and charts

Example 2: Nested Order Data 

[
  {
    "orderId": "O001",
    "customer": {
      "name": "Alice Johnson",
      "email": "alice@example.com"
    },
    "items": [
      {"product": "Laptop", "qty": 1},
      {"product": "Mouse", "qty": 2}
    ],
    "total": 1059.97
  }
]
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Steps:

  1. Copy the JSON
  2. Open WPS Add-in
  3. Select Nested JSON Mode
  4. Choose dot delimiter
  5. Set Max Depth to 2
  6. Click "Go"
  7. Get columns like: orderId, customer.name, customer.email, items, total

Example 3: Multiple File Processing

You have weekly sales reports as JSON files:

  1. Open WPS Add-in
  2. Click "Load JSON File(s)"
  3. Select all weekly files (week1.json, week2.json, etc.)
  4. Click "Go"
  5. Review the conversion report
  6. Use WPS's consolidation tools to combine data across sheets

WPS-Specific Advantages

Performance Benefits

WPS Office is known for its lightweight and fast performance. The WPS Add-in takes advantage of this:

  • Faster Loading: WPS launches quickly, making it ideal for quick conversions
  • Lower Resource Usage: Uses less system resources than Excel
  • Quick File Operations: Efficient file handling for batch processing

Cost Considerations

  • Free Tier Available: WPS Office offers a free version with robust features
  • No Microsoft License Required: Perfect for users who don't have Office 365
  • Budget-Friendly: Great for startups and small businesses

Linux Support

The WPS Add-in is one of the few JSON to Excel solutions that supports Linux natively:

  • Works seamlessly on popular Linux distributions
  • Perfect for developers and tech teams using Linux
  • No need for virtualization or workarounds

Tips for WPS Add-in Users

Keyboard Shortcuts

  • Customize WPS keyboard shortcuts to quickly access the add-in
  • Add the JSON to Excel button to your Quick Access Toolbar

Integration with WPS Features

  • Use WPS's built-in templates for professional reports
  • Leverage WPS's charting capabilities for data visualization
  • Apply WPS's conditional formatting to highlight key data points

File Management

  • Create dedicated workbooks for different types of JSON conversions
  • Use WPS's file organization features to manage converted data
  • Take advantage of WPS's cloud integration for sharing

Limitations

The WPS Add-in has the same limitations as other versions:

  • Maximum 1000 objects (rows) per conversion
  • Maximum 100 unique properties (columns) per dataset
  • Arrays in values are converted to strings
  • Maximum 20 files per batch conversion (Pro feature)

Troubleshooting

Installation Issues

  • Ensure you're using the latest version of WPS Office
  • Check that you have sufficient permissions to install add-ins
  • Try restarting WPS after installation

Add-in Not Appearing

  • Verify the add-in is enabled in WPS settings
  • Check that you installed the correct version for your OS (Windows/Linux)
  • Try reinstalling the add-in

Conversion Errors

  • Validate your JSON format before conversion
  • Check that you're not exceeding row/column limits
  • Ensure nested structures are properly formatted

WPS vs Excel Add-in: Which to Choose?

Choose the WPS Add-in when:

  • You prefer WPS Office over Microsoft Excel
  • You're working on Linux
  • You want a lighter, faster application
  • You're using WPS's free tier
  • You need cross-platform compatibility (Windows/Linux)

Choose the Excel Add-in when:

  • You're already invested in the Microsoft Office ecosystem
  • You need advanced Excel-specific features
  • You're collaborating with Excel users
  • You require Office 365 integration

Next Steps

Now that you've explored the WPS Add-in, you have a good understanding of the three main user-facing tools: Web App, Excel Add-in, and WPS Add-in. In our next post, we'll dive deeper into the technical side by exploring the JSON formats that JSON to Excel supports.

Ready to try the WPS Add-in? Visit the installation guide at https://json-to-wps-workbook.wtsolutions.cn/publish.html to get started!

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