---

name: data-type-converter description: Convert between data formats (JSON, CSV, XML, YAML, TOML). Handles nested structures, arrays, and preserves data types where possible.

Data Type Converter

Convert data between JSON, CSV, XML, YAML, and TOML formats. Handles nested structures, arrays, and complex data with intelligent flattening options.

Quick Start

from scripts.data_converter import DataTypeConverter

# JSON to CSV
converter = DataTypeConverter()
converter.convert("data.json", "data.csv")

# YAML to JSON
converter.convert("config.yaml", "config.json")

# With options
converter.convert("data.json", "data.csv", flatten=True)

Features

• 5 Formats: JSON, CSV, XML, YAML, TOML
• Nested Data: Flatten or preserve nested structures
• Arrays: Handle array data intelligently
• Type Preservation: Maintain data types where possible
• Pretty Output: Formatted, human-readable output
• Batch Processing: Convert multiple files

API Reference

Basic Conversion

converter = DataTypeConverter()

# Auto-detect format from extension
converter.convert("input.json", "output.csv")
converter.convert("input.xml", "output.json")
converter.convert("input.yaml", "output.toml")

With Options

# Flatten nested structures for CSV
converter.convert("nested.json", "flat.csv", flatten=True)

# Pretty print output
converter.convert("data.json", "pretty.json", indent=4)

# Specify root element for XML
converter.convert("data.json", "data.xml", root="records")

Programmatic Access

# Load and convert in memory
data = converter.load("data.json")
converter.save(data, "data.yaml")

# String conversion
json_str = '{"name": "John", "age": 30}'
yaml_str = converter.convert_string(json_str, "json", "yaml")

Batch Processing

# Convert all JSON files to CSV
converter.batch_convert(
    input_dir="./json_files",
    output_dir="./csv_files",
    output_format="csv"
)

CLI Usage

# Basic conversion
python data_converter.py --input data.json --output data.csv

# With flattening
python data_converter.py --input nested.json --output flat.csv --flatten

# Batch convert
python data_converter.py --input-dir ./json --output-dir ./csv --format csv

# Pretty print
python data_converter.py --input data.json --output pretty.json --indent 4

CLI Arguments

Argument	Description	Default
--input	Input file	Required
--output	Output file	Required
--input-dir	Input directory for batch	-
--output-dir	Output directory	-
--format	Output format	From extension
--flatten	Flatten nested data	False
--indent	Indentation spaces	2
--root	XML root element	root

Conversion Matrix

From/To	JSON	CSV	XML	YAML	TOML
JSON	-	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
CSV	Yes	-	Yes	Yes	Yes
XML	Yes	Yes	-	Yes	Yes
YAML	Yes	Yes	Yes	-	Yes
TOML	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	-

Examples

JSON to CSV (Flat)

converter = DataTypeConverter()

# Input: data.json
# [{"name": "John", "age": 30}, {"name": "Jane", "age": 25}]

converter.convert("data.json", "data.csv")

# Output: data.csv
# name,age
# John,30
# Jane,25

Nested JSON to Flat CSV

# Input: nested.json
# [{"user": {"name": "John", "email": "j@test.com"}, "orders": 5}]

converter.convert("nested.json", "flat.csv", flatten=True)

# Output: flat.csv
# user.name,user.email,orders
# John,j@test.com,5

YAML Config to JSON

# Input: config.yaml
# database:
#   host: localhost
#   port: 5432
# debug: true

converter.convert("config.yaml", "config.json")

# Output: config.json
# {"database": {"host": "localhost", "port": 5432}, "debug": true}

XML to JSON

# Input: data.xml
# <users>
#   <user><name>John</name><age>30</age></user>
# </users>

converter.convert("data.xml", "data.json")

# Output: data.json
# {"users": {"user": {"name": "John", "age": "30"}}}

Dependencies

pyyaml>=6.0
toml>=0.10.0
xmltodict>=0.13.0
pandas>=2.0.0

Limitations

• CSV doesn't support nested data (requires flattening)
• XML attribute handling is basic
• TOML doesn't support null values
• Very deep nesting may cause issues with some formats
• Array handling varies by format