Skip to main content
Data File Tool

Guide

Troubleshooting JSON Health Score

Try the tool this guide covers:

JSON Health Score →

Start here

If JSON Health Score returns unexpected results, work through the symptoms below before assuming the file is unrecoverable. Most issues are encoding, delimiter, or header mismatches — not corrupt data.

Common symptoms and fixes

  • Parse error at line N: Open the file at that line — trailing commas and single quotes are frequent culprits.
  • Valid JSON but wrong structure: Confirm array vs object root; some tools expect one record per line (JSONL).
  • Conversion to CSV missing columns: Nested objects flatten differently; flatten in source or adjust schema first.

Re-run after each fix. Client-side processing makes iteration fast.

Using Health Score for diagnosis

Every run includes a Health Score (0–100 with A–F grade) and an actionable issue list so you fix problems before import, not after. Sort issues by severity — fix blocking errors before warnings. A score jump from C to A usually means one systematic fix (encoding, header rename, date format), not hundreds of row edits.

When to escalate

If the file fails every tool in JSON Tools, inspect raw bytes (hex editor or `file` command) for wrong encoding labels. Re-export from the source system with explicit UTF-8 CSV settings.

For vendor files, send them the validation report — specific row and column errors speed up their fix cycle.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where can I get help with JSON Health Score?

Use the FAQ on the JSON Health Score tool page. For data issues, the Health Score issue list pinpoints row and column problems.