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How to format sample data from Zapier for better user clarity


Tytila

So I’m designing a Zap, and I've got the first step, which is to fetch a record from an API.  I’ve tested the step, and on the Test tab, under Data Out, I see the sample result data, which comprises hundreds of fields with values.

My next step is to pull the values from some of these fields and send them to somewhere else.  So I turn to the user and say, OK, which of these fields do you want the data from?

The user replies, I can’t really tell you looking at it like this.  Put all those fields and values in a Word or Excel doc or something, and I’ll go through it and let you know which fields I need to use.

 

How can I get the sample data from a test run of a step, into a nicely formatted table in some sort of document?  I tried simply copying from the browser, but I just get unformatted text.  Any ideas?

Best answer by Troy TessaloneBest answer by Troy Tessalone

@Tytila 

You can use a Code to make the API request then handle the returned data payload however you want.

You can use this Zap trigger: Webhook - Catch RAW Hook

Help link for how to get access to the RAW JSON for any Zap step:
 

 

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5 replies

Troy Tessalone
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Hi ​@Tytila 

Why not share the API endpoint documentation with the user for them to reference since that already lists all of the fields with descriptions?


Tytila
  • Author
  • Beginner
  • 4 replies
  • January 10, 2025

Thanks for the suggestion Troy.  That would be a good option for many APIs, but in my case the API I’m getting the data from has dynamic, user-defined fields, so there isn’t documentation that specifies what the returned fields will be.  There might be another API function that will tell me what fields are configured, but I don’t think that helps me tabulate the returned fields with their example values that I get when I test my step.

Is there a way in the Zapier designer to see the raw JSON that came back from the test of a step I wonder?  That would be easier to reformat.


Troy Tessalone
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  • Zapier Expert
  • 31047 replies
  • Answer
  • January 10, 2025

@Tytila 

You can use a Code to make the API request then handle the returned data payload however you want.

You can use this Zap trigger: Webhook - Catch RAW Hook

Help link for how to get access to the RAW JSON for any Zap step:
 

 


Tytila
  • Author
  • Beginner
  • 4 replies
  • January 10, 2025

Aha! Yes, those ideas get me thinking along the right lines I think.  Thanks for your help ​@Troy Tessalone.


SamB
Community Manager
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  • Community Manager
  • 7532 replies
  • January 13, 2025

Glad to see Troy was able to help point you in the right direction, ​@Tytila! Thanks so much for following up and marking a best answer here—we really appreciate it! 🤗 Big shoutout to ​@Troy Tessalone for sharing that helpful suggestion! 🙌 

Feel free to reach back out if there’s anything else we can help with. In the meantime, happy Zapping! ⚡