CFLib.org – Common Function Library Project

Description:
formatJSON() :: formats and indents JSON string based on blog post @ http://ketanjetty.com/coldfusion/javascript/format-json/ modified for CFScript V9 By Ben Koshy @animexcom usage: result = formatJSON('STRING TO BE FORMATTED') OR result = formatJSON(StringVariableToFormat);

Return Values:
Returns a string of indent-formated JSON

Example:

<cfset jsonString='{key1:"string value",key2:["array","of","elements"],key3:123,key4:{key5:50,key6:"string"}}'>
<pre>
<cfoutput>#formatJSON(jsonString)#</cfoutput>
</pre>

Parameters:

Full UDF Source:

/**
 * Formats a JSON string with indents & new lines.
 * v1.0 by Ben Koshy
 * 
 * @param str      JSON string (Required)
 * @return Returns a string of indent-formated JSON 
 * @author Ben Koshy (cf@animex.com) 
 * @version 0, September 16, 2012 
 */
// formatJSON() :: formats and indents JSON string
// based on blog post @ http://ketanjetty.com/coldfusion/javascript/format-json/
// modified for CFScript By Ben Koshy @animexcom
// usage: result = formatJSON('STRING TO BE FORMATTED') OR result = formatJSON(StringVariableToFormat);

public string function formatJSON(str) {
    var fjson = '';
    var pos = 0;
    var strLen = len(arguments.str);
    var indentStr = chr(9); // Adjust Indent Token If you Like
    var newLine = chr(10); // Adjust New Line Token If you Like <BR>
    
    for (var i=1; i<strLen; i++) {
        var char = mid(arguments.str,i,1);
        
        if (char == '}' || char == ']') {
            fjson &= newLine;
            pos = pos - 1;
            
            for (var j=1; j<pos; j++) {
                fjson &= indentStr;
            }
        }
        
        fjson &= char;    
        
        if (char == '{' || char == '[' || char == ',') {
            fjson &= newLine;
            
            if (char == '{' || char == '[') {
                pos = pos + 1;
            }
            
            for (var k=1; k<pos; k++) {
                fjson &= indentStr;
            }
        }
    }
    
    return fjson;
}