Describe the problem/error/question
I’m trying to understand how JSON structures are handled in n8n and have not been able to solve the following:
I would like to replace an existing list inside an array with a subset of that list.
For example: Let’s say I have the following JSON structure:
[
{
“field1”: value,
“field2”: value,
“array”: [
{
“arrayField1”: value,
“arrayField2”: value
},
{
“arrayField1”: value,
“arrayField2”: value
}
],
“field3”: value,
“field4”: value
}
]
I would like to replace the list of items in “array” with a subset list:
Each item in the array is currently:
{
“arrayField1”: value,
“arrayField2”: value
}
But I want this:
{
“arrayField2”: value
}
The revised JSON now would look like this:
[
{
“field1”: value,
“field2”: value,
“array”: [
{
“array1Field2”: value
},
{
“array1Field2”: value
}
],
“field3”: 3,
“field4”: 4
}
]
I’ve been able to do this using an Edit Set node in JSON mode but that’s not transparent, I’d like to understand how it’s done.
I’m hoping there’s a combination of non-code nodes that can accomplish the same thing.
How can I do this? 
Thanks for your attention.
What is the error message (if any)?
No error messages
Please share your workflow
{
“nodes”: [
{
“parameters”: {},
“type”: “n8n-nodes-base.manualTrigger”,
“typeVersion”: 1,
“position”: [
-1380,
-620
],
“id”: “7ac6d5c3-7770-420d-8389-3914213d194c”,
“name”: “When clicking ‘Test workflow’”
},
{
“parameters”: {
“mode”: “raw”,
“jsonOutput”: “{\n"field1": 1,\n"field2": 2,\n"array":\n[\n {\n "arrayField1": 1,\n "arrayField2": 2\n },\n {\n "arrayField1": 3,\n "arrayField2": 4\n }\n],\n"field3": 3,\n"field4": 4\n}”,
“options”: {}
},
“type”: “n8n-nodes-base.set”,
“typeVersion”: 3.4,
“position”: [
-1160,
-620
],
“id”: “a7ce0231-d018-4708-99ea-c3ffe17b2358”,
“name”: “Sample Data”
},
{
“parameters”: {
“mode”: “raw”,
“jsonOutput”: “\n {\n "field1": 1,\n "field2": 2,\n "array": [\n {\n "arrayField2": 2\n },\n {\n "arrayField2": 4\n }\n ],\n "field3": 3,\n "field4": 4\n }”,
“options”: {}
},
“type”: “n8n-nodes-base.set”,
“typeVersion”: 3.4,
“position”: [
-980,
-620
],
“id”: “43f38b07-5b8e-48d4-ac99-0b514d977714”,
“name”: “Subset List”
}
],
“connections”: {
“When clicking ‘Test workflow’”: {
“main”: [
[
{
“node”: “Sample Data”,
“type”: “main”,
“index”: 0
}
]
]
},
“Sample Data”: {
“main”: [
[
{
“node”: “Subset List”,
“type”: “main”,
“index”: 0
}
]
]
}
},
“pinData”: {
“Sample Data”: [
{
“field1”: 1,
“field2”: 2,
“array”: [
{
“arrayField1”: 1,
“arrayField2”: 2
},
{
“arrayField1”: 3,
“arrayField2”: 4
}
],
“field3”: 3,
“field4”: 4
}
]
},
“meta”: {
“instanceId”: “bf55062cf7ddcdbf8e25875dbbbcd6b2d37792514cd66a0c31333838808e382c”
}
}
(Select the nodes on your canvas and use the keyboard shortcuts CMD+C/CTRL+C and CMD+V/CTRL+V to copy and paste the workflow.)
Share the output returned by the last node
Information on your n8n setup
- n8n version:: 1.82.3
- Database (default: SQLite):
- n8n EXECUTIONS_PROCESS setting (default: own, main):
- Running n8n via (Docker, npm, n8n cloud, desktop app):
- Operating system:: Ubuntu
