Data > Duplicate not looping through JSON

Hey Sean,

It looks like our Support team will need to take a look at this one for you. I just opened a ticket on your behalf, so keep your eyes peeled for a response! Hope you enjoyed your weekend.

Beth

Thank you!

Any news regarding this issue?

Our team needs to populate symbol text overrides with real data from JSON files, so getting this fixed ASAP would be great, to say the least.

Hi Peter!

I'm opening a ticket on your behalf so that our Support team can chat with you about this. You should receive word back from them soon!

Beth

Thanks Beth, it's appreciated!

Same issue, now tracking at four months old. Peter, did anyone get back to you?

Thanks much.

I also need help on removing a JSON object from the CRAFT menu. There doesn't seem to be any documentation on that use case. Thanks again.

Hi David,

After doing some testing with our Support team, it seems like duplicating symbols with Craft Data applied will only duplicate one value, rather than duplicating the symbol with different values. 

Currently, the workaround for this is to apply data to the individual layer first, convert the layer(s) to a symbol, and then duplicate the symbol in order to get unique values to appear. While this is not ideal, it will allow you to get around this behavior at the moment.

We have forwarded this over to our Engineering Team for further review and investigation. I will open a ticket on your behalf so that we can keep you updated as we learn more about the matter from them.

Instructions on unlinking content from a JSON object are detailed below. If you've previously linked a layer to a key via the JSON plugin, you can remove that association. To do so:

     1. Select the layer you want to unlink.
     2. Click the Data plugin in Craft, then click the JSON tab.
     3. Browse through the JSON object until you find the previously linked key.
     4. Click the blue x to the left of the associated key to remove the prior association.

I apologize for the inconvenience this may have caused. Let me know if there's anything else we can help you with!

Thanks,

Shaina

Hi Shaina, 

I am using JSON for importing data into my design. My data contains some text variables and images. While duplicating a layer, text variables are coming out unique but the image layers are generating the same image while duplicating. 

I have tried with Custom and web they are working fine, generating unique values while duplicating. But I am facing a problem only with JSON with images.

I have tried workaround trick you suggested 

"Currently, the workaround for this is to apply data to the individual layer first, convert the layer(s) to a symbol, and then duplicate the symbol in order to get unique values to appear. While this is not ideal, it will allow you to get around this behavior at the moment. "

But still not working. Can you please find the reason behind this.

While going through your knowledge base I found this : https://support.invisionapp.com/hc/en-us/articles/115004490023-If-I-duplicate-an-element-that-s-associated-with-JSON-content-will-it-automatically-update-

It says if JSON is deeply nested, duplication might not work properly. Can you find if this issue is resolved.

Thanks, 

Manikanta

Hi Manikanta,

I apologize for the inconvenience with this issue. Our team is still working on a resolution to this issue, and the workaround I posted is the only solution for now.

However, I would be happy to open a ticket on your behalf so that you are notified once this issue is resolved. Please look for a message from our Support team soon.

Thanks,

Shaina

Maybe  secondary workaround I stumbled upon: Using unnamed arrays seems to allow for procedural duplication.

This works:

```

[

```

But this does not:

```

Hi Spencer,

Thanks so much for sharing this potential workaround with the Community.

This may be information that the Support team would find useful to pass along to Engineering. Would you like me to open a ticket on your behalf to share more information with them?

Thanks again,

Shaina

Yes please. This is a fantastic feature I would like to use the way it was intended.

Awesome! I will be sure to do that, Spencer. Please look for a message from our Support team soon.

Hello,

I see this thread started several months ago. I'm also having the same issues. In fact my duplicating isn't even working at this time, so I can't even test one of the methods above.

To summarize...

1. I am trying to map data from a json import to fields on the artboard. I can do this before or after the item is a symbol however, if I do this when it's been converted to a symbol I am having issues with mapping things like an email address.
2. When I map everything individually first, this works fine but then duplicating seems to be broken so I cannot test if it's working properly.

I work with lots of data and need to be able to fully represent the type of data our users will be dealing with to help us make better decisions. Using Mockaroo to generate the json file is HUGE ... now if only I could get Craft to import and allow me to manipulate it properly :)

More than happy to work closely with the support team to try and finally resolve this. 

Hey Jason,

It looks like you opened a ticket with Support, so you should be hearing back soon. Thanks for your patience.

Beth

Hi, I am experiencing the same issue. My JSON data is formatted as an array, as Spencer suggests above.

I am importing a local JSON file.

I have attempted to make this work using both Sketch 52.1 & Sketch 51.3. Same issue.

Using the latest Craft Plugins, downloaded and installed today (Craft Manager 1.0.72 (122), Duplicate (1.0.14), Data (1.0.31).

Thanks

Rob

Example from file

PS I also attempted another method, using the data from https://jsonplaceholder.typicode.com/albums

Same result.

From Invision Support - for those who need the help:

"Currently, the workaround for this is to apply data to the individual layer first, convert the layer(s) to a symbol, and then duplicate the symbol in order to get unique values to appear. While this is not ideal, it will allow you to get around this behavior at the moment."

Hi Rob,

Thank you very much for reaching out in this Community thread, as well as opening a ticket with our Support team. I'm happy to see that our Support team was able to provide you with a workaround for the time being while our team works on this issue!

Our Support team will be reaching out to you directly once we have any updates on this issue. I will also be sure to add any updates to this Community thread.

Have a wonderful day,

Shaina

Hi @Shaina,

Same here, I see it such an important feature for the Plugin, any updates about it? Wondering why it hasn't more priority.. and thinking I'm not the only one here...

Thank you very much!

Hi Alex,

Sorry to hear that you're also running into this issue!I understand how frustrating it is to wait for a fix to an issue. The Engineering team prioritizes issues based on the scope and impact of the issue. For that reason, we don’t have an immediate fix available, but are still working hard on a resolution.

I will open a ticket on your behalf with our Support team so that that can connect your ticket to the corresponding open issue. This will ensure to keep you in the loop with any updates on this issue.

Currently, the workaround for this is to apply data to the individual layer first, convert the layer(s) to a symbol, and then duplicate the symbol in order to get unique values to appear. While this is not ideal, it will allow you to get around this behavior at the moment.

I’m sorry again for all the trouble and frustration with the Craft Duplicate and Craft Data plugins. Please don't hesitate to reach out if you have any other questions.

Have a great day,

Shaina

@Shaina,

Hi, It's been 3 months without any news from that topic, I wish I could use that feature, I use Sketch latest version (53).
Can you tell us how things are going by your side?
Is there a way to fill Sketch file with real data without overiding by hand each field?

Hoping to have an answer.

Hi Cheramy,

It appears as if our Support and Engineering teams are still hard at work on this issue. I apologize for not having a more detailed update at this time. 

Part of my job is to take important threads from Community to meetings with relevant Product Managers to discuss the struggles our customers are having. I will be sure to raise your concerns and request in my next meeting with this PM. I’m also opening a ticket on your behalf so that you can stay up to date on the status of this feature request. Please look for a message from our Support team soon.

As a workaround, you can first duplicate the shapes without an image fill and once you've duplicated the image, you can go in and select each layer, then mass apply Unsplash images to it. Here's a screen recording displaying this workaround. Hope this helps!

Thanks for your patience,

Shaina

Any update? Duplicate is still not iterating the JSON collection.

Sketch v56.2

Craft (updated 2019-07-25)

Hi Michael,

Sorry to hear that Duplicate still isn't working correctly for you. So that we can get a better understanding of what might be causing this, can you please provide some additional information?:

1. Your "About this Mac" overview or other OS details
2. The version number for Craft Manager that you're running
3. The version number for the Craft Duplicate plugin that you're running
4. Any screenshots displaying the issue you're facing
5. Could you please let me know what kind of symbols you're attempting to duplicate, and where these are sourced from?

To check the current production version numbers and for help updating or finding the Craft tool versions you have installed, please read this guide.

Look forward to hearing back,

Shaina

Hello Shaina,

Thanks for the quick reply. I think I've figured out the problem. We are using a shared library of symbols with overrides for child text objects. When using custom library symbols, the duplicate action just copies the object and exact data from the first item in the JSON collection and repeats it. However, if I use a standard Sketch text object, the duplicate function successfully iterates the JSON array with different values.

macOS Mojave 10.14.5

Craft Manager 1.0.84

Craft Duplicate 1.0.21

Hey Michael,

Thanks for those details. I just opened a ticket for you with Support so that they can dig in to this issue. Have a great weekend!

Beth