Error "the File Contains Invalid Json Data. Make Sure The File Has Valid Json Data And Then Try Again" Occurs When Importing Utf8 Json File With Bom

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Error "the File Contains Invalid Json Data. Make Sure The File Has Valid Json Data And Then Try Again" Occurs When Importing Utf8 Json File With Bom

Published: 22 Apr 2020
Last Modified Date: 12 May 2020

Issue

When importing a JSON file in UTF8 BOM file format with Tableau Desktop version 2020.1.2, the error occurs:

"An error occurred while communicating with JSON file.
Bad Request: The data source does not contain the expected data.
The file contains invalid JSON data. Make sure the file has valid JSON data and then try again."

Environment

Tableau Desktop 2020.1.2
Tableau Server 2020.1.2
Windows
JSON

Resolution

Upgrade to 2020.1.3 or 2020.2.x.

Workaround 1
Remove BOM from the JSON file

Workaround 2 (Tableau Desktop)
Downgrade Tableau Desktop to version 2019.1, 2019.2, 2019.3, 2019.4