# TIP - Converting a dataset column into a list

**URL:** <https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/t/tip-converting-a-dataset-column-into-a-list/38388>\
**Category:** Ignition\
**Tags:** ignition80\
**Created:** [September 4, 2020, 4:07am UTC](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/t/tip-converting-a-dataset-column-into-a-list/38388 "2020-09-04T04:07:03Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 5\
**Page:** 2

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**Author:** ![zwhite](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/cdc98d/32.png) [@zwhite](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/u/zwhite)\
**Post date:** [August 13, 2021, 4:38pm UTC](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/t/tip-converting-a-dataset-column-into-a-list/38388/21 "2021-08-13T16:38:01Z")

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Please please PLEASE someone update the documentation. I couldn’t find this listed as a method anywhere in the ignition docs.

It seems absurd I have to find a method like this via a forum post.

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**Author:** ![Paul.Scott](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/inductiveautomation/user_avatar/forum.inductiveautomation.com/paul.scott/32/4578_2.png) [@Paul.Scott](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/u/Paul.Scott)\
**Post date:** [August 13, 2021, 5:50pm UTC](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/t/tip-converting-a-dataset-column-into-a-list/38388/22 "2021-08-13T17:50:49Z")

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> [@zwhite](#):
>
> It seems absurd I have to find a method like this via a forum post.

I agree. I added `getColumnAsList` to the [Datasets page](https://docs.inductiveautomation.com/display/DOC81/Datasets).

Oddly enough this is the first time I've heard anything about the method not being listed in the user manual. Thanks to @paul-griffith for saying something to me.

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**Author:** ![zwhite](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/cdc98d/32.png) [@zwhite](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/u/zwhite)\
**Post date:** [August 13, 2021, 8:30pm UTC](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/t/tip-converting-a-dataset-column-into-a-list/38388/23 "2021-08-13T20:30:30Z")

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Thank you!

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**Author:** ![yifeiliu08](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/bbe5ce/32.png) [@yifeiliu08](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/u/yifeiliu08)\
**Post date:** [August 14, 2021, 2:39am UTC](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/t/tip-converting-a-dataset-column-into-a-list/38388/24 "2021-08-14T02:39:01Z")

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this update action is very useful for our end user, thanks for your work

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**Author:** ![thecesrom.git](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/dfb087/32.png) [@thecesrom.git](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/u/thecesrom.git)\
**Post date:** [October 26, 2021, 11:42pm UTC](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/t/tip-converting-a-dataset-column-into-a-list/38388/25 "2021-10-26T23:42:33Z")

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> [@kgamble](#):
>
> `system.dataset.toJSON()` sounds like a great idea for a supported function to me 🤷‍♂️ hahaha

Try [`incendium.dataset.to_json`](https://github.com/thecesrom/incendium/wiki/incendium.dataset.to_json).

Get it from Ignition Exchange

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>
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