How can I ensure the Split Out node consistently accesses the correct JSON field?

It sounds like the problem is that the field you’re trying to reference isn’t always at the same array index. The Split Out node expects a field that exists in each input item. When you hard-code a path like

tasks[0].result[0].items[2].items

it works only if that exact path exists. If in some cases the desired data is at index 1 instead of 2, the field isn’t found and the node errors out.

To solve this, you have a couple of options:

1. Standardize the JSON structure beforehand:
   Use a Set or Function node upstream to extract the intended data and assign it to a known top-level field. For example, if you can detect whether the SERP list is in index 2 or 1, output its value into a new field, say “peopleAlsoAsk”, and then in the Split Out node use “peopleAlsoAsk” as the Field to Split Out.

   Example using a Function node:

   JAVASCRIPTCopied
   // Assume $json.tasks is an array and you need to check one or more items
   let itemsToSplit = null;
   // Check index 2 first, then index 1
   if ($json.tasks[0].result[0].items[2] && $json.tasks[0].result[0].items[2].items) {
     itemsToSplit = $json.tasks[0].result[0].items[2].items;
   } else if ($json.tasks[0].result[0].items[1] && $json.tasks[0].result[0].items[1].items) {
     itemsToSplit = $json.tasks[0].result[0].items[1].items;
   }
   return { json: { peopleAlsoAsk: itemsToSplit } };

   Now, in the Split Out node, set the “Field to Split Out” to “peopleAlsoAsk.”

2. Use a more dynamic expression (if applicable):
   If you can reliably determine the position with an expression, you might try referencing it with bracket notation. For example:

   TEXTCopied
   $json["tasks"][0]["result"][0]["items"][2]["items"]

   However, this will still fail if sometimes the data is in the item at index 1. For that reason, preprocessing the data to guarantee a consistent path is typically the better approach.

By ensuring that the field you want to split is always available under the same key, the Split Out node will work correctly during testing and when you run the whole workflow.