Data Archive Download

[BeenRobbed]

I performed a historical data archive download in .csv format.  After my WinZip file was created, all of the [useful] user data (activity, exercise, steps, etc.) provided was the actual JavaScript Object Notation code - .json files that look like:

[{
"logId" : 3536110817,
"activityName" : "Walk",
"activityTypeId" : 90013,
"activityLevel" : [{
"minutes" : 9,
"name" : "sedentary"
},{
"minutes" : 9,
"name" : "lightly"
},{
"minutes" : 10,
"name" : "fairly"
},{
"minutes" : 7,
"name" : "very"
}],
"averageHeartRate" : 75,
"calories" : 180,
"duration" : 2157000,
"activeDuration" : 2157000,
"steps" : 2092,
"logType" : "auto_detected",
"manualValuesSpecified" : {
"calories" : false,
"distance" : false,
"steps" : false

I contacted support, the ONLY TWO file formats that can be downloaded are .csv and .xls - excerpt from Chat:

Natalia:As said before this is not a bug there is only these two formats, I will place these in my notes about your inquiry and suggestion.
Me:Natalia, did you get the files I sent?
Natalia:Yes , however this is not a bug from the site since the data will only download from the ones that are available there.
Me:So you are saying that sending the JAVA code in the .json file type is one of the two file file formats available to the end user?
Natalia:There is not a current bug on our website for the data export and these is the only files available for now.
Me:Again, please confirm that users should be able to download your java code in the .json filetype, and that was per FitBit's application design.
Me:Yes or no.
Natalia:There are only CSV files and microsoft excel files only, there are no more files to download the data
Me:Oooookay, then how did I get the .json files in the WinZip file created by your export program????

This is absurd.  Anybody else having issues downloading historical data?  

Thanks.

[SteveH]

Could this be a case of a poor web page design causing confusion?

At the export page at https://www.fitbit.com/settings/data/export there are, as you say, just 2 options for the file format, CSV or XLS

However, this choice only applies to the export of up to 30 days of data triggered by the "download" button.

If, however, you want to download all your data then, rather than clicking "download" you click "request my data". This export comes only in JSON format and it ignores the file format setting. The screen is really in 2 parts separated by a very thin line below the download button.

Could it be that you clicked "request my data" rather than "download"?

[BeenRobbed]

Hi Steve,

Yes, I did request and download the "archive" data - you are correct.

Poor web design?   No, this is fundamentally stupid by design.  The .json files are utterly useless.

What this tells me is that despite Fitbit's claim that "the data is mine" it really isn't if it can't be served up in user consumable format.  The .json files DO NOT contain any user data.  In fact, even suggesting that the data is available only illustrates a complete disregard for what a good use case might look like compounded by sophomoric programming capabilities and abysmally lazy crap on the part of FitBit's development team.  I've been working with enterprise content management and database technologies for over 35 years and quite frankly, I'm embarrassed for them and the absurdity of even CONTEMPLATING sending an end user JavaScript Object Notation exchange instructions that doesn't even have the resultant data embedded in it. 

For you non-technical folks, this is what the .json archive "data" looks like (it's a lightweight web data transmission instruction / protocol to the backend server used to extract the actual data - there is NO data in the .json files nor is any data provided in Archive export):

[{
"dateTime" : "12/25/15 16:27:00",
"value" : "10"
},{
"dateTime" : "12/25/15 16:32:00",
"value" : "10"
},{
"dateTime" : "12/25/15 16:33:00",
"value" : "10"

etc. etc. etc. 

I appreciate your following up, one can only hope that FitBit can dislodge their head from the dark and malodorous place it currently resides and provide a data export with actual data in it.

[RogerW01]

I also have just downloaded my data archive. No data included !

I agree this is a totally erroneous, misleading and ridiculous offer by Fitbit.

They should fix this straight away with an archive download which includes the CSV data, just as they do with the monthly download.

[spk01]

I also find it extremely disturbing that Fitbit will only offer full historical data downloads in JSON (text) files.  THIS IS CRAZY!  Why can't ALL of my historical tracking data be provided to me in a user-friendly format like CSV or XLSX?

The data export function on the website allows 30 days of data download into CSV format.  Why not modify this function to allow Fitbit users to download any date range of data?

[BeenRobbed]

I've abandoned FitBit and have moved on.  After infuriating data management, useless support, and multiple irreparable device failures I now wear a Garmin Fenix 6 Pro.  Yes more expensive, yes larger, but worlds apart in data management, device features, free apps, trackable activities, timers, weather, music, oxygen, customizable screens all with integrated GPS and topo maps - the list goes on, stop torturing yourself!