Mongo convert embedded document to array

Question

Is there a way to convert a nested document structure into an array? Below is an example:

Input

\"experience\" : {
        \"0\" : {         


        

Answer 1

You still need to iterate over the content, but instead you should be writing back using bulk operations:

Either for MongoDB 2.6 and greater:

var bulk = db.collection.initializeUnorderedBulkOp(),
    count = 0;

db.collection.find({ 
   "$where": "return !Array.isArray(this.experience)"
}).forEach(function(doc) {
    bulk.find({ "_id": doc._id }).updateOne({
        "$set": { "experience": [doc.experience["0"]] }
    });
    count++;

    // Write once in 1000 entries
    if ( count % 1000 == 0 ) {
        bulk.execute();    
        bulk = db.collection.initializeUnorderedBulkOp();
    }
})

// Write the remaining
if ( count % 1000 != 0 )
    bulk.execute();

Or in modern releases of MongoDB 3.2 and greater, the bulkWrite() method is preferred:

var ops = [];

db.collection.find({ 
   "$where": "return !Array.isArray(this.experience)"
}).forEach(function(doc) {
   ops.push({
       "updateOne": {
           "filter": { "_id": doc._id },
           "update": { "$set": { "experience": [doc.experience["0"]] } }
       }
   });

   if ( ops.length == 1000 ) {
       db.collection.bulkWrite(ops,{ "ordered": false })
       ops = [];
   }
})

if ( ops.length > 0 )
    db.collection.bulkWrite(ops,{ "ordered": false });

So when writing back to the database over a cursor, then bulk write operations with "unordered" set is the way to go. It's only one write/response per batch of 1000 requests, which reduces a lot of overhead, and "unordered" means that writes can happen in parallel rather than in a serial order. It all makes it faster.