I assume that this CSV does not use the convention to quote character data? The "standard" will place ""s around text data, giving you a way to safely handle embedded commas in a description field. However, this leads to issues with embedded quote character in text field (ie. "DISPLAY, 24"x10", BLUE", which now requires another workaround. Too many compromises and workarounds, IMO.
I have sometimes tried to convert special characters into something else, ( " -> in. ) ( ' -> ft.), but this makes the export field longer (can cause problems), and other programs might not know that you translated the description, expecting to see what's in the database... More problems, difficult to find and fix...
Simple improvement<<<, use Tab Delimited instead of comma delimited. This is a minor variation on the standard CSV, and is supported by most platforms. For your issue, without quoting the text strings, this seems to address your concerns.
XML is much better for data exchange, IMO.
-Eric DeLong
-----Original Message-----
From: rpg400-l-bounces@xxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:rpg400-l-bounces@xxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of Jeff Young
Sent: Friday, July 16, 2010 9:00 AM
To: rpg400-l@xxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: Parsing a CSV file with embeded commas in text field
I am using the GETTOK routine to parse records from a csv file where some of the
character fields have embedded commas.
I seem to recall that this was addressed in the past, but I do not recall how to
do it.
ex: ...,Apples, Red Delicious 88ct,nnnn,nnnn ....
All help will be appreciated.
Thanks,
Jeff Young
Sr. Programmer Analyst
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