Re: Parsing a CSV file with embedded commas in text field

It depends which application creates the csv. You could also use the
semi-colon as seperator.

Excel (at least the one on my PC) creates csv with semi-colons.

With regards,
Carel Teijgeler

*********** REPLY SEPARATOR ***********

On 16-7-2010 at 8:40 Jeff Young wrote:

Thanks Eric,
Unfortunatly, this file is being exported from a PC program and the

format can not be changed.

I will have to inform the user that when creating this file, they

can not have

embedded commas in the description.

________________________________

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...