CODEWITHSUNDEEP
c#csv
wcraft
wcraft

Reputation: 473

Processing CSV file using C#

I am creating a CSV Importing tool (comma separated). I am trying to make this importing tool as generic as possible , so that it can process any CSV File.

I have almost finalised the tool , but came across one file which I am finding it difficult to process.

How can I process the file with data in following format?

column1,column2,column3,column4,column5
----------
alex,p,22323,23232,hello
mike,t,"121212,232323,4343434",33432,hi
guna,s,"2423,2332",whats
cena,a,34443,33432,up

Since the file is comma separated, and one of its value is comma separated as well between identifier "value,value,value" I am finding it difficult to process.

How can i tackle this issue?

I donot have control over CSV file. So I cant change the format

Upvotes: 0

Views: 249

Answers (1)

spender
spender

Reputation: 120450

As per @dtb... use a CSV parser. If you reference Microsoft.VisualBasic then you can:

var data=@"column1,column2,column3,column4,column5
----------
alex,p,22323,23232,hello
mike,t,""121212,232323,4343434"",33432,hi
guna,s,""2423,2332"",whats
cena,a,34443,33432,up";

using (var sr = new StringReader(data))
using (var parser =
    new TextFieldParser(sr)
        {
            TextFieldType = FieldType.Delimited,
            Delimiters = new[] { "," },
            CommentTokens = new[] { "--" }
        })
{
    while (!parser.EndOfData)
    {
        string[] fields;
        fields = parser.ReadFields();
        //yummy
    }
}

This deals with quotes correctly.

Upvotes: 2

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