• 0

Extracting select data from CSV file (one column)


Question

Have a CSV file w/ about 15 columns - when opened in spread sheet (also have couple of "CSV editor" prgms).

Want to take 1 of the columns (by what ever method), & get it into a text config file in another prgm.

When you look at any CSV file in a text editor, there are NO spaces after each comma & before next data (datum).

The syntax for the prgm (text file) I'm trying to enter the data into, shows no spaces to be used between each comma & next data. Just a command then data list, w/ each piece of data separated by commas, but no spaces. It appears when I enter the data (including spaces) in the other prgm's text file, it does NOT use it correctly. I'm * assuming * it's because of the spaces - but I'm no expert on this.

Everything I've tried w/ Open Office, Excell (older ver), the CVS editors, Notepad ++, always winds up putting a space after each comma - before next piece of data.

Even when I delete everything from the orig CVS file except the column I want, once opened in the spread sheets, then save it in .cvs format, then reopen it in something other than a spreadsheet (text editor, etc.), it either has no commas at all, or put spaces between data. In short, the spreadsheets aren't saving the edited files in the EXACT same CVS format (w/ no spaces) as the original CVS file.

Any ideas how to do it the way (I think) I need to do it, w/o introducing spaces? Thanks.

6 answers to this question

Recommended Posts

  • 0

You will need to craft a Regular Expression to match the data you need and to insert it into the desitnation file.

I haven't read this page, but it seems like it might be a good explaination on how to use RegEx in Notepad++

http://markantoniou.blogspot.com/2008/06/notepad-how-to-use-regular-expressions.html

  • 0

Thanks Frazell, took a quick look at the page linked. (It has links to more detailed pages on using regular expressions & examples).

Caught a bit about using "search & replace" in Notepad ++. It was talking about adding spaces, so figured might work in reverse - it did. For this, I didn't have to use a Regular Expression (which I know nothing about). Used Notepad++ "find & replace" function, to find all blank spaces followed by comma, & replace w/ just a comma. Worked fine.

Depending on which spreadsheet I copy one column into Notepad ++, each line in the data copied in to Notepad ++ may / may not have an actual comma (& space) before each value.

First had to use the Edit>Column Editor function to add a comma in front of each value (there was one value on each line, in column form). Put the cursor at the place where want to enter the comma (or what ever want to add).

But, as said, after that, when use "unwrap" in Notepad ++, there's a space between every comma & next value, which I had to remove.

Not sure why the spreadsheets aren't smart enough to (or don't) save BACK to a CSV format & eliminate spaces between commas & values - the same way orig CSV file was before the spread sheet opened it. Seems like would be very common use to open & edit a CSV file in a spread sheet, then save back to CSV format (without spaces) - to open / use in other prgms, instead of going through extra steps of eliminating the spaces. Maybe not - maybe most uses for edited / saved CSV files prefer spaces between separators? Very little experience w/ them.

Prgms like Excel, OO Calc do warn (to the effect): "this file (may?) contain content or formatting that can't be saved in text .CSV format..."

Odd that they just opened a CSV file that contained no spaces between separators, but when saving it back to .CSV, they put spaces between all separators??

  • 0

Interesting, jocaaa. I tried older ver of Excel (office 2000), but newest Open Office Calc. May well be operator error (ignorance), but saw nothing in options how to save the file, once edited in spread sheet(s), back to CSV file, whether to include / exclude spaces (or anything else).

When you opened an original CSV file (which assume contained no spaces) in Excel '07, did you do any editing before saving back to CSV (or maybe trying saving w/o doing editing)?

Maybe there are options / settings in Excell that specify about properties for saving in CSV format, that exclude spaces?

In your example, assuming when you opened it in Excel, it showed 3 cols & 2 rows in spread sheet. Then when saved back to CSV format file, & you looked at that saved file in a text editor, had no spaces?

  • 0

There were no editing at all, and yes, I checked it in text editor and hex editor - no (unwanted) spaces as you describe. I tried several scenarios - first to open an existing .csv file and export (save as) it to another .csv file, and to enter values manually in Excel and export them to .csv - no spaces in either case. In your case double check if you have string values in Excell cells without space characters.

  • 0

I can't find any thing about "string values w/o space characters" in options or help files of either Excell '00, or latest open office Calc.

But, think I see what you mean. The key part of my OP you overlooked was,

  Quote
Want to take 1 of the columns (by what ever method), & get it into a text config file in another prgm.

Yes, if I edit it down to 2 cols, then export to CSV, each value * in a row * has no spaces between commas / values.

But if save only ONE column to a CSV file, then try to manipulate it in text editor (like Notepad ++), & unwrap the rows, so it appears like a CSV file, THEN all values have a space between them.

When I open that saved CSV file w/ only 1 col left, in most editors, it initially shows up as 1 col, w/ 1 value in each row (go figure). But, there are obviously hidden spaces after each value, because when unwrap the col, it does separate each value w/ comma, but also has a space.

I'm assuming this is part of the formatting of a CSV file to specify when to make a new row (for multi row files). That was the problem I had - dealing w/ using only 1 col AND getting rid of the spaces between values.

This topic is now closed to further replies.
  • Recently Browsing   0 members

    • No registered users viewing this page.
  • Posts

    • For anyone looking for a lightweight formatting-free text editor, I recommend Notepad3.
    • This looks really dumb, especially if it costs $100+. Noone who cares about using a flight yoke would touch that thing, people who don't care are probably fine using the analog sticks on their controller, so who is it for?
    • A) "they shouldn't be making money off of those [free videos]"?? That is literally their business model, making money off videos that users post...if you don't feel like that should be allowed, then are you saying YouTube shouldn't exist. B) Yes, the example I gave is a net-negative transaction. If YouTube makes money from others who are following their rules, it doesn't change the fact that the person using an ad-blocker is costing them money. C) YouTube has always operated at a loss...kind of invalidates your entire argument. As I always say, I don't care what you do, I will not even say you are wrong for doing it. That is purely your choice. Just be honest enough to say something like "Google is rich, I honestly don't care." Perfectly fine reason. Don't act like there is some imagined justification for why it isn't breaking the rules.
    • You can now present content from your camera feed in Google Meet by David Uzondu Google has a new feature rolling out for Google Meet that lets you directly present video from an external camera feed right into your meetings. This means if you have a document camera for showing physical papers, a dedicated external camera for a better angle, or even output from a video production tool, you can now pipe that into Meet as a presentation source. This new option supports video up to 1080p at 30FPS. This "present from camera" function offers a more integrated way to handle certain video inputs compared to some existing workarounds. For instance, it might prove less complicated than a setup with OBS Studio where you arrange your various video sources into scenes, activate the virtual camera output, and then navigate Google Meet's settings to specifically choose "OBS Virtual Camera" as your video input before you can even start presenting that customized feed. Alongside this camera presentation feature, Google's announcement also mentioned several improvements to the general screen sharing experience in Meet. Initiating any type of screen share is faster now, and video quality during screen sharing has also been sharpened, with better handling of dynamic content like scrolling text or embedded videos. To reduce interruptions, if a second presenter stops sharing their screen, any previous presentation will now automatically resume. For those wondering when they can get their hands on this, the rollout for the camera presentation feature and these screen sharing enhancements has begun for Rapid Release domains. Users on Scheduled Release domains will start seeing it from June 11, 2025. Google notes that it could take up to 15 days for these features to be visible to all eligible users. Most Google Workspace accounts, including Business Standard and Plus, various Enterprise and Education tiers, and Workspace Individual subscribers, will have access. This new presentation option joins other recent Google Workspace enhancements. For instance, Gemini in Google Drive can now summarize changes to your files, offering a quick way to get updated on what you missed in documents since you last opened them.
  • Recent Achievements

    • First Post
      James courage Tabla earned a badge
      First Post
    • Reacting Well
      James courage Tabla earned a badge
      Reacting Well
    • Apprentice
      DarkShrunken went up a rank
      Apprentice
    • Dedicated
      CHUNWEI earned a badge
      Dedicated
    • Collaborator
      DarkShrunken earned a badge
      Collaborator
  • Popular Contributors

    1. 1
      +primortal
      379
    2. 2
      +FloatingFatMan
      175
    3. 3
      ATLien_0
      169
    4. 4
      snowy owl
      169
    5. 5
      Xenon
      133
  • Tell a friend

    Love Neowin? Tell a friend!