PHP library for creating/manipulating fixed-width text files

Question

We have a web application that does time-tracking, payroll, and HR. As a result, we have to write a lot of fixed-width data files for export into other systems (state tax filing

Answer 1

I have happily used this class for similar use before. It is a php-classes file, but it is very well rated and has been tried-and-tested by many. It is not new (2003) but regardless it still does a very fine job + has a very decent and clean API that looks somewhat like the example you posted with many other goodies added.

If you can disregard the german usage in the examples, and the age factor -> it is very decent piece of code.

Posted from the example:


//CSV-Datei mit Festlängen-Werten 
echo "
Import aus der Datei fixed.csv
"; 
$csv_import2 = new CSVFixImport; 
$csv_import2->setFile("fixed.csv"); 
$csv_import2->addCSVField("Satzart", 2); 
$csv_import2->addCSVField("Typ", 1); 
$csv_import2->addCSVField("Gewichtsklasse", 1); 
$csv_import2->addCSVField("Marke", 4); 
$csv_import2->addCSVField("interne Nummer", 4); 


$csv_import2->addFilter("Satzart", "==", "020"); 
$csv_import2->parseCSV(); 
if($csv_import->isOK()) 
{ 
    echo "Anzahl der Datensätze: " . $csv_import2->CSVNumRows() . "
"; 
    echo "Anzahl der Felder: " . $csv_import2->CSVNumFields() . "
"; 
    echo "Name des 1.Feldes: " . $csv_import2->CSVFieldName(0) . "
"; 

    $csv_import2->dumpResult(); 
}

My 2 cents, good-luck!