Parsing CSV files in C#, with header

Question

Is there a default/official/recommended way to parse CSV files in C#? I don\'t want to roll my own parser.

Also, I\'ve seen instances of people using ODBC/OLE DB to

Answer 1

If anyone wants a snippet they can plop into their code without having to bind a library or download a package. Here is a version I wrote:

    public static string FormatCSV(List parts)
    {
        string result = "";

        foreach (string s in parts)
        {
            if (result.Length > 0)
            {
                result += ",";

                if (s.Length == 0)
                    continue;
            }

            if (s.Length > 0)
            {
                result += "\"" + s.Replace("\"", "\"\"") + "\"";
            }
            else
            {
                // cannot output double quotes since its considered an escape for a quote
                result += ",";
            }
        }

        return result;
    }

    enum CSVMode
    {
        CLOSED = 0,
        OPENED_RAW = 1,
        OPENED_QUOTE = 2
    }

    public static List ParseCSV(string input)
    {
        List results;

        CSVMode mode;

        char[] letters;

        string content;


        mode = CSVMode.CLOSED;

        content = "";
        results = new List();
        letters = input.ToCharArray();

        for (int i = 0; i < letters.Length; i++)
        {
            char letter = letters[i];
            char nextLetter = '\0';

            if (i < letters.Length - 1)
                nextLetter = letters[i + 1];

            // If its a quote character
            if (letter == '"')
            {
                // If that next letter is a quote
                if (nextLetter == '"' && mode == CSVMode.OPENED_QUOTE)
                {
                    // Then this quote is escaped and should be added to the content

                    content += letter;

                    // Skip the escape character
                    i++;
                    continue;
                }
                else
                {
                    // otherwise its not an escaped quote and is an opening or closing one
                    // Character is skipped

                    // If it was open, then close it
                    if (mode == CSVMode.OPENED_QUOTE)
                    {
                        results.Add(content);

                        // reset the content
                        content = "";

                        mode = CSVMode.CLOSED;

                        // If there is a next letter available
                        if (nextLetter != '\0')
                        {
                            // If it is a comma
                            if (nextLetter == ',')
                            {
                                i++;
                                continue;
                            }
                            else
                            {
                                throw new Exception("Expected comma. Found: " + nextLetter);
                            }
                        }
                    }
                    else if (mode == CSVMode.OPENED_RAW)
                    {
                        // If it was opened raw, then just add the quote 
                        content += letter;
                    }
                    else if (mode == CSVMode.CLOSED)
                    {
                        // Otherwise open it as a quote 

                        mode = CSVMode.OPENED_QUOTE;
                    }
                }
            }
            // If its a comma seperator
            else if (letter == ',')
            {
                // If in quote mode
                if (mode == CSVMode.OPENED_QUOTE)
                {
                    // Just read it
                    content += letter;
                }
                // If raw, then close the content
                else if (mode == CSVMode.OPENED_RAW)
                {
                    results.Add(content);

                    content = "";

                    mode = CSVMode.CLOSED;
                }
                // If it was closed, then open it raw
                else if (mode == CSVMode.CLOSED)
                {
                    mode = CSVMode.OPENED_RAW;

                    results.Add(content);

                    content = "";
                }
            }
            else
            {
                // If opened quote, just read it
                if (mode == CSVMode.OPENED_QUOTE)
                {
                    content += letter;
                }
                // If opened raw, then read it
                else if (mode == CSVMode.OPENED_RAW)
                {
                    content += letter;
                }
                // It closed, then open raw
                else if (mode == CSVMode.CLOSED)
                {
                    mode = CSVMode.OPENED_RAW;

                    content += letter;
                }
            }
        }

        // If it was still reading when the buffer finished
        if (mode != CSVMode.CLOSED)
        {
            results.Add(content);
        }

        return results;
    }