python csv list separator based on regional settings

Question

how to detect list separator in users machine with Python?

CSV file needs to be created on users machine and the list separator must be detected automatically (so th

Answer 1

Write an XLS file with xlwt.

Take 2: Use the locale module and some heuristics:

>>> import locale
>>> locale.setlocale(locale.LC_ALL, '') # set to user's locale, not "C"
'English_Australia.1252'
>>> dec_pt_chr = locale.localeconv()['decimal_point']
>>> if dec_pt_chr == ",":
...     list_delimiter = ";"
... else:
...     list_delimiter = ","
...
>>> print repr(dec_pt_chr), repr(list_delimiter)
'.' ','
>>> locale.setlocale(locale.LC_ALL, 'French_France.1252')
'French_France.1252'
>>> dec_pt_chr = locale.localeconv()['decimal_point']
>>> if dec_pt_chr == ",":
...     list_delimiter = ";"
... else:
...     list_delimiter = ","
...
>>> print repr(dec_pt_chr), repr(list_delimiter)
',' ';'
>>>