CSV API for Java [closed]

Answer 1

The CSV format sounds easy enough for StringTokenizer but it can become more complicated. Here in Germany a semicolon is used as a delimiter and cells containing delimiters need to be escaped. You're not going to handle that easily with StringTokenizer.

I would go for http://sourceforge.net/projects/javacsv

Answer 2

Apache Commons CSV

Check out Apache Common CSV.

This library reads and writes several variations of CSV, including the standard one RFC 4180. Also reads/writes Tab-delimited files.

• Excel
• InformixUnload
• InformixUnloadCsv
• MySQL
• Oracle
• PostgreSQLCsv
• PostgreSQLText
• RFC4180
• TDF

Answer 3

Reading CSV format description makes me feel that using 3rd party library would be less headache than writing it myself:

• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Comma-separated_values

Wikipedia lists 10 or something known libraries:

• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CSV_application_support

I compared libs listed using some kind of check list. OpenCSV turned out a winner to me (YMMV) with the following results:

+ maven

+ maven - release version   // had some cryptic issues at _Hudson_ with snapshot references => prefer to be on a safe side

+ code examples

+ open source   // as in "can hack myself if needed"

+ understandable javadoc   // as opposed to eg javadocs of _genjava gj-csv_

+ compact API   // YAGNI (note *flatpack* seems to have much richer API than OpenCSV)

- reference to specification used   // I really like it when people can explain what they're doing

- reference to _RFC 4180_ support   // would qualify as simplest form of specification to me

- releases changelog   // absence is quite a pity, given how simple it'd be to get with maven-changes-plugin   // _flatpack_, for comparison, has quite helpful changelog

+ bug tracking

+ active   // as in "can submit a bug and expect a fixed release soon"

+ positive feedback   // Recommended By 51 users at sourceforge (as of now)

Answer 4

I've used OpenCSV in the past.

import au.com.bytecode.opencsv.CSVReader;

String fileName = "data.csv";
CSVReader reader = new CSVReader(new FileReader(fileName ));


// if the first line is the header
String[] header = reader.readNext();

// iterate over reader.readNext until it returns null
String[] line = reader.readNext();

There were some other choices in the answers to another question.

Answer 5

For the last enterprise application I worked on that needed to handle a notable amount of CSV -- a couple of months ago -- I used SuperCSV at sourceforge and found it simple, robust and problem-free.

Answer 6

We use JavaCSV, it works pretty well