JavaScript array to CSV

Question

I\'ve followed this post How to export JavaScript array info to csv (on client side)? to get a nested js array written as a csv file.

The array looks like:

Answer 1

ES6:

let csv = test_array.map(row=>row.join(',')).join('\n') 
//test_array being your 2D array

Answer 2

The selected answer is probably correct but it seems needlessly unclear.

I found Shomz's Fiddle to be very helpful, but again, needlessly unclear. (Edit: I now see that that Fiddle is based on the OP's Fiddle.)

Here's my version (which I've created a Fiddle for) which I think is more clear:

function downloadableCSV(rows) {
  var content = "data:text/csv;charset=utf-8,";

  rows.forEach(function(row, index) {
    content += row.join(",") + "\n";
  });

  return encodeURI(content);
}

var rows = [
  ["name1", 2, 3],
  ["name2", 4, 5],
  ["name3", 6, 7],
  ["name4", 8, 9],
  ["name5", 10, 11]
];

$("#download").click(function() {
  window.open(downloadableCSV(rows));
});

Answer 3

General form is:

var ids = []; <= this is your array/collection
var csv = ids.join(",");

For your case you will have to adapt a little bit

Answer 4

for a simple csv one map() and a join() are enough:

var csv = test_array.map(function(d){
    return d.join();
}).join('\n');

/* Results in 
name1,2,3
name2,4,5
name3,6,7
name4,8,9
name5,10,11

This method also allows you to specify column separator other than a comma in the inner join. for example a tab: d.join('\t')

On the other hand if you want to do it properly and enclose strings in quotes "", then you can use some JSON magic:

var csv = test_array.map(function(d){
   return JSON.stringify(d);
})
.join('\n') 
.replace(/(^\[)|(\]$)/mg, ''); // remove opening [ and closing ] brackets from each line 

/* would produce
"name1",2,3
"name2",4,5
"name3",6,7
"name4",8,9
"name5",10,11

if you have array of objects like :

var data = [
  {"title": "Book title 1", "author": "Name1 Surname1"},
  {"title": "Book title 2", "author": "Name2 Surname2"},
  {"title": "Book title 3", "author": "Name3 Surname3"},
  {"title": "Book title 4", "author": "Name4 Surname4"}
];

// use
var csv = data.map(function(d){
    return JSON.stringify(Object.values(d));
})
.join('\n') 
.replace(/(^\[)|(\]$)/mg, '');

Answer 5

The following code were written in ES6 and it will work in most of the browsers without an issue.

var test_array = [["name1", 2, 3], ["name2", 4, 5], ["name3", 6, 7], ["name4", 8, 9], ["name5", 10, 11]];

// Construct the comma seperated string
// If a column values contains a comma then surround the column value by double quotes
const csv = test_array.map(row => row.map(item => (typeof item === 'string' && item.indexOf(',') >= 0) ? `"${item}"`: String(item)).join(',')).join('\n');

// Format the CSV string
const data = encodeURI('data:text/csv;charset=utf-8,' + csv);

// Create a virtual Anchor tag
const link = document.createElement('a');
link.setAttribute('href', data);
link.setAttribute('download', 'export.csv');

// Append the Anchor tag in the actual web page or application
document.body.appendChild(link);

// Trigger the click event of the Anchor link
link.click();

// Remove the Anchor link form the web page or application
document.body.removeChild(link);

Answer 6

const escapeString = item => (typeof item === 'string') ? `"${item}"` : String(item)

const arrayToCsv = (arr, seperator = ';') => arr.map(escapeString).join(seperator)

const rowKeysToCsv = (row, seperator = ';') => arrayToCsv(Object.keys(row))

const rowToCsv = (row, seperator = ';') => arrayToCsv(Object.values(row))

const rowsToCsv = (arr, seperator = ';') => arr.map(row => rowToCsv(row, seperator)).join('\n')

const collectionToCsvWithHeading = (arr, seperator = ';') => `${rowKeysToCsv(arr[0], seperator)}\n${rowsToCsv(arr, seperator)}`


// Usage: 

collectionToCsvWithHeading([
  { title: 't', number: 2 },
  { title: 't', number: 1 }
])

// Outputs: 
"title";"number"
"t";2
"t";1