Reading CSV file and storing values into an array

Question

I am trying to read a *.csv-file.

The *.csv-file consist of two columns separated by semicolon (\";\").

I am able

Answer 1

LINQ way:

var lines = File.ReadAllLines("test.txt").Select(a => a.Split(';'));
var csv = from line in lines
          select (from piece in line
                  select piece);

^^Wrong - Edit by Nick

It appears the original answerer was attempting to populate csv with a 2 dimensional array - an array containing arrays. Each item in the first array contains an array representing that line number with each item in the nested array containing the data for that specific column.

var csv = from line in lines
          select (line.Split(',')).ToArray();

Answer 2

My favourite CSV parser is one built into .NET library. This is a hidden treasure inside Microsoft.VisualBasic namespace. Below is a sample code:

using Microsoft.VisualBasic.FileIO;

var path = @"C:\Person.csv"; // Habeeb, "Dubai Media City, Dubai"
using (TextFieldParser csvParser = new TextFieldParser(path))
{
 csvParser.CommentTokens = new string[] { "#" };
 csvParser.SetDelimiters(new string[] { "," });
 csvParser.HasFieldsEnclosedInQuotes = true;

 // Skip the row with the column names
 csvParser.ReadLine();

 while (!csvParser.EndOfData)
 {
  // Read current line fields, pointer moves to the next line.
  string[] fields = csvParser.ReadFields();
  string Name = fields[0];
  string Address = fields[1];
 }
}

Remember to add reference to Microsoft.VisualBasic

More details about the parser is given here: http://codeskaters.blogspot.ae/2015/11/c-easiest-csv-parser-built-in-net.html

Answer 3

look at this

using CsvFramework;

using System.Collections.Generic;

namespace CvsParser {

public class Customer
{
    public int Id { get; set; }
    public string Name { get; set; }
    public List<Order> Orders { get; set; }        
}

public class Order
{
    public int Id { get; set; }

    public int CustomerId { get; set; }
    public int Quantity { get; set; }

    public int Amount { get; set; }

    public List<OrderItem> OrderItems { get; set; }

}

public class Address
{
    public int Id { get; set; }
    public int CustomerId { get; set; }

    public string Name { get; set; }
}

public class OrderItem
{
    public int Id { get; set; }
    public int OrderId { get; set; }

    public string ProductName { get; set; }
}

class Program
{
    static void Main(string[] args)
    {

        var customerLines = System.IO.File.ReadAllLines(@"Customers.csv");
        var orderLines = System.IO.File.ReadAllLines(@"Orders.csv");
        var orderItemLines = System.IO.File.ReadAllLines(@"OrderItemLines.csv");

        CsvFactory.Register<Customer>(builder =>
        {
            builder.Add(a => a.Id).Type(typeof(int)).Index(0).IsKey(true);
            builder.Add(a => a.Name).Type(typeof(string)).Index(1);
            builder.AddNavigation(n => n.Orders).RelationKey<Order, int>(k => k.CustomerId);

        }, false, ',', customerLines);

        CsvFactory.Register<Order>(builder =>
        {
            builder.Add(a => a.Id).Type(typeof(int)).Index(0).IsKey(true);
            builder.Add(a => a.CustomerId).Type(typeof(int)).Index(1);
            builder.Add(a => a.Quantity).Type(typeof(int)).Index(2);
            builder.Add(a => a.Amount).Type(typeof(int)).Index(3);
            builder.AddNavigation(n => n.OrderItems).RelationKey<OrderItem, int>(k => k.OrderId);

        }, true, ',', orderLines);


        CsvFactory.Register<OrderItem>(builder =>
        {
            builder.Add(a => a.Id).Type(typeof(int)).Index(0).IsKey(true);
            builder.Add(a => a.OrderId).Type(typeof(int)).Index(1);
            builder.Add(a => a.ProductName).Type(typeof(string)).Index(2);


        }, false, ',', orderItemLines);



        var customers = CsvFactory.Parse<Customer>();


    }
}

}

Answer 4

Here is my variation of the top voted answer:

var contents = File.ReadAllText(filename).Split('\n');
var csv = from line in contents
          select line.Split(',').ToArray();

The csv variable can then be used as in the following example:

int headerRows = 5;
foreach (var row in csv.Skip(headerRows)
    .TakeWhile(r => r.Length > 1 && r.Last().Trim().Length > 0))
{
    String zerothColumnValue = row[0]; // leftmost column
    var firstColumnValue = row[1];
}

Answer 5

I usually use this parser from codeproject, since there's a bunch of character escapes and similar that it handles for me.

Answer 6

Hi all, I created a static class for doing this. + column check + quota sign removal

public static class CSV
{
    public static List<string[]> Import(string file, char csvDelimiter, bool ignoreHeadline, bool removeQuoteSign)
    {
        return ReadCSVFile(file, csvDelimiter, ignoreHeadline, removeQuoteSign);
    }

    private static List<string[]> ReadCSVFile(string filename, char csvDelimiter, bool ignoreHeadline, bool removeQuoteSign)
    {
        string[] result = new string[0];
        List<string[]> lst = new List<string[]>();

        string line;
        int currentLineNumner = 0;
        int columnCount = 0;

        // Read the file and display it line by line.  
        using (System.IO.StreamReader file = new System.IO.StreamReader(filename))
        {
            while ((line = file.ReadLine()) != null)
            {
                currentLineNumner++;
                string[] strAr = line.Split(csvDelimiter);
                // save column count of dirst line
                if (currentLineNumner == 1)
                {
                    columnCount = strAr.Count();
                }
                else
                {
                    //Check column count of every other lines
                    if (strAr.Count() != columnCount)
                    {
                        throw new Exception(string.Format("CSV Import Exception: Wrong column count in line {0}", currentLineNumner));
                    }
                }

                if (removeQuoteSign) strAr = RemoveQouteSign(strAr);

                if (ignoreHeadline)
                {
                    if(currentLineNumner !=1) lst.Add(strAr);
                }
                else
                {
                    lst.Add(strAr);
                }
            }

        }

        return lst;
    }
    private static string[] RemoveQouteSign(string[] ar)
    {
        for (int i = 0;i< ar.Count() ; i++)
        {
            if (ar[i].StartsWith("\"") || ar[i].StartsWith("'")) ar[i] = ar[i].Substring(1);
            if (ar[i].EndsWith("\"") || ar[i].EndsWith("'")) ar[i] = ar[i].Substring(0,ar[i].Length-1);

        }
        return ar;
    }

}