CSV Special Chars - Comma, Double-Quotes

The Chilkat CSV class/component automatically handles special characters which include double-quotes, and the delimiter character (comma or semicolon).

The Chilkat CSV library/component/class is freeware. The downloads for .NET, C++, Perl, Java, Ruby, and Python contain all of the Chilkat classes, some of which are freeware and some of which require licensing.

Download Chilkat CSV ActiveX (freeware)

uses
    Windows, Messages, SysUtils, Variants, Classes, Graphics, Controls, Forms,
    Dialogs, StdCtrls,
    CHILKATCSVLib_TLB,
    OleCtrls;

...

procedure TForm1.Button1Click(Sender: TObject);
var
csv: TChilkatCsv;
success: Integer;
csvDoc: String;

begin
//  This example program loads a file (sample.csv)
//  that contains this content:
// 
//  year,color,country,food
//  2001,red,France,cheese
//  2005,blue,"United States",hamburger
//  2008,green,Italy,pasta
//  1998,orange,Japan,sushi
// 
//  The first row contains the column names.
//  This file is available at:
//  http://www.chilkatsoft.com/testData/sample.csv

csv := TChilkatCsv.Create(Self);

//  Prior to loading the CSV file, indicate that the 1st row
//  should be treated as column names:
csv.HasColumnNames := 1;

//  Load the CSV records from the file:

success := csv.LoadFile('sample.csv');
if (success <> 1) then
  begin
    ShowMessage(csv.LastErrorText);
    Exit;
  end;

//  A field may contain the delimiter character (in this case
//  the delimiter is a comma):
//  Change "cheese" to "cheese,baguette"
//  ("cheese" is at row=0, column=3
csv.SetCell(0,3,'cheese,baguette');

//  A field may also contain double-quotes:
//  Change blue to shiny "metallic" blue
csv.SetCell(1,1,'shiny "metallic" blue');

//  Write the updated CSV to a string and display:

csvDoc := csv.SaveToString();
Memo1.Lines.Add(csvDoc);

//  Save the CSV to a file:
success := csv.SaveFile('out.csv');
if (success <> 1) then
  begin
    ShowMessage(csv.LastErrorText);
  end;

//  The out.csv contains this:
//  year,color,country,food
//  2001,red,France,"cheese,baguette"
//  2005,"shiny ""metallic"" blue","United States",hamburger
//  2008,green,Italy,pasta
//  1998,orange,Japan,sushi

end;