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)

<?php

//  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 = new COM("Chilkat.Csv");

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

//  Load the CSV records from the file:

$success = $csv->LoadFile('sample.csv');
if ($success != true) {
    print $csv->lastErrorText() . "\n";
    exit;
}

//  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();
print $csvDoc . "\n";

//  Save the CSV to a file:
$success = $csv->SaveFile('out.csv');
if ($success != true) {
    print $csv->lastErrorText() . "\n";
}

//  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

?>