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.

 Chilkat Python Module Downloads for Windows, Linux, and MAC OS X

import sys
import chilkat

#  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 = chilkat.CkCsv()

#  Prior to loading the CSV file, indicate that the 1st row
#  should be treated as column names:
csv.put_HasColumnNames(True)

#  Load the CSV records from the file:

success = csv.LoadFile("sample.csv")
if (success != True):
    print csv.lastErrorText()
    sys.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

#  Save the CSV to a file:
success = csv.SaveFile("out.csv")
if (success != True):
    print csv.lastErrorText()

#  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