Java

CSV Special Chars - Comma, Double-Quotes

See more CSV Examples

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.

Java

import com.chilkatsoft.*;

public class ChilkatExample {

  static {
    try {
        System.loadLibrary("chilkat");
    } catch (UnsatisfiedLinkError e) {
      System.err.println("Native code library failed to load.\n" + e);
      System.exit(1);
    }
  }

  public static void main(String argv[])
  {
    boolean success = false;

    // 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

    CkCsv csv = new 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) {
        System.out.println(csv.lastErrorText());
        return;
        }

    // 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
    success = csv.SetCell(0,3,"cheese,baguette");

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

    // Write the updated CSV to a string and display:
    String csvDoc;
    csvDoc = csv.saveToString();
    System.out.println(csvDoc);

    // Save the CSV to a file:
    success = csv.SaveFile("out.csv");
    if (success != true) {
        System.out.println(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,sush
  }
}