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Java CSV parsing with OstermillerUtils 

Dr. Xi
Joined:
04/09/2007
Posts:
753

June 22, 2011 07:12:02    Last update: June 22, 2011 11:32:02
Demo code for CSV parsing with OstermillerUtils.
  1. Java code: 
    import java.io.*;
import java.util.List;
import com.Ostermiller.util.ExcelCSVParser;

public class CSVParseDemo {
    public static void main(String[] args) throws IOException {
	if (args.length < 1) {
	    System.out.println("Usage: java CSVParseDemo <csv_file>");
	    return;
	}

	ExcelCSVParser parser = new ExcelCSVParser(new FileReader(args[0]));
	String[] values = parser.getLine();
	while (values != null) {
	    printValues(parser.lastLineNumber(), values);
	    values = parser.getLine();
	}
    }

    private static void printValues(int lineNumber, String[] as) {
	System.out.println("Line " + lineNumber + " has " + as.length + " values:");
	for (String s: as) {
	    System.out.println("\t|" + s + "|");
	}
	System.out.println();
    }
}

  2. Test with a simple CSV file: 
    psmith01,CLASS2B,Peter Smith 1,YEAR2,1,N,ADVANCED,STAFF,1,Y,Y
smehta,CLASS3G,Smeeta Mehta,LOCAL,1,Y,STANDARD,PUPIL,2.1,N,Y

    The parser worked correctly: 
    Line 1 has 11 values:
	|psmith01|
	|CLASS2B|
	|Peter Smith 1|
	|YEAR2|
	|1|
	|N|
	|ADVANCED|
	|STAFF|
	|1|
	|Y|
	|Y|

Line 2 has 11 values:
	|smehta|
	|CLASS3G|
	|Smeeta Mehta|
	|LOCAL|
	|1|
	|Y|
	|STANDARD|
	|PUPIL|
	|2.1|
	|N|
	|Y|


  3. Test with a more complicated CSV file: 
    "psmith01 abc", "CLASS2B            "    , " Peter, Smith 1", "\", YEAR2 \""
" smehta ' \", \\, "   ,     "CLASS3G \\"
" smehta ' \", \\, "   ,     "CLASS3G \"

    The parser messed up on all three lines: 
    Line 1 has 6 values:
	|psmith01 abc|
	| "CLASS2B            "    |
	| " Peter|
	| Smith 1"|
	| "\"|
	| YEAR2 \""|

Line 2 has 4 values:
	| smehta ' \|
	| \\|
	| "   |
	|     "CLASS3G \\"|

Line 3 has 4 values:
	| smehta ' \|
	| \\|
	| "   |
	|     "CLASS3G \"|


  4. Putting a space before the first quote: 
     "Smith, Jack","210-345-8888"

    It dismissed the quotes: 
    Line 1 has 3 values:
	| "Smith|
	| Jack"|
	|210-345-8888|


  5. Add a new line in item two: 
    "One", "Two
", "Three"

    Result: 
    Line 1 has 2 values:
	|One|
	| "Two|

Line 2 has 1 values:
	|, |

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