About CSV File Contents

In a CSV file, a new line character flags each row of the table. A comma delimits each column within that row. For this scheme to work, all lines in the file must contain the same number of values. For example:


Albert,Archer,1 Alpine St,Acton,MA Blaine,Baker,2 Bedford Rd,Burlington,MA Claire,Claus,3 Charlotte Ave,Cambridge,MA

In a fixed-width file, a new line character also flags each row of the table. However, the width of a particular column is the same in each row. For example:


AlbertArcher1 Alpine St Acton MA BlaineBaker 2 Bedford Rd BurlingtonMA ClaireClaus 3 Charlotte AveCambridge MA

Delimiting Commas

If a value in a CSV file contains a comma, you must enclose the value in a pair of quotation characters. You can choose the character that you want to use as the quotation character. The default is to use double quotes:


Dan,Davidson,"4 Denver St, Apt 4",Dover,MA

If the character you use as the quotation character appears in a value that is enclosed in quotation characters, you must double each enclosed quotation character. For example:


Eugene,"""Ed"" Everett, Jr.",5 Easy St,Edgartown,MA

If you want, you can include the names of the columns in the file. If you do, they must be the first row of data. For example:


First,Last,Street,City,State Albert,Archer,1 Alpine St,Acton,MA Blaine,Baker,2 Bedford Rd,Burlington,MA Claire,Claus,3 Charlotte Ave,Cambridge,MA

If there are any invalid characters in XML tag names, the wizard replaces the invalid character with an underscore.

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About CSV File Contents

Delimiting Commas

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