Add Quote marks around commas in a text file with code

[trags3]

I am working on an App that takes input from a user and saves data in a csv file.
The fields don't require commas but users might put them in some of the fields such as Address data.
I don't want to require the user to not use commas. The data gets saved in a CSV file then imported to excel or numbers. If commas are included in the input data they need quotation marks around any commas in order maintain the integrity of the CSV data and include the commas in the final excel file.
HENCE MY QUESTION
How can I write the code to add quotation marks around the commas in the data, then save the data to a CSV file, then import the CSV file to excel(windows) or numbers (mac)?
Thanks for the help.

Tom Ragsdale

[dunbarx]

Hi.

Quote is a constant in liveCode. Quotes normally delimit a literal, as in "chicken". So you have to have the constant in order to:

Code: Select all

answer "chcken" && quote & "chcken" & quote

Try it right in the message box.
Now try

Code: Select all

answer quote & "," & quote

Craig

[SparkOut]

Use tab instead of comma as your separator before export. Excel will natively import a tab separated file.

You should still think about what data you are creating and make basic checks for validity.

[scott_morrow]

Code: Select all

put (QUOTE & COMMA & QUOTE) into tEscapedComma
replace COMMA with tEscapedComma in tUserData

[dunbarx]

Sparkout.

The OP said that CSV (ugh) was the format required. I never use that, for reasons that have been exhaustively discussed in the forum here.

Tom.

You see the use of another constant, "comma", that can be used in place of ",". So maybe that obviates the need to use the constant "quote".

See how much fun you can have with LC syntax?

Craig

[Klaus]

Here a great handler which covers almost everything with QUOTES in a CSV file:
https://www.fourthworld.com/embassy/art ... t-die.html

I love the headline!

[dunbarx]

I hate CSV. The only way to beat it in stupidity is to advocate for the use of the char "e" as a delimiter.

Craig

[SparkOut]

The OP said that CSV (ugh) was the format required.

No, the OP said that is what currently happens. I say change what happens. We all know why.

[SparkOut]

I hate CSV. The only way to beat it in stupidity is to advocate for the use of the char "e" as a delimiter.

Craig

superbly put!

[dunbarx]

Sparkout.

The data gets saved in a CSV file then imported to excel or numbers

I read as if that was out of his control.

Craig

[SparkOut]

Mmm, I read as he's getting users to input data into the app he's working on from where he saves it. Sounds like he has control, and wants to know how to format csv data with enclosing quotes for each data item. Which is the wrong way to do this if it can be avoided. I think we agree on that.

[dunbarx]

OK.

And yes, if he has fist crack at user data, tabs, dammit.

Craig