How to write a value which contain comma to a CSV file in c#?

Question

I am using a data table for storing data.

I am exporting the data from data table to CSV file.

Sometimes there may be values containing comma(,) so the values are not exported correctly.

For Example

Consider the value is "9,11,32". I have to export as such.

But when I do the first column conatins 9 then in next column 11.

I want to display 9,11,32 in the same column in the CSV file. How do I do that?

Ause

possible duplicate of Dealing with commas in a CSV file – Evert

What does "**not exported correctly." mean? Normally you put the data in quotes but it depends on what is reading the file, not on what is writing it. I always suggest you use tab delimited instead then you don't have to worry about commas. – Maquette

Possible duplicate of Dealing with commas in a CSV file – Vharat

Answer 1

Simply put your data inside the backslash like this: "\"" + yourdata + "\"". Take a look on the example below:

StringWriter csv = new StringWriter();
// Generate header of the CSV file
csv.WriteLine(string.Format("{0},{1}", "Header 1", "Header 2"));
// Generate content of the CSV file
foreach (var item in YourListData)
{
    csv.WriteLine(string.Format("{0},{1}", item.Data1, "\"" + item.Data2 + "\""));
}

return File(new System.Text.UTF8Encoding().GetBytes(csv.ToString()), "application/csv", string.Format("{0}{1}", "YourFileName", ".csv"));

In the example: Your data2 may contains comma ","

Longbow

But if My data is like abc,def" then it does not works as you explain. it give one column with abc,def" and second column with value def"". I don't know how to handle it. – Dermott

You have to replace one " with two "" in your data. – Ethos

Answer 2

1. Fields with embedded commas must be delimited with double-quote characters.

   fields:

   1. abc, xyz
   2. pqr

csv version:

"abc, xyz" , pqr

2. Fields that contain double quote characters must be surounded by double-quotes, and the embedded double-quotes must each be represented by a pair of consecutive double quotes.

   field:

   Welcome to "My World"
   

   csv version:

   "Welcome to ""My World"""
   

Hibben

Answer 3

If you have a comma in the data you need to put in a csv the https://www.rfc-editor.org/rfc/rfc4180 says to use quotations as:

"123,56","A dog, cat and a frog"

Cove

Answer 4

Put Value in double quotes.

string ValueToEscape = "a,b";

"\"" + ValueToEscape + "\""

CSV Output = a,b

Seawards

Answer 5

StringBuilder sb = new StringBuilder();          
        foreach (DataColumn col in dt.Columns)
        {
            if (col.ColumnName.Contains(","))
            {
                sb.Append(String.Format("\"{0}\",", col.ColumnName));
            }
            else
            {
                sb.Append(String.Format("{0},", col.ColumnName));
            }
        }

Foretopmast

Answer 6

Write Comma separated value between double quote without space to create csv with single column for comaa separated values.

Ex. I have two columns Code & Description With Values Code01 & Val1,Val2,Val3. To create csv with given data write below line in notepad and save it with csv extension.

Code,Description
Code01,"Val1,Val2,Val3"

Medardas