CSV application support
Encyclopedia
The comma-separated values
file format is a very simple data file format that is supported by almost all spreadsheet
software such as Excel
(although Excel uses the list separator of the current locale
settings, which is a semicolon
instead of a comma for many locales), Apple Numbers
, OpenOffice.org Calc
and Gnumeric
as well as many online spreadsheet services such as EditGrid
and Google Docs & Spreadsheets. Many database management system
s support the reading and writing of CSV files.
as 1.2346789012346E+15 and the resulting value is less accurate. Some applications also accept a single quote-character at the beginning of numbers as a way to indicate that it should be displayed as text (typically left aligned while numbers are right aligned). Also, although the csv specification does not specifically define any support for spreadsheet formulas, most spreadsheet programs will support cell formulas entered with csv by preceding the formula with an equal sign. For example if your csv document contained "1,2,3,=max(A1:C1)" most spreadsheet programs would correctly display 3 in the cell D1.
Comma-separated values
A comma-separated values file stores tabular data in plain-text form. As a result, such a file is easily human-readable ....
file format is a very simple data file format that is supported by almost all spreadsheet
Spreadsheet
A spreadsheet is a computer application that simulates a paper accounting worksheet. It displays multiple cells usually in a two-dimensional matrix or grid consisting of rows and columns. Each cell contains alphanumeric text, numeric values or formulas...
software such as Excel
Microsoft Excel
Microsoft Excel is a proprietary commercial spreadsheet application written and distributed by Microsoft for Microsoft Windows and Mac OS X. It features calculation, graphing tools, pivot tables, and a macro programming language called Visual Basic for Applications...
(although Excel uses the list separator of the current locale
Locale
In computing, locale is a set of parameters that defines the user's language, country and any special variant preferences that the user wants to see in their user interface...
settings, which is a semicolon
Semicolon
The semicolon is a punctuation mark with several uses. The Italian printer Aldus Manutius the Elder established the practice of using the semicolon to separate words of opposed meaning and to indicate interdependent statements. "The first printed semicolon was the work of ... Aldus Manutius"...
instead of a comma for many locales), Apple Numbers
Numbers (software)
Numbers is a spreadsheet application developed by Apple Inc. as part of the iWork productivity suite alongside Keynote and Pages. Numbers 1.0 was announced on August 7, 2007 and thus it is the newest application in the iWork Suite. Numbers runs on Mac OS X v10.4 "Tiger" or newer...
, OpenOffice.org Calc
OpenOffice.org Calc
OpenOffice.org Calc is the spreadsheet component of the OpenOffice.org software package.Calc is similar to Microsoft Excel, with a roughly equivalent range of features. Calc is capable of opening and saving most spreadsheets in Microsoft Excel file format...
and Gnumeric
Gnumeric
Gnumeric is a spreadsheet program that is part of the GNOME Free Software Desktop Project. Gnumeric version 1.0 was released December 31, 2001. Gnumeric is distributed as free software under the GNU GPL license; it is intended to replace proprietary and other spreadsheet programs such as Microsoft...
as well as many online spreadsheet services such as EditGrid
EditGrid
EditGrid is a Web 2.0 spreadsheet service. It offers both a free-of-charge service to personal users and a subscription service to organisations and is available on a number of partner sites and channels....
and Google Docs & Spreadsheets. Many database management system
Database management system
A database management system is a software package with computer programs that control the creation, maintenance, and use of a database. It allows organizations to conveniently develop databases for various applications by database administrators and other specialists. A database is an integrated...
s support the reading and writing of CSV files.
Data interpretation
Many applications that import CSV will try to interpret numbers and dates in order to allow sorting or other formatting features. For example, if a CSV field contains a large integer such as 1234567890123456 then it will appear in GnumericGnumeric
Gnumeric is a spreadsheet program that is part of the GNOME Free Software Desktop Project. Gnumeric version 1.0 was released December 31, 2001. Gnumeric is distributed as free software under the GNU GPL license; it is intended to replace proprietary and other spreadsheet programs such as Microsoft...
as 1.2346789012346E+15 and the resulting value is less accurate. Some applications also accept a single quote-character at the beginning of numbers as a way to indicate that it should be displayed as text (typically left aligned while numbers are right aligned). Also, although the csv specification does not specifically define any support for spreadsheet formulas, most spreadsheet programs will support cell formulas entered with csv by preceding the formula with an equal sign. For example if your csv document contained "1,2,3,=max(A1:C1)" most spreadsheet programs would correctly display 3 in the cell D1.