(Perl) CSV Special Chars - Comma, Double-Quotes

The Chilkat CSV class/component automatically handles special characters which include double-quotes, and the delimiter character (comma or semicolon).

The Chilkat CSV library/component/class is freeware. The downloads for .NET, C++, Perl, Java, Ruby, and Python contain all of the Chilkat classes, some of which are freeware and some of which require licensing.

Chilkat Perl Downloads Perl Module for Windows, MacOS, Linux, Alpine Linux, Solaris

use chilkat();

# This example program loads a file (sample.csv)
# that contains this content:
# 
# year,color,country,food
# 2001,red,France,cheese
# 2005,blue,"United States",hamburger
# 2008,green,Italy,pasta
# 1998,orange,Japan,sushi
# 
# The first row contains the column names.
# This file is available at:
# http://www.chilkatsoft.com/testData/sample.csv

$csv = chilkat::CkCsv->new();

# Prior to loading the CSV file, indicate that the 1st row
# should be treated as column names:
$csv->put_HasColumnNames(1);

# Load the CSV records from the file:

$success = $csv->LoadFile("sample.csv");
if ($success != 1) {
    print $csv->lastErrorText() . "\r\n";
    exit;
}

# A field may contain the delimiter character (in this case
# the delimiter is a comma):
# Change "cheese" to "cheese,baguette"
# ("cheese" is at row=0, column=3
$success = $csv->SetCell(0,3,"cheese,baguette");

# A field may also contain double-quotes:
# Change blue to shiny "metallic" blue
$success = $csv->SetCell(1,1,"shiny \"metallic\" blue");

# Write the updated CSV to a string and display:

$csvDoc = $csv->saveToString();
print $csvDoc . "\r\n";

# Save the CSV to a file:
$success = $csv->SaveFile("out.csv");
if ($success != 1) {
    print $csv->lastErrorText() . "\r\n";
}

# The out.csv contains this:
# year,color,country,food
# 2001,red,France,"cheese,baguette"
# 2005,"shiny ""metallic"" blue","United States",hamburger
# 2008,green,Italy,pasta
# 1998,orange,Japan,sush