PHP Extension

CSV Special Chars - Comma, Double-Quotes

See more CSV Examples

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.

PHP Extension

<?php

include("chilkat.php");

$success = false;

// 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 = new CkCsv();

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

// Load the CSV records from the file:

$success = $csv->LoadFile('sample.csv');
if ($success != true) {
    print $csv->lastErrorText() . "\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 . "\n";

// Save the CSV to a file:
$success = $csv->SaveFile('out.csv');
if ($success != true) {
    print $csv->lastErrorText() . "\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

?>