VB.NET

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.

VB.NET

Dim success As Boolean = 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

Dim csv As New Chilkat.Csv

' Prior to loading the CSV file, indicate that the 1st row
' should be treated as column names:
csv.HasColumnNames = True

' Load the CSV records from the file:

success = csv.LoadFile("sample.csv")
If (success <> True) Then
    Debug.WriteLine(csv.LastErrorText)
    Exit Sub
End If


' 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:
Dim csvDoc As String
csvDoc = csv.SaveToString()
Debug.WriteLine(csvDoc)

' Save the CSV to a file:
success = csv.SaveFile("out.csv")
If (success <> True) Then
    Debug.WriteLine(csv.LastErrorText)
End If


' 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