Parse CSV data based on Headers then load into Array

Question

I have a CSV file that I need to open in C# as a sequential file. It has to be parsed by the headers.

As of now I have only figured out how to load the data file as a sequential file using C# System.IO library into an ArrayList structure. Each line in the file has to be a separate record. This is it here:

using System;
using System.IO;
using System.Collections;

namespace FileSearch
{
class Class1
{
    static void Main(string[] args)
    {
        StreamReader objReader = new StreamReader("c:\\Users/Sarah/Desktop/IP4Data.csv"); //open file to read
        string sLine = ""; //string variable for data that goes into ArrayList
        ArrayList arrText = new ArrayList();

        while (sLine != null)
        {
            sLine = objReader.ReadLine(); //read file one line at a time
            if (sLine != null) //if empty, it's null
                arrText.Add(sLine);//Add data to Array List
        }
        objReader.Close(); //end loop

        foreach (string sOutput in arrText) //Outputs read data from ArrayList onto screen
            Console.WriteLine(sOutput);
        Console.ReadLine();
    }
}
}

How do I parse the CSV file so it can be searchable in the ArrayList?

Have you read how CSV file is built? If yes, have you understood it? If yes, have you started implementing it? — , Oct 29 '14 at 19:52
Any reason you're using `ArrayList` instead of `List<>`? Not that it's invalid, [it's just the old way of doing it](http://stackoverflow.com/a/2309699/1765721). — Jeremy K, Oct 29 '14 at 19:55
you'll need to provide a sample of the CSV and describe what you mean by `searchable` — Jonesopolis, Oct 29 '14 at 20:04
For more complex parsing that `String.Split()` can't handle, I tried using `Regex.Split()` and the pattern `",(?=([^\"]*\"[^\"]*\")*[^\"]*$)"` found in [this Java solution](http://stackoverflow.com/a/15739087/1765721) however it wasn't providing the correct result. Maybe you, or someone else, can fix it up to work in C#. — Jeremy K, Oct 29 '14 at 21:14

score 1 · Accepted Answer · answered Oct 29 '14 at 19:53

1

You can split every line with String.Split method. Like

var fields = sLine.Split(new char[]{','});

if your values are separated by comma

answered Oct 29 '14 at 19:53

Michael

1,027
10
22

What if `,` will be inside field value? Simple spliiting is not enough. – Oct 29 '14 at 19:59
I don't know the way how to use separator symbol inside the field in CSV file. If it is possible the symbol must be escaped somehow i suppose. – Michael Oct 29 '14 at 20:02

Parse CSV data based on Headers then load into Array

1 Answers1