This module implements a simple high performance CSV (comma separated value) parser.

Basic usage

import std/parsecsv
from std/os import paramStr
from std/streams import newFileStream
var s = newFileStream(paramStr(1), fmRead)
if s == nil:
  quit("cannot open the file" & paramStr(1))
var x: CsvParser
open(x, s, paramStr(1))
while readRow(x):
  echo "new row: "
  for val in items(x.row):
    echo "##", val, "##"
close(x)

For CSV files with a header row, the header can be read and then used as a reference for item access with rowEntry:

import std/parsecsv
# Prepare a file
let content = """One,Two,Three,Four
1,2,3,4
10,20,30,40
100,200,300,400
"""
writeFile("temp.csv", content)
var p: CsvParser
p.open("temp.csv")
p.readHeaderRow()
while p.readRow():
  echo "new row: "
  for col in items(p.headers):
    echo "##", col, ":", p.rowEntry(col), "##"
p.close()

Imports

lexbase, streams, os

Types

CsvError = object of IOError

An exception that is raised if a parsing error occurs. Source Edit

CsvParser = object of BaseLexer
  row*: CsvRow
  headers*: seq[string]

The parser object.

It consists of two public fields:

row is the current row
headers are the columns that are defined in the csv file (read using readHeaderRow). Used with rowEntry).

Source Edit

CsvRow = seq[string]

A row in a CSV file. Source Edit

Procs

proc close(self: var CsvParser) {.inline, ...raises: [IOError, OSError],
                                  tags: [WriteIOEffect], forbids: [].}

Closes the parser self and its associated input stream. Source Edit

proc open(self: var CsvParser; filename: string; separator = ','; quote = '\"';
          escape = '\x00'; skipInitialSpace = false) {.
    ...raises: [CsvError, IOError, OSError], tags: [ReadIOEffect], forbids: [].}

Similar to the other open proc, but creates the file stream for you.

Example:

from std/os import removeFile
writeFile("tmp.csv", "One,Two,Three\n1,2,3\n10,20,300")
var parser: CsvParser
parser.open("tmp.csv")
parser.close()
removeFile("tmp.csv")

Source Edit

proc open(self: var CsvParser; input: Stream; filename: string; separator = ',';
          quote = '\"'; escape = '\x00'; skipInitialSpace = false) {.
    ...raises: [IOError, OSError], tags: [ReadIOEffect], forbids: [].}

Initializes the parser with an input stream. Filename is only used for nice error messages. The parser’s behaviour can be controlled by the diverse optional parameters:

separator: character used to separate fields
quote: Used to quote fields containing special characters like separator, quote or new-line characters. ‘\0’ disables the parsing of quotes.
escape: removes any special meaning from the following character; ‘\0’ disables escaping; if escaping is disabled and quote is not ‘\0’, two quote characters are parsed one literal quote character.
skipInitialSpace: If true, whitespace immediately following the separator is ignored.

See also:

open proc which creates the file stream for you

Example:

import std/streams
var strm = newStringStream("One,Two,Three\n1,2,3\n10,20,30")
var parser: CsvParser
parser.open(strm, "tmp.csv")
parser.close()
strm.close()

Source Edit

proc processedRows(self: var CsvParser): int {.inline, ...raises: [], tags: [],
    forbids: [].}

Returns number of the processed rows.

But even if readRow arrived at EOF then processed rows counter is incremented.

Example:

import std/streams
var strm = newStringStream("One,Two,Three\n1,2,3")
var parser: CsvParser
parser.open(strm, "tmp.csv")
doAssert parser.readRow()
doAssert parser.processedRows() == 1
doAssert parser.readRow()
doAssert parser.processedRows() == 2
## Even if `readRow` arrived at EOF then `processedRows` is incremented.
doAssert parser.readRow() == false
doAssert parser.processedRows() == 3
doAssert parser.readRow() == false
doAssert parser.processedRows() == 4
parser.close()
strm.close()

Source Edit

proc readHeaderRow(self: var CsvParser) {....raises: [IOError, OSError, CsvError],
    tags: [ReadIOEffect], forbids: [].}

Reads the first row and creates a look-up table for column numbers See also:

rowEntry proc

Example:

import std/streams
var strm = newStringStream("One,Two,Three\n1,2,3")
var parser: CsvParser
parser.open(strm, "tmp.csv")
parser.readHeaderRow()
doAssert parser.headers == @["One", "Two", "Three"]
doAssert parser.row == @["One", "Two", "Three"]
doAssert parser.readRow()
doAssert parser.headers == @["One", "Two", "Three"]
doAssert parser.row == @["1", "2", "3"]
parser.close()
strm.close()

Source Edit

proc readRow(self: var CsvParser; columns = 0): bool {.
    ...raises: [IOError, OSError, CsvError], tags: [ReadIOEffect], forbids: [].}

Reads the next row; if columns > 0, it expects the row to have exactly this many columns. Returns false if the end of the file has been encountered else true.

Blank lines are skipped.

Example:

import std/streams
var strm = newStringStream("One,Two,Three\n1,2,3\n\n10,20,30")
var parser: CsvParser
parser.open(strm, "tmp.csv")
doAssert parser.readRow()
doAssert parser.row == @["One", "Two", "Three"]
doAssert parser.readRow()
doAssert parser.row == @["1", "2", "3"]
## Blank lines are skipped.
doAssert parser.readRow()
doAssert parser.row == @["10", "20", "30"]
var emptySeq: seq[string]
doAssert parser.readRow() == false
doAssert parser.row == emptySeq
doAssert parser.readRow() == false
doAssert parser.row == emptySeq
parser.close()
strm.close()

Source Edit

proc rowEntry(self: var CsvParser; entry: string): var string {.
    ...raises: [KeyError], tags: [], forbids: [].}

Accesses a specified entry from the current row.

Assumes that readHeaderRow has already been called.

If specified entry does not exist, raises KeyError.

Example:

import std/streams
var strm = newStringStream("One,Two,Three\n1,2,3\n\n10,20,30")
var parser: CsvParser
parser.open(strm, "tmp.csv")
## Requires calling `readHeaderRow`.
parser.readHeaderRow()
doAssert parser.readRow()
doAssert parser.rowEntry("One") == "1"
doAssert parser.rowEntry("Two") == "2"
doAssert parser.rowEntry("Three") == "3"
doAssertRaises(KeyError):
  discard parser.rowEntry("NonexistentEntry")
parser.close()
strm.close()

Source Edit