csvformat - Man Page

• Convert to a tab-delimited file (TSV): csvformat -T data.csv
• Convert delimiters to a custom character: csvformat -D "custom_character" data.csv
• Convert line endings to carriage return (^M) + line feed: csvformat -M "\r\n" data.csv
• Minimize use of quote characters: csvformat -U 0 data.csv
• Maximize use of quote characters: csvformat -U 1 data.csv

tldr.sh

Convert a CSV file to a custom output format.:

usage: csvformat [-h] [-d DELIMITER] [-t] [-q QUOTECHAR] [-u {0,1,2,3}] [-b]
                 [-p ESCAPECHAR] [-z FIELD_SIZE_LIMIT] [-e ENCODING] [-S] [-H]
                 [-K SKIP_LINES] [-v] [-l] [--zero] [-V] [-D OUT_DELIMITER]
                 [-T] [-Q OUT_QUOTECHAR] [-U {0,1,2,3}] [-B]
                 [-P OUT_ESCAPECHAR] [-M OUT_LINETERMINATOR]
                 [FILE]

Convert a CSV file to a custom output format.

positional arguments:
  FILE                  The CSV file to operate on. If omitted, will accept
                        input as piped data via STDIN.

optional arguments:
  -h, --help            show this help message and exit
  -D OUT_DELIMITER, --out-delimiter OUT_DELIMITER
                        Delimiting character of the output CSV file.
  -T, --out-tabs        Specify that the output CSV file is delimited with
                        tabs. Overrides "-D".
  -Q OUT_QUOTECHAR, --out-quotechar OUT_QUOTECHAR
                        Character used to quote strings in the output CSV
                        file.
  -U {0,1,2,3}, --out-quoting {0,1,2,3}
                        Quoting style used in the output CSV file. 0 = Quote
                        Minimal, 1 = Quote All, 2 = Quote Non-numeric, 3 =
                        Quote None.
  -B, --out-no-doublequote
                        Whether or not double quotes are doubled in the output
                        CSV file.
  -P OUT_ESCAPECHAR, --out-escapechar OUT_ESCAPECHAR
                        Character used to escape the delimiter in the output
                        CSV file if --quoting 3 ("Quote None") is specified
                        and to escape the QUOTECHAR if --no-doublequote is
                        specified.
  -M OUT_LINETERMINATOR, --out-lineterminator OUT_LINETERMINATOR
                        Character used to terminate lines in the output CSV
                        file.

See also: Arguments common to all tools.

Convert a comma-separated file to a pipe-delimited file:

csvformat -D "|" examples/dummy.csv

Convert to carriage return line-endings:

csvformat -M $'\r' examples/dummy.csv

To avoid escaping quote characters when using --quoting 3, add --out-quotechar "":

csvformat -u 3 -U 3 -Q "" examples/optional_quote_characters.csv

Christopher Groskopf

2023, Christopher Groskopf