class CSV

This method is a convenience for building Unix-like filters for CSV data. Each row is yielded to the provided block which can alter it as needed. After the block returns, the row is appended to output altered or not.

The input and output arguments can be anything CSV::new() accepts (generally String or IO objects). If not given, they default to ARGF and $stdout.

The options parameter is also filtered down to CSV::new() after some clever key parsing. Any key beginning with :in_ or :input_ will have that leading identifier stripped and will only be used in the options Hash for the input object. Keys starting with :out_ or :output_ affect only output. All other keys are assigned to both objects.

The :output_row_sep option defaults to $INPUT_RECORD_SEPARATOR ($/).

# File lib/csv.rb, line 469
def filter(input=nil, output=nil, **options)
  # parse options for input, output, or both
  in_options, out_options = Hash.new, {row_sep: $INPUT_RECORD_SEPARATOR}
  options.each do |key, value|
    case key.to_s
    when /\Ain(?:put)?_(.+)\Z/
      in_options[$1.to_sym] = value
    when /\Aout(?:put)?_(.+)\Z/
      out_options[$1.to_sym] = value
    else
      in_options[key]  = value
      out_options[key] = value
    end
  end
  # build input and output wrappers
  input  = new(input  || ARGF,    **in_options)
  output = new(output || $stdout, **out_options)

  # read, yield, write
  input.each do |row|
    yield row
    output << row
  end
end

This method is intended as the primary interface for reading CSV files. You pass a path and any options you wish to set for the read. Each row of file will be passed to the provided block in turn.

The options parameter can be anything CSV::new() understands. This method also understands an additional :encoding parameter that you can use to specify the Encoding of the data in the file to be read. You must provide this unless your data is in Encoding::default_external(). CSV will use this to determine how to parse the data. You may provide a second Encoding to have the data transcoded as it is read. For example, encoding: "UTF-32BE:UTF-8" would read UTF-32BE data from the file but transcode it to UTF-8 before CSV parses it.

# File lib/csv.rb, line 508
def foreach(path, mode="r", **options, &block)
  return to_enum(__method__, path, mode, **options) unless block_given?
  open(path, mode, **options) do |csv|
    csv.each(&block)
  end
end

This method wraps a String you provide, or an empty default String, in a CSV object which is passed to the provided block. You can use the block to append CSV rows to the String and when the block exits, the final String will be returned.

Note that a passed String is modified by this method. Call dup() before passing if you need a new String.

The options parameter can be anything CSV::new() understands. This method understands an additional :encoding parameter when not passed a String to set the base Encoding for the output. CSV needs this hint if you plan to output non-ASCII compatible data.

# File lib/csv.rb, line 533
def generate(str=nil, **options)
  # add a default empty String, if none was given
  if str
    str = StringIO.new(str)
    str.seek(0, IO::SEEK_END)
  else
    encoding = options[:encoding]
    str = +""
    str.force_encoding(encoding) if encoding
  end
  csv = new(str, **options) # wrap
  yield csv         # yield for appending
  csv.string        # return final String
end

This method is a shortcut for converting a single row (Array) into a CSV String.

The options parameter can be anything CSV::new() understands. This method understands an additional :encoding parameter to set the base Encoding for the output. This method will try to guess your Encoding from the first non-nil field in row, if possible, but you may need to use this parameter as a backup plan.

The :row_sep option defaults to $INPUT_RECORD_SEPARATOR ($/) when calling this method.

# File lib/csv.rb, line 561
def generate_line(row, **options)
  options = {row_sep: $INPUT_RECORD_SEPARATOR}.merge(options)
  str = +""
  if options[:encoding]
    str.force_encoding(options[:encoding])
  elsif field = row.find {|f| f.is_a?(String)}
    str.force_encoding(field.encoding)
  end
  (new(str, **options) << row).string
end

This method will return a CSV instance, just like CSV::new(), but the instance will be cached and returned for all future calls to this method for the same data object (tested by Object#object_id()) with the same options.

If a block is given, the instance is passed to the block and the return value becomes the return value of the block.

# File lib/csv.rb, line 429
def instance(data = $stdout, **options)
  # create a _signature_ for this method call, data object and options
  sig = [data.object_id] +
        options.values_at(*DEFAULT_OPTIONS.keys.sort_by { |sym| sym.to_s })

  # fetch or create the instance for this signature
  @@instances ||= Hash.new
  instance = (@@instances[sig] ||= new(data, **options))

  if block_given?
    yield instance  # run block, if given, returning result
  else
    instance        # or return the instance
  end
end

This constructor will wrap either a String or IO object passed in data for reading and/or writing. In addition to the CSV instance methods, several IO methods are delegated. (See CSV::open() for a complete list.) If you pass a String for data, you can later retrieve it (after writing to it, for example) with CSV.string().

Note that a wrapped String will be positioned at the beginning (for reading). If you want it at the end (for writing), use CSV::generate(). If you want any other positioning, pass a preset StringIO object instead.

You may set any reading and/or writing preferences in the options Hash. Available options are:

:col_sep

The String placed between each field. This String will be transcoded into the data's Encoding before parsing.

:row_sep

The String appended to the end of each row. This can be set to the special :auto setting, which requests that CSV automatically discover this from the data. Auto-discovery reads ahead in the data looking for the next "\r\n", "\n", or "\r" sequence. A sequence will be selected even if it occurs in a quoted field, assuming that you would have the same line endings there. If none of those sequences is found, data is ARGF, STDIN, STDOUT, or STDERR, or the stream is only available for output, the default $INPUT_RECORD_SEPARATOR ($/) is used. Obviously, discovery takes a little time. Set manually if speed is important. Also note that IO objects should be opened in binary mode on Windows if this feature will be used as the line-ending translation can cause problems with resetting the document position to where it was before the read ahead. This String will be transcoded into the data's Encoding before parsing.

:quote_char

The character used to quote fields. This has to be a single character String. This is useful for application that incorrectly use ' as the quote character instead of the correct ". CSV will always consider a double sequence of this character to be an escaped quote. This String will be transcoded into the data's Encoding before parsing.

:field_size_limit

This is a maximum size CSV will read ahead looking for the closing quote for a field. (In truth, it reads to the first line ending beyond this size.) If a quote cannot be found within the limit CSV will raise a MalformedCSVError, assuming the data is faulty. You can use this limit to prevent what are effectively DoS attacks on the parser. However, this limit can cause a legitimate parse to fail and thus is set to nil, or off, by default.

:converters

An Array of names from the Converters Hash and/or lambdas that handle custom conversion. A single converter doesn't have to be in an Array. All built-in converters try to transcode fields to UTF-8 before converting. The conversion will fail if the data cannot be transcoded, leaving the field unchanged.

:unconverted_fields

If set to true, an unconverted_fields() method will be added to all returned rows (Array or CSV::Row) that will return the fields as they were before conversion. Note that :headers supplied by Array or String were not fields of the document and thus will have an empty Array attached.

:headers

If set to :first_row or true, the initial row of the CSV file will be treated as a row of headers. If set to an Array, the contents will be used as the headers. If set to a String, the String is run through a call of CSV::parse_line() with the same :col_sep, :row_sep, and :quote_char as this instance to produce an Array of headers. This setting causes CSV#shift() to return rows as CSV::Row objects instead of Arrays and CSV#read() to return CSV::Table objects instead of an Array of Arrays.

:return_headers

When false, header rows are silently swallowed. If set to true, header rows are returned in a CSV::Row object with identical headers and fields (save that the fields do not go through the converters).

:write_headers

When true and :headers is set, a header row will be added to the output.

:header_converters

Identical in functionality to :converters save that the conversions are only made to header rows. All built-in converters try to transcode headers to UTF-8 before converting. The conversion will fail if the data cannot be transcoded, leaving the header unchanged.

:skip_blanks

When setting a true value, CSV will skip over any empty rows. Note that this setting will not skip rows that contain column separators, even if the rows contain no actual data. If you want to skip rows that contain separators but no content, consider using :skip_lines, or inspecting fields.compact.empty? on each row.

:force_quotes

When setting a true value, CSV will quote all CSV fields it creates.

:skip_lines

When setting an object responding to match, every line matching it is considered a comment and ignored during parsing. When set to a String, it is first converted to a Regexp. When set to nil no line is considered a comment. If the passed object does not respond to match, ArgumentError is thrown.

:liberal_parsing

When setting a true value, CSV will attempt to parse input not conformant with RFC 4180, such as double quotes in unquoted fields.

:nil_value

When set an object, any values of an empty field is replaced by the set object, not nil.

:empty_value

When setting an object, any values of a blank string field is replaced by the set object.

:quote_empty

When setting a true value, CSV will quote empty values with double quotes. When false, CSV will emit an empty string for an empty field value.

:write_converters

Converts values on each line with the specified Proc object(s), which receive a String value and return a String or nil value. When an array is specified, each converter will be applied in order.

:write_nil_value

When a String value, nil value(s) on each line will be replaced with the specified value.

:write_empty_value

When a String or nil value, empty value(s) on each line will be replaced with the specified value.

:strip

When setting a true value, CSV will strip “trnfv” around the values. If you specify a string instead of true, CSV will strip string. The length of the string must be 1.

See CSV::DEFAULT_OPTIONS for the default settings.

Options cannot be overridden in the instance methods for performance reasons, so be sure to set what you want here.

# File lib/csv.rb, line 921
def initialize(data,
               col_sep: ",",
               row_sep: :auto,
               quote_char: '"',
               field_size_limit: nil,
               converters: nil,
               unconverted_fields: nil,
               headers: false,
               return_headers: false,
               write_headers: nil,
               header_converters: nil,
               skip_blanks: false,
               force_quotes: false,
               skip_lines: nil,
               liberal_parsing: false,
               internal_encoding: nil,
               external_encoding: nil,
               encoding: nil,
               nil_value: nil,
               empty_value: "",
               quote_empty: true,
               write_converters: nil,
               write_nil_value: nil,
               write_empty_value: "",
               strip: false)
  raise ArgumentError.new("Cannot parse nil as CSV") if data.nil?

  if data.is_a?(String)
    @io = StringIO.new(data)
    @io.set_encoding(encoding || data.encoding)
  else
    @io = data
  end
  @encoding = determine_encoding(encoding, internal_encoding)

  @base_fields_converter_options = {
    nil_value: nil_value,
    empty_value: empty_value,
  }
  @write_fields_converter_options = {
    nil_value: write_nil_value,
    empty_value: write_empty_value,
  }
  @initial_converters = converters
  @initial_header_converters = header_converters
  @initial_write_converters = write_converters

  @parser_options = {
    column_separator: col_sep,
    row_separator: row_sep,
    quote_character: quote_char,
    field_size_limit: field_size_limit,
    unconverted_fields: unconverted_fields,
    headers: headers,
    return_headers: return_headers,
    skip_blanks: skip_blanks,
    skip_lines: skip_lines,
    liberal_parsing: liberal_parsing,
    encoding: @encoding,
    nil_value: nil_value,
    empty_value: empty_value,
    strip: strip,
  }
  @parser = nil
  @parser_enumerator = nil
  @eof_error = nil

  @writer_options = {
    encoding: @encoding,
    force_encoding: (not encoding.nil?),
    force_quotes: force_quotes,
    headers: headers,
    write_headers: write_headers,
    column_separator: col_sep,
    row_separator: row_sep,
    quote_character: quote_char,
    quote_empty: quote_empty,
  }

  @writer = nil
  writer if @writer_options[:write_headers]
end

This method opens an IO object, and wraps that with CSV. This is intended as the primary interface for writing a CSV file.

You must pass a filename and may optionally add a mode for Ruby's open(). You may also pass an optional Hash containing any options CSV::new() understands as the final argument.

This method works like Ruby's open() call, in that it will pass a CSV object to a provided block and close it when the block terminates, or it will return the CSV object when no block is provided. (Note: This is different from the Ruby 1.8 CSV library which passed rows to the block. Use CSV::foreach() for that behavior.)

You must provide a mode with an embedded Encoding designator unless your data is in Encoding::default_external(). CSV will check the Encoding of the underlying IO object (set by the mode you pass) to determine how to parse the data. You may provide a second Encoding to have the data transcoded as it is read just as you can with a normal call to IO::open(). For example, "rb:UTF-32BE:UTF-8" would read UTF-32BE data from the file but transcode it to UTF-8 before CSV parses it.

An opened CSV object will delegate to many IO methods for convenience. You may call:

• binmode()

• binmode?()

• close()

• close_read()

• close_write()

• closed?()

• eof()

• eof?()

• external_encoding()

• fcntl()

• fileno()

• flock()

• flush()

• fsync()

• internal_encoding()

• ioctl()

• isatty()

• path()

• pid()

• pos()

• pos=()

• reopen()

• seek()

• stat()

• sync()

• sync=()

• tell()

• to_i()

• to_io()

• truncate()

• tty?()

# File lib/csv.rb, line 635
def open(filename, mode="r", **options)
  # wrap a File opened with the remaining +args+ with no newline
  # decorator
  file_opts = {universal_newline: false}.merge(options)

  begin
    f = File.open(filename, mode, **file_opts)
  rescue ArgumentError => e
    raise unless /needs binmode/.match?(e.message) and mode == "r"
    mode = "rb"
    file_opts = {encoding: Encoding.default_external}.merge(file_opts)
    retry
  end
  begin
    csv = new(f, **options)
  rescue Exception
    f.close
    raise
  end

  # handle blocks like Ruby's open(), not like the CSV library
  if block_given?
    begin
      yield csv
    ensure
      csv.close
    end
  else
    csv
  end
end

This method can be used to easily parse CSV out of a String. You may either provide a block which will be called with each row of the String in turn, or just use the returned Array of Arrays (when no block is given).

You pass your str to read from, and an optional options containing anything CSV::new() understands.

# File lib/csv.rb, line 679
def parse(str, **options, &block)
  csv = new(str, **options)

  return csv.each(&block) if block_given?

  # slurp contents, if no block is given
  begin
    csv.read
  ensure
    csv.close
  end
end

This method is a shortcut for converting a single line of a CSV String into an Array. Note that if line contains multiple rows, anything beyond the first row is ignored.

The options parameter can be anything CSV::new() understands.

# File lib/csv.rb, line 699
def parse_line(line, **options)
  new(line, **options).shift
end

Use to slurp a CSV file into an Array of Arrays. Pass the path to the file and any options CSV::new() understands. This method also understands an additional :encoding parameter that you can use to specify the Encoding of the data in the file to be read. You must provide this unless your data is in Encoding::default_external(). CSV will use this to determine how to parse the data. You may provide a second Encoding to have the data transcoded as it is read. For example, encoding: "UTF-32BE:UTF-8" would read UTF-32BE data from the file but transcode it to UTF-8 before CSV parses it.

# File lib/csv.rb, line 714
def read(path, **options)
  open(path, **options) { |csv| csv.read }
end

Alias for CSV::read().

# File lib/csv.rb, line 719
def readlines(path, **options)
  read(path, **options)
end

A shortcut for:

CSV.read( path, { headers:           true,
                  converters:        :numeric,
                  header_converters: :symbol }.merge(options) )

# File lib/csv.rb, line 730
def table(path, **options)
  default_options = {
    headers:           true,
    converters:        :numeric,
    header_converters: :symbol,
  }
  options = default_options.merge(options)
  read(path, **options)
end

The primary write method for wrapped Strings and IOs, row (an Array or CSV::Row) is converted to CSV and appended to the data source. When a CSV::Row is passed, only the row's fields() are appended to the output.

The data source must be open for writing.

# File lib/csv.rb, line 1229
def <<(row)
  writer << row
  self
end

The encoded :col_sep used in parsing and writing. See CSV::new for details.

# File lib/csv.rb, line 1008
def col_sep
  parser.column_separator
end

You can use this method to install a CSV::Converters built-in, or provide a block that handles a custom conversion.

If you provide a block that takes one argument, it will be passed the field and is expected to return the converted value or the field itself. If your block takes two arguments, it will also be passed a CSV::FieldInfo Struct, containing details about the field. Again, the block should return a converted field or the field itself.

# File lib/csv.rb, line 1251
def convert(name = nil, &converter)
  parser_fields_converter.add_converter(name, &converter)
end

Returns the current list of converters in effect. See CSV::new for details. Built-in converters will be returned by name, while others will be returned as is.

# File lib/csv.rb, line 1049
def converters
  parser_fields_converter.map do |converter|
    name = Converters.rassoc(converter)
    name ? name.first : converter
  end
end

Yields each row of the data source in turn.

Support for Enumerable.

The data source must be open for reading.

# File lib/csv.rb, line 1279
def each(&block)
  parser_enumerator.each(&block)
end

The limit for field size, if any. See CSV::new for details.

# File lib/csv.rb, line 1032
def field_size_limit
  parser.field_size_limit
end

Returns true if all output fields are quoted. See CSV::new for details.

# File lib/csv.rb, line 1117
def force_quotes?
  @writer_options[:force_quotes]
end

Identical to CSV#convert(), but for header rows.

Note that this method must be called before header rows are read to have any effect.

# File lib/csv.rb, line 1266
def header_convert(name = nil, &converter)
  header_fields_converter.add_converter(name, &converter)
end

Returns the current list of converters in effect for headers. See CSV::new for details. Built-in converters will be returned by name, while others will be returned as is.

# File lib/csv.rb, line 1101
def header_converters
  header_fields_converter.map do |converter|
    name = HeaderConverters.rassoc(converter)
    name ? name.first : converter
  end
end

Returns true if the next row read will be a header row.

# File lib/csv.rb, line 1299
def header_row?
  parser.header_row?
end

Returns nil if headers will not be used, true if they will but have not yet been read, or the actual headers after they have been read. See CSV::new for details.

# File lib/csv.rb, line 1069
def headers
  if @writer
    @writer.headers
  else
    parsed_headers = parser.headers
    return parsed_headers if parsed_headers
    raw_headers = @parser_options[:headers]
    raw_headers = nil if raw_headers == false
    raw_headers
  end
end

Returns a simplified description of the key CSV attributes in an ASCII compatible String.

# File lib/csv.rb, line 1328
def inspect
  str = ["#<", self.class.to_s, " io_type:"]
  # show type of wrapped IO
  if    @io == $stdout then str << "$stdout"
  elsif @io == $stdin  then str << "$stdin"
  elsif @io == $stderr then str << "$stderr"
  else                      str << @io.class.to_s
  end
  # show IO.path(), if available
  if @io.respond_to?(:path) and (p = @io.path)
    str << " io_path:" << p.inspect
  end
  # show encoding
  str << " encoding:" << @encoding.name
  # show other attributes
  ["lineno", "col_sep", "row_sep", "quote_char"].each do |attr_name|
    if a = __send__(attr_name)
      str << " " << attr_name << ":" << a.inspect
    end
  end
  ["skip_blanks", "liberal_parsing"].each do |attr_name|
    if a = __send__("#{attr_name}?")
      str << " " << attr_name << ":" << a.inspect
    end
  end
  _headers = headers
  str << " headers:" << _headers.inspect if _headers
  str << ">"
  begin
    str.join('')
  rescue  # any encoding error
    str.map do |s|
      e = Encoding::Converter.asciicompat_encoding(s.encoding)
      e ? s.encode(e) : s.force_encoding("ASCII-8BIT")
    end.join('')
  end
end

Returns true if illegal input is handled. See CSV::new for details.

# File lib/csv.rb, line 1122
def liberal_parsing?
  parser.liberal_parsing?
end

The last row read from this file.

# File lib/csv.rb, line 1147
def line
  parser.line
end

The line number of the last row read from this file. Fields with nested line-end characters will not affect this count.

# File lib/csv.rb, line 1136
def lineno
  if @writer
    @writer.lineno
  else
    parser.lineno
  end
end

The encoded :quote_char used in parsing and writing. See CSV::new for details.

# File lib/csv.rb, line 1024
def quote_char
  parser.quote_character
end

Slurps the remaining rows and returns an Array of Arrays.

The data source must be open for reading.

# File lib/csv.rb, line 1288
def read
  rows = to_a
  if parser.use_headers?
    Table.new(rows, headers: parser.headers)
  else
    rows
  end
end

Returns true if headers will be returned as a row of results. See CSV::new for details.

# File lib/csv.rb, line 1084
def return_headers?
  parser.return_headers?
end

Rewinds the underlying IO object and resets CSV's lineno() counter.

# File lib/csv.rb, line 1212
def rewind
  @parser = nil
  @parser_enumerator = nil
  @eof_error = nil
  @writer.rewind if @writer
  @io.rewind
end

The encoded :row_sep used in parsing and writing. See CSV::new for details.

# File lib/csv.rb, line 1016
def row_sep
  parser.row_separator
end

The primary read method for wrapped Strings and IOs, a single row is pulled from the data source, parsed and returned as an Array of fields (if header rows are not used) or a CSV::Row (when header rows are used).

The data source must be open for reading.

# File lib/csv.rb, line 1310
def shift
  if @eof_error
    eof_error, @eof_error = @eof_error, nil
    raise eof_error
  end
  begin
    parser_enumerator.next
  rescue StopIteration
    nil
  end
end

Returns true blank lines are skipped by the parser. See CSV::new for details.

# File lib/csv.rb, line 1112
def skip_blanks?
  parser.skip_blanks?
end

The regex marking a line as a comment. See CSV::new for details.

# File lib/csv.rb, line 1040
def skip_lines
  parser.skip_lines
end

Returns true if unconverted_fields() to parsed results. See CSV::new for details.

# File lib/csv.rb, line 1060
def unconverted_fields?
  parser.unconverted_fields?
end

Returns true if headers are written in output. See CSV::new for details.

# File lib/csv.rb, line 1092
def write_headers?
  @writer_options[:write_headers]
end

Processes fields with @converters, or @header_converters if headers is passed as true, returning the converted field set. Any converter that changes the field into something other than a String halts the pipeline of conversion for that field. This is primarily an efficiency shortcut.

# File lib/csv.rb, line 1405
def convert_fields(fields, headers = false)
  if headers
    header_fields_converter.convert(fields, nil, 0)
  else
    parser_fields_converter.convert(fields, @headers, lineno)
  end
end

Returns the encoding of the internal IO object.

# File lib/csv.rb, line 1416
def raw_encoding
  if @io.respond_to? :internal_encoding
    @io.internal_encoding || @io.external_encoding
  elsif @io.respond_to? :encoding
    @io.encoding
  else
    nil
  end
end