PHP: Write comma to csv file

Question

I've got a form which submits data to a csv file. When a user inputs a comma to a field, it destroys my csv structure. I want to convert inputted commas so that they can get displayed as a character.

I tried this:

$_POST["field"] = str_replace(",", "','", $_POST["field"]);

The correct CSV structure is that each column should be wrapped with double quotes, and then any double quotes inside to be escaped. — user128161
– user128161, Commented Sep 29, 2015 at 8:36
Instead of writing your own escaping and formatting mechanism, consider using fputcsv. — Mureinik
– Mureinik, Commented Sep 29, 2015 at 8:38
phpExcel is depricated for now ! see github.com/PHPOffice/PHPExcel below is right answer "use fputcsv() to write, and fgetcsv() to read the file" its a safe and correct way ! versus just replace POST, that can overflowed your serv — Vladimir Ch
– Vladimir Ch, Commented Dec 31, 2018 at 11:18

Rohit Kumar · Accepted Answer · 2015-09-29 08:38:43Z

5

Use html encoding for instant relief , but still my recommendation to use phpExcel

$comma="&#44";
$_POST["field"] = str_replace(",", $comma, $_POST["field"]);

answered Sep 29, 2015 at 8:38

Rohit Kumar

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5 Comments

Jonnix Over a year ago

Why on earth would you recommend a whole other library, when PHP supports CSV out of the box with fputcsv and fgetcsv? Also, if you're going to encode one thing, why not encode the entire string properly instead of just hacking in a single HTML entity?

coder Over a year ago

This worked well, thanks! If you don't want to use fputcsv() this solution is very good.

Rohit Kumar Over a year ago

@JonStirling , CSV stands for comma seperated values. You can't achieve extra functionalites because CSV file doesn't support font styles etc .. so i recommended not emphasized .. overall , thanks for your useful advice.

Vladimir Ch Over a year ago

thanx, correct answer! Cause not all *.csv imports clearly understand where right commas !!! for example: google feeds(except google docs )) ) can't uderstend correct commas but libreOffice, Excel - understand csv file right !

Asad ullah Over a year ago

Man!! you saved me from a lot of headache <3

Orry · Accepted Answer · 2015-09-29 10:42:34Z

4

You can use fputcsv() to write, and fgetcsv() to read the file, it automatically converts your string.

A simple example for writing the data:

$csv = fopen('file.csv', 'w');
$array = array($csv);
fputcsv($csv, $array);

And reading the data:

$csv = fopen('file.csv','r');
print_r(fgetcsv($csv));

edited Sep 29, 2015 at 10:42

answered Sep 29, 2015 at 8:42

Orry

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2 Comments

Jonnix Over a year ago

+1 because imo this is the right way to do it, but providing an example would go a long way to making it a "good" answer.

Jonnix Over a year ago

fputcsv takes an array as the second param.

Bukashk0zzz · Accepted Answer · 2015-09-29 08:42:58Z

0

You can escape coma like this:

$_POST["field"] = str_replace(",", "\,", $_POST["field"]);

Or you can put string in quotes

$_POST["field"] = "'".$_POST["field"]."'";

answered Sep 29, 2015 at 8:42

Bukashk0zzz

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Comments

Dannn · Accepted Answer · 2015-09-29 08:36:09Z

-1

Probably not the best answer, but it does work.

You could replace the comma with a random string when inputting to the CSV as below:

$commastring = str_replace(",", "/zwdz/", $tempstring);

and then when you need to output the comma somewhere on your website (if a database website) you can do the opposite str_replace

answered Sep 29, 2015 at 8:36

Dannn

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