String containing comma inputting in to the csv file

Question

I am trying to input in to the csv file.
My input is as shown below
String string="hi,this is user";
but when i am inputing in to the csv file the comma is taken as delimiter and it is written in two cells. "hi" in one cell and "this is user" in another cell.
But i want the whole string to be in one cell.
How can i achieve this.
Please help me.

FileWriter writer = new FileWriter("D:/Workspace/Sample2.csv");
PrintWriter out = new PrintWriter(writer);

String names="[hasds,jash.jahd,jash]";
    out.append(names);
    out.flush();
}

Are you using some lib to do this work? Show us the related code to this import process. — user800014
– user800014, Commented Apr 19, 2013 at 11:10
If you are not using a lib, you could wrap the string in quotes. Not a Java question. — Moritz Petersen
– Moritz Petersen, Commented Apr 19, 2013 at 11:11
FileWriter writer = new FileWriter("D:/Workspace/Sample2.csv"); PrintWriter out = new PrintWriter(writer); String names="hi,this is user"; out.append(names); out.flush(); } — user2243525
– user2243525, Commented Apr 19, 2013 at 11:11
Please use a CSV library for this task. Programmers who have no idea about how a file format works and try to roll their own implementation are responsible for a great number of headaches among other programmers who have to handle the messed-up files these ill-advised attempts have produced. They might even have to resort to using regular expressions (the horror!)... — Tim Pietzcker
– Tim Pietzcker, Commented Apr 19, 2013 at 11:40

Rahul · Accepted Answer · 2013-04-19 11:18:52Z

34

Since you're writing a csv file, with comma delimiter, and your text happens to have a comma in it as well, you need to wrap your text within double quotes.

String names = "\"hi,this is user\"";

Note that to wrap your text within double quotes, you need to escape the double quotes as well!

Update:- A sample code snippet to wrap your string within double quotes.

public static void main(String[] args) {

    String test = "abcd";
    System.out.println(test); // prints abcd
    test = appendDQ(test);
    System.out.println(test); // prints "abcd"

}

private static String appendDQ(String str) {
    return "\"" + str + "\"";
}

edited Apr 19, 2013 at 11:18

answered Apr 19, 2013 at 11:11

Rahul

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7 Comments

user2243525 Over a year ago

u mean, the string has to be appended with doublequotes??

Rahul Over a year ago

wrapped - begin and end with double quotes(in the string).

Rahul Over a year ago

check the update! Pass your string to this method & then write it to the file!

user2243525 Over a year ago

but those doublequotes should not be in my string

Joe F Over a year ago

If the string itself contained double-quotes, wouldn't those need to be escaped as well?

|

Joe F · Accepted Answer · 2013-04-19 11:32:56Z

0

You have to ensure the data is properly escaped. Commas and double-quotes require special handling. I would highly recommend using a library to take care of all details of properly escaping csv data for you. Take a look at opencsv.

answered Apr 19, 2013 at 11:32

Joe F

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