Writing lists of values to a csv file in different columns using Python

Question

I need help with writing values to a csv file.

I have 4 lists of values that I would like to write to a csv file, but not in a normal way. I mean, usually the csv module write the values in the same row, but this time I would like to write the values of the lists in different columns, I mean one column and different rows for every list. In this way, all the list 1 data would be in the column A of Excel, all the list 2 data would be in the column B of excel, and so on. Now I was trying a lot of commands and I half did it, but not at all.

My list's names are: It_5minute, Iiso_5min, IHDKR_5min and Iperez_5min.

My actual commands:

with open('Test.csv', 'w') as f:
    w = csv.writer(f)
    for row in zip(It_5minute, Iiso_5min, IHDKR_5min,Iperez_5min):
        w.writerow(row)

With these commands I get the list values in the same column (instead of every list in a different column), each value separated by comma. I have attached an Excel image to clarify the problem. I want each list in a separated column, to be able of do operations with the data in an easy way. Can anybody help me? Thank you very much.

PD: Would be nice to write the name of each list at the top of every column, too.

enter image description here

I believe it has nothing to do with python or csv but with the excel. — thefourtheye
– thefourtheye, Commented Nov 10, 2013 at 18:23
You could use a different delimiter, like a space or tabs, and see if Excel plays nicely with the import. — ratatoskr
– ratatoskr, Commented Nov 10, 2013 at 18:29
I tried with a space between the values but was I still got the same. All the values in the same column. — gpujol
– gpujol, Commented Nov 10, 2013 at 18:32

Community · Accepted Answer · 2020-06-20 09:12:55Z

1

Just for the fact change with open('Test.csv', 'w') as f: to with open('Test.csv', 'wb') as f: as csv's are binary.

State the delimiter to use clearly (in this case a comma) and whether or not to use quoting just in case (optional)

with open('Test.csv', 'wb') as f:
    w = csv.writer(f,delimiter=',', quoting = csv.QUOTE_ALL) #you can replace the delimiter for whatever that suits you
    for row in zip(It_5minute, Iiso_5min, IHDKR_5min,Iperez_5min):
        w.writerow(row)

In case this doesn't work, you have to manually state the delimiter in the excel text import wizard. You can read how to here

Common Delimiters:

Tab = '\t'

semicolon = ';'

comma = ','

space = ' '

eg: comma selected as the delimiter

enter image description here

edited Jun 20, 2020 at 9:12

CommunityBot

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answered Nov 10, 2013 at 18:46

Deelaka

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1 Comment

gpujol Over a year ago

I don't know why but Python doesn't accept 'with open('Test.csv', 'wb') as f:', I receive the following error: TypeError: 'str' does not support the buffer interface... Doing it manually in Excel as you said works perfectly. Thank you very much for answering!

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