Loading CSV values to a Ruby class

Question

I'm new to Ruby, just learning to use it since last night. As my first task I set for myself, I'd like to load a CSV file to an array of Car objects I created.

class Car
  attr_accessor :year, :make, :model, :length

  def initializer(year, make, model, length)
    @year = year
    @make = make
    @model = model
    @length = length
  end

  def to_s
    "Year: #{@year} | Make: #{@make} | Model: #{@model} | Length: #{@length}"
  end
end

require 'csv'

data = CSV.read('/home/stapiagutierrez/Desktop/Pickaxe/cars.csv')
puts data[1]

How can I iterate through the data collection and load each row of values into a new Car object? Thank you for the suggestions.

@echoback: Hehe good catch! Still getting to grips with this beautiful language. — delete
– delete, Commented Feb 16, 2011 at 20:49

wersimmon · Accepted Answer · 2011-02-16 21:14:54Z

3

Assuming each car is on it's own line:

path = '/home/stapiagutierrez/Desktop/Pickaxe/cars.csv'
cars = CSV.read(path).collect{ |row| Car.new *row }

The * in *row is a "splat" operator, which tells Ruby to take an array and turn it into individual arguments. It can do the opposite and turn multiple arguments into an array, as well; see Programming Ruby on Variable-Length Argument Lists.

edited Feb 16, 2011 at 21:14

answered Feb 16, 2011 at 20:54

wersimmon

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3 Comments

delete Over a year ago

When using your code, I get this error: AccountingSystem.rb:20: syntax error, unexpected tSTAR, expecting kEND cars << Car.new *row ^ AccountingSystem.rb:24: syntax error, unexpected $end, expecting kEND puts data[1] ^

wersimmon Over a year ago

Works for me on 1.9.2-p0 and 1.8.7-p330. Which version are you using?

rixter Over a year ago

Thanks, harbichidian, for completing this great example of processing a CSV file; but can you show what the syntax would be for iterating over each line, i.e. doing some processing on each line in a loop? This compact Ruby syntax is rather cryptic...elegant, but cryptic...

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