PHP - Export CSV and dealing with quotes

Question

I know fputcsv() is the best way for dealing with exporting to CSV, but I'm currently doing a quick modification to a PHP CSV export script, and the client doesn't want to change how it's being handled. (wants it fast!)

So right now, an array of the data is manually being created, each item manually enclosed in double-quotes, and added to the CSV file.

My question is, if you have data which already contains double quotes (i.e. "and he said "Yes""), then whats the best way of dealing with that? The extra quotes seem to break the CSV file.

use php function htmlspecialchars($text) export the text with quotes without breaking the code — Kodr.F
– Kodr.F, Commented Mar 17, 2014 at 15:14
Ninja Developers > what a bad advice if you ask me... why include HTML special characters in a CSV file ? That's not how you escape characters... — Laurent S.
– Laurent S., Commented Mar 17, 2014 at 15:17

GolezTrol · Accepted Answer · 2014-03-17 15:21:10Z

5

In CSV you can escape quotes by doubling them. Two quotes in the file mean a single quote in the string. So you could write a function like this to do it for you. The added advantage is that you can add specific other transformations if you need to.

function EscapeForCSV($value)
{
  return '"' . str_replace('"', '""', $value) . '"';
}

Note, this function also adds the surrounding quotes, so the value is a complete value to write out.

answered Mar 17, 2014 at 15:21

GolezTrol

116k19 gold badges186 silver badges215 bronze badges

Sign up to request clarification or add additional context in comments.

Comments

Matthias Dunkel · Accepted Answer · 2014-03-17 15:29:19Z

0

For escaping in the resulting CSV use double Quotes to escape them:

val1, val2, "and he said ""Yes"" "

The Result of the third value would be: and he said "Yes"

edited Mar 17, 2014 at 15:29

answered Mar 17, 2014 at 15:14

Matthias Dunkel

3052 silver badges14 bronze badges

2 Comments

djt Over a year ago

With this solution, wouldn't the 'Yes', now be surrounded by 2 sets of quotes on either side? Also, when you says "escape the existing quotes with backslashes" what are the existing quotes you're referring to?

Matthias Dunkel Over a year ago

Yes, on each side there would be two quotes. That's how the escaping works. I also edited my answer, forget the thing with the backlashes ;-)

Angga Febrian Sahid · Accepted Answer · 2019-10-07 05:06:36Z

0

that because the default of enclosure was "" if you want to export quotation mark, simply change enclosure value to , in order to change the default value of enclosure. fputcsv(file, datafield, delimiter, enclosure); //default enclosure is "" so its become like this fputcsv(file, datafield, delimiter, ",");

answered Oct 7, 2019 at 5:06

Angga Febrian Sahid

214 bronze badges

Collectives™ on Stack Overflow

PHP - Export CSV and dealing with quotes

3 Answers 3

Comments

2 Comments

Comments

Your Answer

Hot Network Questions

Collectives™ on Stack Overflow

3 Answers 3

Comments

2 Comments

Comments

Your Answer

Sign up or log in

Post as a guest

Related