Python Regex with split Method

Question

I am trying to create a list from a csv file. However, I'm having a tough time using the split method because some of the attributes in the csv file has comma's that are within parenthesis. for example:

csv file:

500,403,34,"hello there, this attribute has a comma in it",567

So for example, when I iterate through the file:

for line in f:
    fields = line.split(",")

fields = ['500','403','34','"hello there','this attribute has a comma in it"','567']

How can I get it to look like this:

fields = ['500','403','34','"hello there, this attribute has a comma in it"','567']

I would like to use Regex for this, but if there is an easier way I'd love to hear it. Thanks!

vks · Accepted Answer · 2015-07-07 02:12:24Z

2

import re
x='500,403,34,"hello there, this attribute has a comma in it",567'
print re.split(r""",(?=(?:[^"]*"[^"]*"[^"]*)*[^"]*$)""",x)

Output : ['500', '403', '34', '"hello there, this attribute has a comma in it"', '567']

answered Jul 7, 2015 at 2:12

vks

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bytesized · Accepted Answer · 2015-07-07 02:11:13Z

1

Just use the existing CSV package. Example:

import csv
with open('file.csv', 'rb') as csvfile:
    reader = csv.reader(csvfile)
        for row in reader:
            print ', '.join(row)

answered Jul 7, 2015 at 2:11

bytesized

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mhawke · Accepted Answer · 2015-07-07 02:24:03Z

0

The CSV module is the easiest way to go:

import csv

with open('input.csv') as f:
    for row in csv.reader(f):
        print row

For input input.csv:

500,403,34,"hello there, this attribute has a comma in it",567
500,403,34,"hello there this attribute has no comma in it",567
500,403,34,"hello there, this attribute has multiple commas, in, it",567

The output is:

['500', '403', '34', 'hello there, this attribute has a comma in it', '567']
['500', '403', '34', 'hello there this attribute has no comma in it', '567']
['500', '403', '34', 'hello there, this attribute has multiple commas, in, it', '567']

answered Jul 7, 2015 at 2:24

mhawke

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