By default to_csv writes a CSV like
,a,b,c
0,0.0,0.0,0.0
1,0.0,0.0,0.0
2,0.0,0.0,0.0
But I want it to write like this:
a,b,c
0,0.0,0.0,0.0
1,0.0,0.0,0.0
2,0.0,0.0,0.0
How do I achieve this? I can't set index=False because I want to preserve the index. I just want to remove the leading comma.
df = pd.DataFrame(np.zeros((3,3)), columns = ['a','b','c'])
df.to_csv("test.csv") # this results in the first example above.
It is possible by write only columns without index first and then data without header in append mode:
df = pd.DataFrame(np.zeros((3,3)), columns = ['a','b','c'], index=list('XYZ'))
pd.DataFrame(columns=df.columns).to_csv("test.csv", index=False)
#alternative for empty df
#df.iloc[:0].to_csv("test.csv", index=False)
df.to_csv("test.csv", header=None, mode='a')
df = pd.read_csv("test.csv")
print (df)
a b c
X 0.0 0.0 0.0
Y 0.0 0.0 0.0
Z 0.0 0.0 0.0
Alternatively, try reseting the index so it becomes a column in data frame, named index. This works with multiple indexes as well.
df = df.reset_index()
df.to_csv('output.csv', index = False)
Simply set a name for your index: df.index.name = 'blah'. This name will appear as the first name in the headers.
import numpy as np
import pandas as pd
df = pd.DataFrame(np.zeros((3,3)), columns = ['a','b','c'])
df.index.name = 'my_index'
print(df.to_csv())
yields
my_index,a,b,c
0,0.0,0.0,0.0
1,0.0,0.0,0.0
2,0.0,0.0,0.0
However if (as per your comment) you wish to have 3 coma-separated names in the headers while there are 4 coma-separated values in the rows of the csv, you'll have to handcraft it. It will NOT be compliant with any csv standard format though.
pd.read_csv("test.csv")(where test.csv is the second example).pd.read_csvinterprets that implication correctly. I know this is certainly not best practice, and I don't recommend anyone do it this way, but I needed to do it this way for some legacy reasons. @Parfaitpandas, reading this csv (per accepted answer below) in other applications/languages will result in shifted columns. I had a feeling this was an XY Problem. Your real question should have been handling the legacy reasons! I have yet to met a use case to break best practices. Good luck and happy coding!