Provide sample DataFrame from csv file [duplicate]

Question

when asking a python/pandas question on stackoverflow I often like to provide a sample dataframe. I usually have a local csv file I deal with for testing.

So for a DataFrame I like to provide a code in my question like

df = pd.DataFrame()

Is there an easy way or tool to get a csv file into code in a format like this, so another user can easily recreate the dataframe?

For now I usually do it manually, which is annoying and time consuming. I have to copy/paste the data from excel to stackoverflow, remove tabs/spaces, rearrange numbers to get a list or dictionary and so on.

Example csv file:

col1	col2
1	3
2	4

I if want to provide this table I can provide code like:

d = {'col1': [1, 2], 'col2': [3, 4]}
df = pd.DataFrame(data=d)

I will have to create the dictionary and Dataframe manually. I manually have to write the code into the stackoverflow editor. For a more complex table this could lead to a lot of work.

read your csv with pd.read_csv and export the df to dictionary with to_dict — Tranbi
– Tranbi, Commented Feb 3, 2023 at 10:31
Good question. Supposed duplicate does not answer this question. — flywire
– flywire, Commented Feb 27, 2023 at 10:05
See: chat.stackoverflow.com/transcript/message/56032131#56032131 (using StringIO() and pd.read_csv()) and stackoverflow.com/a/57343119/4539999 — flywire
– flywire, Commented Feb 27, 2023 at 19:58
@flywire I edited Andy's answer on the linked question to include .to_dict(), so it effectively answers this question now. I assume Paul already knew how to use .read_csv(). Still, I think Andy's answer could use a section about problems when parsing CSVs, so I'm considering editing in your code with StringIO and pd.read_csv. LMK what you think. — wjandrea
– wjandrea, Commented Apr 20, 2024 at 17:19

wjandrea · Accepted Answer · 2024-04-20 16:40:50Z

1

You can make a dict from the .csv and pass it to the DataFrame constructor:

N = 5  # <- adjust here to choose the number of rows

dico = pd.read_csv("f.csv").sample(N).to_dict("list")

S = f"df = pd.DataFrame({dico})"
print(S)  # <- copy its output and paste in Stack Overflow

You can also use pyperclip to copy directly the text you'll paste/include in your question:

#pip install pyperclip
import pyperclip

pyperclip.copy(S)

edited Apr 20, 2024 at 16:40

wjandrea

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answered Feb 3, 2023 at 10:25

Timeless

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