[python-win32] writing hyphenated values in csv

[Dahlstrom, Roger]

Additionally, your csv file is *not* being auto-corrected.  If this file is supposed to be able to be imported into things *other* than Excel, leave it alone and do not put an equals in front of it.  If you were to open your file in Notepad or some other text editor, you'd see the value as you expect it.

-----Original Message-----
From: python-win32-bounces+rdahlstrom=directedge.com at python.org [mailto:python-win32-bounces+rdahlstrom=directedge.com at python.org] On Behalf Of Tim Roberts
Sent: Friday, May 22, 2009 8:58 PM
To: Python-Win32 List
Subject: Re: [python-win32] writing hyphenated values in csv

Emad Khan wrote:
>
> I am trying to write a hyphenated value in a csv file but I don't want
> this value to be auto corrected to a date. Whenever I write a value,
> for example, "3-10", it is changed to 03/10/2009 or 03-oct.
>
> How can I prevent this from happening. I would like to see the value
> remain to be "3-10".

You should be more specific.  I, for example, understand that it is
Excel that is doing this, but you need to mention that.  It's not really
a CSV or Python problem at all -- it's an Excel problem.

The answer, in this case, is to put an equals sign in front of the
quoted value.  Thus this file:

    123,3-10,"3-10",=3-10,="3-10"

gets imported as

    123    10-Mar    10-Mar    -7    3-10

Again, however, this is just an Excel quirk.  If you need to import into
Excel a lot, you might consider switching to Excel's XML format.  You
have a great deal more control in that case.

--
Tim Roberts, timr at probo.com
Providenza & Boekelheide, Inc.

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