[Tutor] using python to read csv clean record and write out csv

[Oscar Benjamin]

On 2 November 2012 10:40, Sacha Rook <sacharook at gmail.com> wrote:
>
> I have a problem with a csv file from a supplier, so they export data to csv
> however the last column in the record is a description which is marked up
> with html.
>
> trying to automate the processing of this csv to upload elsewhere in a
> useable format. If i open the csv with csved it looks like all the records
> aren't escaped correctly as after a while i find html tags and text on the
> next line/record.
>
> If I 'openwith' excel the description stays on the correct line/record?
>
> I want to use python to read these records in and output a valid csv with
> the descriptions intact preferably without the html tags so a string of text
> formatted with newline/CR where appropriate.
>
> So far I have this but don't know where to go from here can someone help me?
>
> import csv
>
> infile = open('c:\data\input.csv', 'rb')
> outfile = open('c:\data\output.csv', 'wb')
>
> reader = csv.reader(infile)
> writer = csv.writer(outfile)
>
>
> for line in reader:
>     print line
>     writer.writerow(line)
>

You already have a program. Does it work? If not, then what's wrong
with the output?

If you get an error message can you please show the exact error message?

> I have attached the input.csv i hope this is good form here?
>
> I know I am far from complete but don't know how to proceed :-)

It's okay to send attachments when there is a need to. It would be
good though to cut the csv file down to a smaller size before posting
it here. That's 4 MB wasting space in a lot of inboxes. Better yet,
you could copy the first three lines directly into the email so that
people can see it without needing to download the attachment.


Oscar