Writing to a CSV file with formatting with C#

Question

I have a my address stored in the database as follows.

Address_1, Address_2, Address_3, City, State, Country, Pin.

In the report (CSV) that is to be generated, all of these should appear under one field Address neatly formatted i.e., as below

Address_1 \n Address_2 \n Address_3 \n City \n State \n Country \n Pin

so that when they open it in Excel, they all appear in one Cell.

How can I get it using C#?

@Andreas Niedermair: Ah, you might be right. Maybe the OP wants to clarify that. — VVS
– VVS, Commented Dec 13, 2010 at 11:48

Tom · Accepted Answer · 2010-12-13 12:11:43Z

2

If you write your CSV file wrapping the address in quotes, it will come out in a single cell in Excel (2010 anyway)... The fields are still separated with a comma, and the \r\n indicate the newlines in the file.

Tom,"address1,\r\n
address2,\r\n
address3", nextcolumn!\r\n

answered Dec 13, 2010 at 12:11

Tom

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1 Comment

Kanini Over a year ago

Thanks! Worked like a charm! This method works in Excel 2007 as well (which is what I wanted!)

VVS · Accepted Answer · 2010-12-13 11:46:57Z

0

Whenever I need to import or export data in text form, I use FileHelpers. That said, there are plenty other libraries that are also able to write csv.

answered Dec 13, 2010 at 11:46

VVS

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11 Comments

Kanini Over a year ago

@VVS: Thanks! I cannot use other libraries with this particular client.

VVS Over a year ago

@Kanaini: So if you can't use other libraries, what do you expect from us? To write an RFC 4180 compliant CSV Writer for you?

Kanini Over a year ago

@VVS: No, but you can atleast answer as to whether there is a way to do it using C#/Microsoft libraries (and provide helpful pointers) or inform nay educate me that it cannot be done.

Kanini Over a year ago

@Andreas Niedermair:Thanks! So, that means that this sort of thing can never be achieved. Right?

VVS Over a year ago

@Andreas Niedermair: Here's my proof. For the right screenshot I adjusted the row height. i52.tinypic.com/14sjq8i.png

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Anton · Accepted Answer · 2010-12-13 12:02:12Z

0

CSV format does not allow this feature. CSV format - it just text file that is divided by some delimiters (e.g. "\t" or "," or ";"). If you want multiline-columns you should use another file format (e.g. XLS)

answered Dec 13, 2010 at 12:02

Anton

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1 Comment

Kanini Over a year ago

Tom's idea just worked. I enclosed the whole address variable in qotes and then put in delimiters of \r\n for each internal sub-field and it worked.

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