Python 2.7 reading csv fields rather than rows

Question

Is it possible to read in a CSV file in Python one field at a time rather than an entire row? I have an input that is a single row with a large amount of comma separated values. I need to progress through the file one value at a time.

Couldn't you just read a row and then iterate through it, field by field? — pushkin
– pushkin, Commented Oct 21, 2015 at 21:48
Possible duplicate of Read Specific Columns from csv file with Python csv — smac89
– smac89, Commented Oct 21, 2015 at 21:50

H. U. · Accepted Answer · 2015-10-21 22:02:02Z

2

You may get the csv data in the List and then iterate the list:

import csv
f1="filename.csv"
with open(f1, 'rU') as csvfile1:

    csvreader1 = csv.reader(csvfile1)
    for line1 in csvreader1:
        print "List of Values from File=", line1

    #Iterate List to get seperate items.
    for idx,item in enumerate(line1):
        print idx , ": ", item

answered Oct 21, 2015 at 22:02

H. U.

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Comments

OMRY VOLK · Accepted Answer · 2015-10-21 21:53:27Z

1

read the row and then use split

f=open(filename,'r')
fields=f.readline().split(',')

now fields[i] is the i-th field

answered Oct 21, 2015 at 21:53

OMRY VOLK

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2 Comments

h0tw1r3 Over a year ago

This will not work on a "real" csv file that may have quoted fields.

Xaples Over a year ago

This will work for my scenario. My input will not be an actual csv file. I was just using one to mimic the data I will receive from a piece of measurement equipment.

Prune · Accepted Answer · 2015-10-21 21:56:53Z

0

Assuming that you're using a csv reader my_reader ...

row_stream = (row for row in my_reader)
field_stream = (field for field in row)
for field in field_stream:
    ....

This gives you a stream of fields instead of a sequence of csv rows. If you replace the "for" expression with a generator comprehension, you can continue the pipeline.

answered Oct 21, 2015 at 21:56

Prune

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Comments

Xaples · Accepted Answer · 2015-10-21 22:11:55Z

0

Answer from user4421975 works well for me. I also found that this works:

f=open(filename,'r')
reader = csv.reader(f)
row = reader.next()

Now row[i] has the different fields.

answered Oct 21, 2015 at 22:11

Xaples

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