Parse CSV-Data

Author: Comm@nder21 (talk, contrib)

Introduction

This function extracts all values from a csv string, and stores them on top of stack. Also, the number of values found is pushed to stack, on 1. position.

Usage

(1) Combined with functions to read out textfiles line by line, it's possible to handle csv files exported by database-programms.

(2) Another thing is, that there aren't arrays there in NSIS. The solution is to push the input as csv and call this function. Now it's possible to run a loop to do the same thing with all single values contained by the csv. Example code:

	Push	"csv;data"
	Call		ReadCSV
	Exch		$r1
loop:
	IntCmp	$r1  1  0  done  0
	Exch
	Exch		$1
	# insert output handling here! $1 contains the csv-data.
	Pop		$1
	IntOp	$r1  $r1 - 1
	Goto	loop
done:
	Pop		$r1

The function's source

Function  ReadCSV
		Exch	$1	# input string (csv)
		Push	$2	# substring of $1: length 1, checked for commata
		Push	$3	# substring of $1: single value, returned to stack (below $r2)
		Push	$r1	# counter: length of $1, number letters to check
		Push	$r2	# counter: values found, returned to top of stack
		Push	$r3	# length: to determinate length of current value
		StrLen	$r1  $1
		StrCpy	$r2  0
		StrLen	$r3  $1
	loop:
		IntOp	$r1  $r1 - 1
		IntCmp	$r1  -1  text  done
		StrCpy	$2  $1  1  $r1
		StrCmp	$2  ";"  text
		Goto	loop
	text:
		Push	$r1
		IntOp	$r1  $r1 + 1
		IntOp	$r3  $r3 - $r1
		StrCpy	$3  $1  $r3  $r1
		Pop	$r1
		StrCpy	$r3  $r1
		IntOp	$r2  $r2 + 1
		Push	$3
		Exch	6
		Exch	5
		Exch	4
		Exch	3
		Exch
		Goto	loop
	done:
		StrCpy	$1  $r2
		Pop	$r3
		Pop	$r2
		Pop	$r1
		Pop	$3
		Pop	$2
		Exch	$1
FunctionEnd

Copyright, terms of usage

This function isn't copyrighted. You may use it or not. For commercial products or not. But use it on your own risk! And remember that i developed it, not you - don't go out and tell them, this is your work!

Feedback

Any suggestions, feature requests or even bug reports? Feel free to send me an email or a private message.

Please post any other question, e.g. about usage and customization at the NSIS forums. Remember: You're not alone ...

Changelog

2004-07-18

• posted function at NSIS Archive

2004-07-19

• bug fixed: wrong count was pushed on top of stack
• changed: counter direction from positive to negative, so first value instead of last is now on second position of stack
• some optimizations
• NSIS Archive page clean-up: new layout, added some explaining information, added contact information