how to find out if csv file fields are tab delimited or comma delimited

Question

how to find out if csv file fields are tab delimited or comma delimited. I need php validation for this. Can anyone plz help. Thanks in advance.

Answer 1

Here's what I do.

1. Parse the first 5 lines of a CSV file
2. Count the number of delimiters [commas, tabs, semicolons and colons] in each line
3. Compare the number of delimiters in each line. If you have a properly formatted CSV, then one of the delimiter counts will match in each row.

This will not work 100% of the time, but it is a decent starting point. At minimum, it will reduce the number of possible delimiters (making it easier for your users to select the correct delimiter).

/* Rearrange this array to change the search priority of delimiters */
$delimiters = array('tab'       => "\t",
                'comma'     => ",",
                'semicolon' => ";"
                );

$handle = file( $file );    # Grabs the CSV file, loads into array

$line = array();            # Stores the count of delimiters in each row

$valid_delimiter = array(); # Stores Valid Delimiters

# Count the number of Delimiters in Each Row
for ( $i = 1; $i < 6; $i++ ){
foreach ( $delimiters as $key => $value ){
    $line[$key][$i] = count( explode( $value, $handle[$i] ) ) - 1;
}
}


# Compare the Count of Delimiters in Each line
foreach ( $line as $delimiter => $count ){

# Check that the first two values are not 0
if ( $count[1] > 0 and $count[2] > 0 ){
    $match = true;

    $prev_value = '';
    foreach ( $count as $value ){

        if ( $prev_value != '' )
            $match = ( $prev_value == $value and $match == true ) ? true : false;

        $prev_value = $value;
    }

} else { 
    $match = false;
}

if ( $match == true )    $valid_delimiter[] = $delimiter;

}//foreach

# Set Default delimiter to comma
$delimiter = ( $valid_delimiter[0] != '' ) ? $valid_delimiter[0] : "comma";


/*  !!!! This is good enough for my needs since I have the priority set to "tab"
!!!! but you will want to have to user select from the delimiters in $valid_delimiter
!!!! if multiple dilimiter counts match
*/

# The Delimiter for the CSV
echo $delimiters[$delimiter];