Parsing a comma delimited file that has comma embedded within double quotes

Question

Hello:

I am working with a Integration Project in MS VS 2019.

I have a comma-delimited flat file. One of the fields is double-quoted and may have a comma inside it. When the file gets parsed, it gets thrown of by the embedded comma,

For example, one of the lines in the flat file is:

ID, ShoppingList, Amount
9999,"The shopping list includes men's shoes, jackets and helmets", 325

The flat file extracts:
ID: 9999
ShoppingList: "The Shopping list includes men's shoes
Amount: jackets and Helments"

I would like to see the values below:
ID: 9999
ShoppingList: The shopping list includes men's shoes, jackets and helmets
Amount: 325

Please note the double-quotes has been stripped off Shopping list. This is a lesser issue; I can create a calculated field that strips the double-quotes off the value parsed.

But the bigger issyes is that the embedded commas are messing up the parsing.

Thank You.

Venki

Answer 1

You can use TextFieldParser.HasFieldsEnclosedInQuotes = true;
I tested with your sample and I get the 3 fields
9999
The shopping list includes men's shoes, jackets and helmets
325

Answer 2

Castorix31:

Yes I learned new. The answer was as simple as setting the Text Qualifier to be a double-quotes. It works like a charm.

venki