txt2csv.py

A flat text to comma separated values converter

txt2csv.py is a small python script that allow you to convert a flat database file (a text file where fields have a fixed column number) to a csv file where fields are identified by a separator, usually “;”. It is tested with files up to hundreds of megabyte, and it is relatively fast.
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To realize this conversion you need a second file containing the information on how to split your original file. This mask file will be in the form of: FIELD_NAME;FIELD_SIZE (having one field for each row)

To run this software you need to have the python interpreter. If it is not already installed on your machine please download it from http://python.org.

txt2csv.py is Free Software, released under GNU General Public Licence, version 2.

Bugs reports and comments are welcome to blackhole a.t. lobianco.org

Many thanks for using this software !
Antonello Lobianco

Usage: txt2csv.py [input_file] [output_file] [mask_file]

input_file
 -> is a flat text datafile where fields have a fixed length
output_file
 -> is a standard csv file
mask_file
 -> is a text file describing how to split the fields, in the form
    FIELD_NAME;LENGTH (one for each row). Field name is optional.

Example of a flat database:

    John     Smith 35        Freedom Street 10
  Mickey     Mouse 55    Disneyland Avenue 185
John Jr.     Smith  3        Freedom Street 10

Example of a maskfile:

FIRST_NAME;10
SURNAME;10
AGE;3
ADDRESS;25

Resulting csv file:

"      John";"     Smith";" 35";"        Freedom Street 10";
"    Mickey";"     Mouse";" 55";"    Disneyland Avenue 185";
"  John Jr.";"     Smith";"  3";"        Freedom Street 10";