Poll: Do you use csv.Sniffer?

[skip]

If you are a csv module user, I have a question for you: Do you use the
csv.Sniffer class?

o Yes, frequently
o Yes, on occasion
o I tried it a few times but don't use it now
o No, I don't need it
o No, never heard of it
o No (some other reason)

If you don't use it, how do you figure out the structure of your csv files?

o I just know
o I stumble around in the dark trying different parameters until the csv
reader starts to spit out useful data

If csv.Sniff was to be removed from a future version of Python, how
difficult would it be to adapt?

o No problem
o No problem as long as you make it available via PyPI
o It would be a problem

If it would be a problem for you (which would not easily be solved by adding
it to PyPI), feel free to describe why it would be a challenge for you. In
fact, please feel free to add any other comments you like to your response.

Private replies please.

Thanks,

 

[Sean DiZazzo]

If you are a csv module user, I have a question for you:  Do you use the
csv.Sniffer class?

    o Yes, frequently
    o Yes, on occasion
    o I tried it a few times but don't use it now
    o No, I don't need it
    o No, never heard of it
    o No (some other reason)

If you don't use it, how do you figure out the structure of your csv files?

    o I just know
    o I stumble around in the dark trying different parameters until the csv
      reader starts to spit out useful data

If csv.Sniff was to be removed from a future version of Python, how
difficult would it be to adapt?

    o No problem
    o No problem as long as you make it available via PyPI
    o It would be a problem

If it would be a problem for you (which would not easily be solved by adding
it to PyPI), feel free to describe why it would be a challenge for you.  In
fact, please feel free to add any other comments you like to your response.

Private replies please.

Thanks,

How do I mark the boxes??

~Sean

 

[Mensanator]

If you are a csv module user, I have a question for you: �Do you use the
csv.Sniffer class?

� � o Yes, frequently
� � o Yes, on occasion
� � o I tried it a few times but don't use it now
� � X No, I don't need it
� � o No, never heard of it
� � o No (some other reason)

If you don't use it, how do you figure out the structure of your csv files?

� � X I just know
� � o I stumble around in the dark trying different parameters until the csv
� � � reader starts to spit out useful data

If csv.Sniff was to be removed from a future version of Python, how
difficult would it be to adapt?

� � X No problem
� � o No problem as long as you make it available via PyPI
� � o It would be a problem

If it would be a problem for you (which would not easily be solved by adding
it to PyPI), feel free to describe why it would be a challenge for you. �In
fact, please feel free to add any other comments you like to your response.

Private replies please.

Thanks,

 

[John Machin]

I just used it yesterday  Not having it would mean I'd need to add
another dependency to my project so that I can import data from my
client (it's easier to reexport his Excel spreadsheets as CSV and
import that), that's not the end of the world, but what's the argument
against leaving it in the stdlib?

Why do you need the sniffer? If your client can't do "save as" the
same way twice, just read the spreadsheets directly!

 

[Tim Chase]

Why do you need the sniffer? If your client can't do "save as" the

same way twice, just read the spreadsheets directly!

If I only had one contact and one client, it would be this
easy...If you can get multiple points of contact at multiple
client sites to reliably & competently agree on a format, what
are you doing here on c.l.py instead of making your billions as a
business-integration consultant? ;-)

-tkc

 

[John Machin]

If I only had one contact and one client, it would be this easy...If you
can get multiple points of contact at multiple client sites to reliably
& competently agree on a format, what are you doing here on c.l.py
instead of making your billions as a business-integration consultant? ;-)

Because like everyone else, I can't get the same contact at the same
site to do the same thing twice in a row :-(

My point is that "save as CSV" is (a) a potentially lossy process and
(b) an unnecessary step when you can read straight from the XLS file.

 

[nn]

If you are a csv module user, I have a question for you:  Do you use the
csv.Sniffer class?

    o Yes, frequently
    o Yes, on occasion
    o I tried it a few times but don't use it now
    o No, I don't need it
    o No, never heard of it
    o No (some other reason)

If you don't use it, how do you figure out the structure of your csv files?

    o I just know
    o I stumble around in the dark trying different parameters until the csv
      reader starts to spit out useful data

If csv.Sniff was to be removed from a future version of Python, how
difficult would it be to adapt?

    o No problem
    o No problem as long as you make it available via PyPI
    o It would be a problem

If it would be a problem for you (which would not easily be solved by adding
it to PyPI), feel free to describe why it would be a challenge for you.  In
fact, please feel free to add any other comments you like to your response.

Private replies please.

Thanks,

Do you use the csv.Sniffer class? No. Don't use it right now.

how do you figure out the structure of your csv files? "head -2
filename" + visual inspection + guesswork

If csv.Sniff was to be removed from a future version of Python, how
difficult would it be to adapt? No problem.

It would still be nice if the code was available somewhere on the net.

 

[r]

If csv.Sniff was to be removed from a future version of Python, how
difficult would it be to adapt?

A good response would be...

What are you adding to the stdlib that requires making space by
removing csv.Sniff? Oh and, i never use the Sniffer ;-)