[FIXED] How to read CSV files in lua

Issue

I am trying to read a .csv file that has length and quantity columns. I am able to read the first column ( 12.5, 10, 8....) but the quantity field is always empty. I am obviously new to lua and was wondering if anyone had an idea as to why by quantity is always empty.

function ReadFileNameWindows(PassedInWindowsPath)
local fileList = {}
for line in io.lines(PassedInWindowsPath) do
local length,quantity = line:match("%s*(.-),%s*(.-)")
    print(length)
    print(quantity)
    fileList[#fileList + 1] = { length = length, quantity = quantity } 
    end

Solution

Your pattern is wrong. line:match("%s*(.-),%s*(.-)") will first consume some spacing, then match some characters until the first ,, then again match some spacing, then match nothing (the empty string). That's because .- is a lazy match: It matches as little as possible (can be zero characters) for the pattern to match. As nothing comes after (.-), it will always match the empty string.

To fix this, simply use the greedy quantifier * (zero or more occurrences). line:match("%s*(.-),%s*(.*)"). This will match anything after the spacing after the first comma to the end of the string.

Furthermore, if you want to trim trailing spacing, use line:match("%s*(.-),%s*(.-)%s*$"). Note that I've changed .* back to .- since now there is %s*$ after it which must match: $ anchors the pattern at the end of the line, meaning .- can't stop matching early; %s* consumes all trailing spacing before the end of the line.

Reading CSV is easy enough that you probably won't need a library for it.

Answered By - LMD

Answer Checked By - Dawn Plyler (PHPFixing Volunteer)