importing comma delimited csv file with commas in long numbers - ms-access

Question

I am trying to import a comma delimted csv file in access. The issue i am having is that one of the columns "Amount" has commas in the data itself e.g. "1,433.36". And there will always be commas in this data.
How can I import is successfully?
Sample Data:
sjonn,one,"1,855.9"
ptele,two,344.0
jrudd,one,334.8
Thanks in advance

Answer 1

I would change the delimiter to a different character, like a pipe "|".

Answer 2

if the DoCmd.TransferText does not work for you, then you can define a method to do that 'manually' :
Set fs = Server.CreateObject("Scripting.FileSystemObject")
Set objFile = fs.GetFile("import.txt")
Set objFileTextStream = objFile.OpenAsTextStream(1, 2)
objFileTextStream.skipLine 'if the file contains the header
Do While objFileTextStream.AtEndOfStream <> True
strLine = objFileTextStream.ReadLine 'read a line
strLinePart = split(strLine,",") 'Split the line using the , delimiter
firstField = strLinePart(0)
secondField = strLinePart(1)
thirdField = strLinePart(2)
strSQL = "INSERT INTO myTable Values('"& firstField &"','"& secondField &"','"& thirdField &"')"
conn.Execute strSQL
Loop
objFileTextStream.Close: Set objFileTextStream = Nothing
Set fs = Nothing
conn.Close: Set conn = Nothing

Answer 3

Save the file as a tab delimited text file and import that instead.

Answer 4

reading the file using input handles the quotes for you
Dim f1 As String
Dim f2 As String
Dim f3 As String
Open "d:\test.txt" For Input As #1
Input #1, f1, f2, f3
Debug.Print f1, f2, f3
Input #1, f1, f2, f3
Debug.Print f1, f2, f3
Close #1 '
giving
sjonn one 1,855.9
ptele two 344.0

Answer 5

I once encountered the problem and this is another method that might help, it however splits the lines themselves, i.e. you must split the string first into lines before using this method
Its also assumed that its contained in a Module named Module1
''Perfoms a smart split that takes care of the ""
Public Function SmartSplit(Str As String) As Variant
''New collection
Dim Quote As String
Dim Delimiter As String
Dim MyString As String
Dim Sample As String
Dim StrCollection As New Collection
Dim Array_1() As String
Dim HasSeenQuote As Boolean
Dim index As Long
Quote = "" & CStr(Chr(34))
Delimiter = "" & CStr(Chr(44))
HasSeenQuote = False
Array_1 = Split(Str, Delimiter)
For index = LBound(Array_1) To UBound(Array_1)
Sample = Array_1(index)
If Module1.StartsWith(Sample, Quote, False) Then
HasSeenQuote = True
End If
''We append the string
If HasSeenQuote Then
MyString = MyString & "," & Sample
End If
''We add the term
If Module1.EndsWith(Sample, Quote, False) Then
HasSeenQuote = False
MyString = Replace(MyString, Quote, "")
MyString = Module1.TrimStartEndCharacters(MyString, ",", True)
MyString = Module1.TrimStartEndCharacters(MyString, Quote, True)
StrCollection.Add (MyString)
MyString = ""
GoTo LoopNext
End If
''We did not see a quote before
If HasSeenQuote = False Then
Sample = Module1.TrimStartEndCharacters(Sample, ",", True)
Sample = Module1.TrimStartEndCharacters(Sample, Quote, True)
StrCollection.Add (Sample)
End If
LoopNext:
Next index
''Copy the contents of the collection
Dim MyCount As Integer
MyCount = StrCollection.Count
Dim RetArr() As String
ReDim RetArr(0 To MyCount - 1) As String
Dim X As Integer
For X = 0 To StrCollection.Count - 1 ''VB Collections start with 1 always
RetArr(X) = StrCollection(X + 1)
Next X
SmartSplit = RetArr
End Function
''Returns true of false if the string starts with a string
Public Function EndsWith(ByVal Str As String, Search As String, IgnoreCase As Boolean) As Boolean
EndsWith = False
Dim X As Integer
X = Len(Search)
If IgnoreCase Then
Str = UCase(Str)
Search = UCase(Search)
End If
If Len(Search) <= Len(Str) Then
EndsWith = StrComp(Right(Str, X), Search, vbBinaryCompare) = 0
End If
End Function
''Trims start and end characters
Public Function TrimStartEndCharacters(ByVal Str As String, ByVal Search As String, ByVal IgnoreCase As Boolean) As String
If Module1.StartsWith(Str, Search, IgnoreCase) Then
Str = Right(Str, (Len(Str) - Len(Search)))
End If
If Module1.EndsWith(Str, Search, IgnoreCase) Then
Str = Left(Str, (Len(Str) - Len(Search)))
End If
TrimStartEndCharacters = Str
End Function
''Returns true of false if the string starts with a string
Public Function StartsWith(ByVal Str As String, Search As String, IgnoreCase As Boolean) As Boolean
StartsWith = False
Dim X As Integer
X = Len(Search)
If IgnoreCase Then
Str = UCase(Str)
Search = UCase(Search)
End If
If Len(Search) <= Len(Str) Then
StartsWith = StrComp(Left(Str, X), Search, vbBinaryCompare) = 0
End If
End Function