How to parse a tab delimited file

existem has asked for the wisdom of the Perl Monks concerning the following question:

Replies are listed 'Best First'.
Re: How to parse a tab delimited file by TStanley (Canon) on Nov 25, 2004 at 17:40 UTC
In this case, you might want to switch to Text::xSV, which will handle it. This module also happens to have been written by one of our members. Update: Text::CSV_XS will also do what you need. TStanley -------- The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing -- Edmund Burke	[reply]
Re^2: How to parse a tab delimited file by existem (Sexton) on Nov 25, 2004 at 18:13 UTC
Thanks for the help Sorry for being a completely stupid monk, but how do I use this? How can I call the new constructor setting the separator to tab (\t)? I have this so far but it doesn't work. `my $csv = Text::xSV->new( filename => $csv_destination, sep => '\t', ); $csv->open_file("foo.csv"); $csv->read_header(); foreach my $field ($csv->get_fields) { if (lc($field) ne $field) { $csv->alias($field, lc($field)); } }` [download] Complains about using The separator '\t' is not of length 1. Thanks, Tom	[reply] [d/l]
Re^3: How to parse a tab delimited file by Happy-the-monk (Canon) on Nov 25, 2004 at 18:38 UTC
`sep => '\t',` `The separator '\t' is not of length 1.` `You get rid of that error if you specify it in double quotes: sep => "\t", Cheers, Sören`	[reply]
Re: How to parse a tab delimited file by diotalevi (Canon) on Nov 25, 2004 at 17:47 UTC
If you use Text::CSV_XS you've got that feature and more. `my $csv = Text::CSV_XS->new( sep_char => "\t", escape_char => "\\", quote_char => undef );` [download]	[reply] [d/l]
Re: How to parse a tab delimited file by saberworks (Curate) on Nov 25, 2004 at 20:38 UTC
I have used Text::CSV_XS to do this, but I found Text::Delimited to be easier to use because it parses the data into nice hashrefs similar to what comes out of DBI's fetchrow_hashref().	[reply]
Re: How to parse a tab delimited file by radiantmatrix (Parson) on Nov 26, 2004 at 14:55 UTC
All of the modules I've seen mentioned so far would work, but as I've just solved this same problem (multiple delimiters for different files that must go through the same code), I will offer this: Text::xSV benchmarked much faster than anything other than Text::CSV_XS -- and it was close between them. The latter, however, isn't available through ASPN, so not so good for ActivePerl/Windows users. radiantmatrix `require General::Disclaimer;` Perl is	[reply]
Re^2: How to parse a tab delimited file by TStanley (Canon) on Nov 26, 2004 at 21:28 UTC
The latter, however, isn't available through ASPN, so not so good for ActivePerl/Windows users. Thats strange, I was able to use PPM to download and install both Text::xSV and Text::CSV_XS. I'm using ActiveState Perl 5.8 (Build 806) on Windows XP Home Edition TStanley -------- The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing -- Edmund Burke	[reply]


Clear questions and runnable code get the best and fastest answer
	PerlMonks