# csv-to-usv

Convert
[Comma Separated Values (CSV)](https://github.com/SixArm/usv/tree/main/doc/comparisons/csv)
to
[Unicode Separated Values (USV)](https://github.com/sixarm/usv).
Built with the [USV Rust crate](https://crates.io/crate/usv).

Syntax:

```sh
stdin | csv-to-usv [options] | stdout
```

Example:

```sh
cat example.csv | csv-to-usv
```

Example with output to a file:

```sh
cat example.csv | csv-to-usv > example.usv
```

More examples below.

## Options

Options for CSV parsing:

* -d, --delimiter : Set the CSV field delimiter character.

Options for USV separators and modifiers:

* -u, --unit-separator : Set the unit separator (US) string.

* -r, --record-separator : Set the record separator (RS) string.

* -g, --group-separator : Set the group separator (GS) string.

* -f, --file-separator : Set the file separator (FS) string.

* -e, --escape : Set the escape (ESC) string.

* -z, --end-of-transmission : Set the end of transmission (EOT) string.

Options for USV style:

* --style-braces : Set the style to use braces, such as "{US}" for Unit Separator.

* --style-controls : Set the style to use controls, such as "\u001F" for Unit Separator.

* --style-symbols : Set the style to use symbols, such as "␟" for Unit Separator.

Options for USV layout:

* --layout-0: Show each item with no line around it. This is no layout, in other words one long line.

* --layout-1: Show each item with one line around it. This is like single-space lines for long form text.

* --layout-2: Show each item with two lines around it. This is like double-space lines for long form text.

* --layout-units: Show each unit on one line. This can be helpful for line-oriented tools.

* --layout-records: Show each record on one line. This is like a typical spreadsheet sheet export.

* --layout-groups: Show each group on one line. This can be helpful for folio-oriented tools.

* --layout-files: Show one file on one line. This can be helpful for archive-oriented tools.

Options for command line tools:

* -h, --help : Print help

* -V, --version : Print version

* -v, --verbose... : Set the verbosity level: 0=none, 1=error, 2=warn, 3=info, 4=debug, 5=trace. Example: --verbose …

* --test : Print test output for debugging, verifying, tracing, and the like. Example: --test

## Install

Install:

```sh
cargo install csv-to-usv
```

Link: [https://crates.io/crates/csv-to-usv](https://crates.io/crates/csv-to-usv)


## Example

CSV and USV have similar data concepts:

| CSV        | USV    |
|------------|--------|
| Cell / Col | Unit   |
| Line / Row | Record |
| -          | Group  |
| -          | File   |


Suppose file example.csv contains:

```csv
a,b
c,d
```

Run:

```sh
cat example.csv | csv-to-usv
```

Output:

```usv
a␟b␟␞
c␟d␟␞
```

If you prefer ASCII Separated Values (ASV) with zero-width character controls:

Run:

```sh
cat example.csv | csv-to-usv --style-controls
```

Output:

```usv
a\u001Fb\u001F\u001E
c\u001Fd\u001F\u001E
```

If you prefer to render markers with braces, to see the markers more easily:

```sh
cat example.csv | csv-to-usv --style-braces
```

Output:

```usv
a{US}b{US}{RS}
c{US}d{US}{RS}
```

## FAQ

### What converters are available?

* [asv-to-usv](https://crates.io/crates/asv-to-usv) & [usv-to-asv](https://crates.io/crates/usv-to-asv)

* [csv-to-usv](https://crates.io/crates/asv-to-csv) & [usv-to-csv](https://crates.io/crates/usv-to-csv)

* [json-to-usv](https://crates.io/crates/json-to-usv) & [usv-to-json](https://crates.io/crates/usv-to-json)

* [xlsx-to-usv](https://crates.io/crates/xlsx-to-usv) & [usv-to-xlsx](https://crates.io/crates/usv-to-xlsx)

### When to use this command?

Use this command when you want to convert from CSV to USV.

A typical use case is when you have CSV data, such as a spreadsheet export,
and you want to convert it to USV, such as to make the data easier to view,
or edit, or maintain.

Our real-world use case is converting a bunch of CSV spreadsheet exports
from a variety of programs, including Excel, to USV so we're better-able to
handle quoting, and multi-line data units, and Unicode characters in a wide
variety of human languages.

### Why use USV instead of CSV?

See the documentation for [USV](https://github.com/sixarm/usv).

### Is USV aiming to become a standard?

Yes, USV is submitted to IETF.org as an Internet-Draft work in progress:
[link](https://datatracker.ietf.org/doc/draft-unicode-separated-values/).

### Can I build my own USV tools?

Yes, and you may freely use the
[USV RFC](https://github.com/SixArm/usv/tree/main/doc/rfc) and
[USV Rust crate](https://github.com/sixarm/usv-rust-crate).

## Help wanted

Constructive feedback welcome. Pull requests and feature requests welcome.

## Tracking

* Package: csv-to-usv-rust-crate
* Version: 1.5.4
* Created: 2024-03-09T13:33:20Z
* Updated: 2024-04-11T18:17:04Z
* License: MIT or Apache-2.0 or GPL-2.0 or GPL-3.0 or contact us for more
* Contact: Joel Parker Henderson (joel@sixarm.com)