# CSV::Writer... Using tabs instead of commas (or creating exc

**URL:** <https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/csv-writer-using-tabs-instead-of-commas-or-creating-exc/83772>\
**Category:** Ruby\
**Created:** [January 29, 2007, 5:24pm UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/csv-writer-using-tabs-instead-of-commas-or-creating-exc/83772 "2007-01-29T17:24:12Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![johnk](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/j/59ef9b/32.png) [@johnk](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/johnk)\
**Post date:** [January 29, 2007, 5:24pm UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/csv-writer-using-tabs-instead-of-commas-or-creating-exc/83772/1 "2007-01-29T17:24:12Z")

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I want to create an excel file from data I get from my DB but since  
some of my fields contain commas in them I was hoping I can use  
CSV::Writer but instead of having the default of commas seperate data  
I could use tabs? Any have any suggestions on what the sexiest way to  
do this is?

–  
John K.  
removed\_email\_address@domain.invalid

[http://www.kopanas.com](http://www.kopanas.com)

> **[Canadian University Software Engineering Conference - CUSEC](http://cusec.net/)**
>
> Canadian University Software Engineering Conference is a yearly conference created by students for students.

[http://www.soen.info](http://www.soen.info)

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**Author:** ![johnk](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/j/59ef9b/32.png) [@johnk](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/johnk)\
**Post date:** [January 29, 2007, 7:16pm UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/csv-writer-using-tabs-instead-of-commas-or-creating-exc/83772/2 "2007-01-29T19:16:00Z")

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On Jan 29, 11:22 am, “John K.” [removed\_email\_address@domain.invalid](mailto:removed_email_address@domain.invalid) wrote:

> [http://www.kopanas.comhttp](http://www.kopanas.comhttp)://www.cusec.nethttp://www.soen.info  
> A quick look at the CSV docs indicates its easy to specify the  
> character to use as a field separator  
> ([http://www.ruby-doc.org/stdlib/libdoc/csv/rdoc/classes/CSV/](http://www.ruby-doc.org/stdlib/libdoc/csv/rdoc/classes/CSV/)  
> Writer.html) Hint: look for ‘fs’

If you want to avoid the intermediate CSV files you could use OLE to  
drive Excel, or Spreadsheet  
([http://rubyspreadsheet.sourceforge.net/](http://rubyspreadsheet.sourceforge.net/)) to create the file (even if  
Excel is not installed).

Cheers  
Chris

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![johnk](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/j/59ef9b/32.png) [@johnk](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/johnk)\
**Post date:** [January 29, 2007, 7:27pm UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/csv-writer-using-tabs-instead-of-commas-or-creating-exc/83772/3 "2007-01-29T19:27:08Z")

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On 1/29/07, ChrisH [removed\_email\_address@domain.invalid](mailto:removed_email_address@domain.invalid) wrote:

> On Jan 29, 11:22 am, “John K.” [removed\_email\_address@domain.invalid](mailto:removed_email_address@domain.invalid) wrote:
> 
> > I want to create an excel file from data I get from my DB but since  
> > some of my fields contain commas in them I was hoping I can use  
> > CSV::Writer but instead of having the default of commas seperate data  
> > I could use tabs? Any have any suggestions on what the sexiest way to  
> > do this is?

it is okay to have commas in CSV fields.

> > require ‘rubygems’  
> > =\> true  
> > require ‘fastercsv’  
> > =\> true  
> > %w[foo,bar baz].to\_csv  
> > =\> “"foo,bar",baz\n”

CSV in the stdlib should handle this correctly as well.

So that having been said, possibly the sexiest way to do SQL to CSV is  
via Ruport. 🙂