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CSV import needs to handle text qualifiers

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Bhavik Merchant on 27 Sep 2015 13:58:54

When importing a CSV file, we need the ability to allow handle text values with commas in them. This is usually done with double quotes or some other text qualifier. This works automatically in the PowerPivot data import, but not in Power BI or Power Query

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a3309361 99be-ea11-a812-000d3a8ddfb2 on 05 Jul 2020 23:32:16

RE: CSV import needs to handle text qualifiers

Unfortunately with importing some tools require all columns with text, dates, empty values for it to be between double quotes. Even Excel understands this, but I don't want to add another (manual) step between the export from PowerBI and importing it in another application.

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fcad12c5 775a-4010-88f9-39d47a8052af on 05 Jul 2020 23:02:43

RE: CSV import needs to handle text qualifiers

Just ran into this issue on a CSV file produced by PowerShell's Export-CSV, which double-quotes all columns. Any workarounds in lieu of more robust handling?

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4c513308 d7af-4786-8c19-6b589af1351b on 05 Jul 2020 22:56:51

RE: CSV import needs to handle text qualifiers

Competitive products simply read CSV data correctly. With PowerBI, it requires every value to be quoted or none to be quoted. It does not recognize 'minimal' quoting. PowerBI does not handle escaped quotes. Please handle escaped quotes or commas properly.

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b697e826 deaa-49bd-b58b-64c0357bb3bd on 05 Jul 2020 22:05:59

RE: CSV import needs to handle text qualifiers

You could load the csv as plain text and then do the transformations as desired