Can a CSV file have a comment?

csv comments standards file-format
Pure.Krome picture Pure.Krome · Dec 25, 2009 · Viewed 114.6k times · Source

Is there any official way to allow a CSV formatted file to allow comments, either on its own line OR at the end of a line?

I tried checking wikipedia on this and also RFC 4180 but both do not mention anything which leads me to believe that it's not part of the file format so it's bad luck to me and I should then use a seperate ReadMe.txt file thingy to explain the file.

Lastly, i know it's easy for me to add my own comments in, but i was hoping that something like Excel could just import it straight away with no need for a consumer to have to customize the import process.

So, thoughts?

Answer

skaffman picture skaffman · Dec 25, 2009

The CSV "standard" (such as it is) does not dictate how comments should be handled, no, it's up to the application to establish a convention and stick with it.

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