Most CSV editors assume that the first row of your table will be your data headers. That assumption often holds, but not always. I’ve come across many CSV files where the first few rows are metadata and the data headers are several rows down. For instance, I used to work in industrial automation programming PLCs (Programmable Logic Controllers). These are computers that control the equipment in factories, buildings, oil and gas pipeline stations, etc. I often exported program data to CSVs to quickly make changes and import them back in. Here’s what a typical CSV looks like. Obviously, we want […]

Using Excel for CSV files is like using Word for developing code. You could do it if you like suffering and mostly program in Malbolge, but for everyone else, it’s just the wrong tool for the job. Let’s first cover the main functionality Excel has that Modern CSV does not: Figure plotting Formulas Macros Pivot Tables Individual cell formatting (font, color, etc.) Embedding pictures, videos, etc. As a general spreadsheet tool, Excel is great when you need these things, but it’s a poor tool for dealing with CSV files. Here are the main complaints people have about it: Automatically formats […]

I’m not a virologist or medical researcher, so there’s not much I can do to help in that respect. I have noticed some Modern CSV users are data scientists and there is a lot of data science going on with tracking the spread of COVID-19, so I’m giving away free personal licenses to anyone who wants to use Modern CSV for that purpose. Just go to the contact page and request one while briefly describing what you plan to do with it. By the way, the raw data behind the Johns Hopkins coronavirus interactive map can be found here. Stay […]