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As a user, I agree 100%. The only way I use CSV files is to import them in Excel. I've always assumed that programmers output to CSV because they are too lazy
by omonra 12y ago
As a user, I agree 100%. The only way I use CSV files is to import them in Excel.
I've always assumed that programmers output to CSV because they are too lazy to implement an Excel output function.
- weaksauce 12y agoAs a developer, it hasn't been easy to make an excel file in the past and it's not a core feature for the business so it gets relegated to a mediocre CSV implementation with minimal effort.
- bsg75 12y agoCSV can be consumed by anything (with the caveats mentioned in the article), XLS/XLSX by spreadsheets only )if you want to work with the data). Excel files have row limitations, potential file format incompatibilities. Depending on the language being used, it can be the same level of effort to emit XLS file as a CSV file, so unless we are talking about programmers how don't bother learning how to use output libraries, I suspect CSV is more common for reasons of compatibility.
- omonra 12y ago"CSV can be consumed by anything" That's the thing. For 99.99% of users there is no anything. There is only Excel. And dealing with CSV files is headache for them. It's as if you designed parking garages to accommodate both horses and cars - because someone out there might be coming on a horse.
- bsg75 12y ago99.99% is a made-up stat, and highly dependent on audience. Noting Excel can open CSV natively (again with the caveats mentioned in the post), my users want a garage not limited to cars, but trucks and bicycles too.
- deleted 12y ago[deleted]