Changing a CSV file while keeping it readable by MATLAB

I have a CSV file (see attached) that I want to make alterations to, but I want to save it in the same format that it's already in. What I do is open the file using the following code (so that it's applicable to different file types):

    A = fopen(x)
    raw=fread(A)
    fclose(A)
    str=char(raw')

This produces a 1-by-n cell array that I can work with. All good, I do my changes, but then I can't save it in the same format. I can't use csvwrite because it's not in matrix format. I can use xlswrite to write it as a new CSV file, but when I use the above code to fopen it, the char conversion produces gibberish, with stuff like " @ þCúíëÀõ? ", even though it's a CSV file and looks similar to the original. How can I change the CSV while keeping it useable so that the fopen-fread-char routine still works? Thanks.

[Stephen23]

"...I do my changes, but then I can't save it in the same format"

It sounds like maybe you are changing the file encoding. Please attach one of the altered files which import incorrectly.

[Sam Smith]

Thank you. I have attached a copy of the altered file.

Answer 1

[Stephen23]

'but then I can't save it in the same format.'

Yes, you can.

'I can't use csvwrite because it's not in matrix format.'

That seems possible.

'I can use xlswrite to write it as a new CSV file, but when I use the above code to fopen it, the char conversion produces gibberish, with stuff like " @ þCúíëÀõ? ", even though it's a CSV file and looks similar to the original.'

Nope. It is certainly not a CSV file. What you created (attached) is actually a binary Excel .xls file with the file extension .csv. So nothing like a CSV text file at all. I just changed the file extension and it opened as a perfect .xls file.

'How can I change the CSV while keeping it useable so that the fopen-fread-char routine still works? Thanks.'

By writing a text file, not a binary .xls file.

Answer 2

[KSSV]

[num,txt,T] = xlsread('C:\Users\srinivas\Downloads\Crayford01092018103600.csv') ;
T = readtable('C:\Users\srinivas\Downloads\Crayford01092018103600.csv') ;

Use either xlsread or readtable. Make changes in T, and write into file using xlswrite or writetable.

[Sam Smith]

Thank you. This is a way of doing it, but is there a way of doing it if I want to do the fopen-fread-char routine? xlsread changes the time to a number which I don't want.

[KSSV]

You can use xlsread s below:

[num,txt,raw] = xlsread(myfile) ;

Now raw, will have all the data of excel file. No change in the data.