Exporting Data to CSV

ABCD allows you to export database records to CSV format for use in Excel or other external systems. This process requires a specialized Print Format (PFT) to structure the columns correctly.

The Logic

Unlike a standard ISO export, a CSV export must:

1. Insert commas , between fields.
2. Enclose text values in double quotes " (to handle commas inside the data).
3. Handle empty fields to maintain column alignment.

1. Creating the PFT

Create a format file (e.g., export_csv.pft) with the following logic:

/* Column 1: Title (Tag 245) - Always present */
if p(v245) then '"',v245,'",' else '"",' fi,

/* Column 2: Author (Tag 100) - Handle quotes inside text */
if p(v100) then '"',replace(v100,'"',"'"),'",' else '"",' fi,

/* Column 3: Year (Tag 260^c) - Last column, no trailing comma */
if p(v260^c) then '"',v260^c,'"' else '""' fi,
/

:::tip Handling Quotes The function replace(v100,'"',"'") is crucial. If your data contains double quotes (e.g., The "Great" Gatsby), it breaks the CSV structure unless you replace them with single quotes. :::

2. Generating the Header

You need a matching list of column names. Create a file (e.g., header.txt) or simply copy the header line into Excel later.

"Title","Author","Year"

3. Execution

1. Go to Utilities > Export.
2. Select Output format: Text file.
3. Format: Select your export_csv.pft.
4. Range: All records (or a search result).
5. Click Export.
6. Save the resulting file with a .csv extension.