How to create csv file format using the list of dictionaries

[shigehiro]

Hi all,

Further to my 'list of dictionaries' question yesterday, I would to ask how to write data to csv file format using 'list of dictionaries' as a source:

data to be written to .csv file:
dictList = [ {'FirstName': 'Michael', 'LastName': 'Kirk', 'SSID': '224567'},
{'FirstName': 'Linda', 'LastName': 'Matthew', 'SSID': '123456'},
{'FirstName': 'Sandra', 'LastName': 'Parkin', 'SSID': '123456'},
{'FirstName': 'Bob', 'LastName': 'Henry', 'SSID': '666666'},
{'FirstName': 'Silvia', 'LastName': 'Perkin', 'SSID': '676767'}]

so the csv file would look something like:
Michael,Kirk,224567
Linda,Matthew,123456
Sandra,Parkin,123456
Bob,Henry,666666
Silvia,Perkin,676767

What I have in mind for the code would be something like this:

import csv

dictList = [ {'FirstName': 'Michael', 'LastName': 'Kirk', 'SSID': '224567'},
{'FirstName': 'Linda', 'LastName': 'Matthew', 'SSID': '123456'},
{'FirstName': 'Sandra', 'LastName': 'Parkin', 'SSID': '123456'},
{'FirstName': 'Bob', 'LastName': 'Henry', 'SSID': '666666'},
{'FirstName': 'Silvia', 'LastName': 'Perkin', 'SSID': '676767'}]

writer = csv.writer(file('csv_test.CSV','wb'))

for item in dictList:
writer.writerow(item['FirstName'],item['LastName'],item['SSID'])


I am not sure whether it will work out well, but any suggestion(s)/comment(s) are welcomed.

Thanks!

[jlm699]

You're on the right track.. I've never used the csv module however, as I find it just as easy to do the following:

fh = open('csvTest.csv', 'wb')
 
for elem in dictList:
    fh.write('%s,%s,%s\n' % (elem['FirstName'], elem['LastName'], elem['SSID']
 
fh.close()

But there is nothing wrong with using the CSV module, I've just never used it myself. You are on the right track though.

[bvdet]

I agree with jlm699 (he's pretty sharp). I have never used the csv module either since most of my applications are simple. Here's some more sample code:

output = [','.join((item['FirstName'], item['LastName'], item['SSID'])) for item in dictList]
f = open('output.csv', 'w')
f.write('\n'.join(output))
f.close()

[shigehiro]

Ah Ok,

I agree with you guys, will prefer simpler method, of course.

Thanks!