Reformat csv to fixed width: header names are always removed

[Pierre-de-la-Verre]

(I almost posted this topic on the NPP-Plugin forum https://community.notepad-plus-plus.org/post/85307 , but I was told to post it here)

I tried to reformat a CSV with semicolons as separators to a "Fixed Width"

a) Problem: my header line was totally removed
b) Suggestion: It removed also all separators, and now I have a long "stringwereallpartsare" concatenated. I think the feature in UltraEdit to keep the separators is a fine thing.

Images / screenshots can be seen in the NPP-forum - link in first line.

Thanks and regards!

[rdipardo]

The reformat function does not preserve the original text encoding: #52

In some cases that will cause data loss, as the reformatting can accidentally replace some bytes with "invisible" non-printing ones.

[BdR76]

About point b) it looks like you're trying to convert a semi-colon separated data file to a vertically aligned, but still semi-colon separated, data file. To do that you can go to the menu Plugins > CSV Lint > CSV Lint window, press "Reformat" and select Align vertically and Re-apply quotes = None/minimal and no other options, and press "Ok"

As for point a) you selected Column separator = {Fixed width} and that will cause it to use the column widths in the current metadata definition, so the bottom left textbox with "Col1=Counter Integer Width 2 etc". You could do it this way, but you would first have to manually change all the Width properties of all the columns, so "Col1=Counter Integer Width 7" or something like that, and then Save (blue disk) and then reformat.

The column headers are not included when you convert from character separated to fixed width output, this is hardcoded but I guess it can be adjusted. In practice this will almost always truncate the header names though, I'll have to test it first.

[Pierre-de-la-Verre]

@BdR76
thanks a lot - works fine. Great!