Smallest learning curve language to work with CSV files

Question

VBA is not cutting it for me anymore. I have lots of huge Excel files to which I need to make lots of calculations and break them down into other Excel/CSV files.

I need a language that I can pick up within the next couple of days to do what I need, because it is kind of an emergency. I have been suggested python, but I would like to check with you if there is anything else that does CSV file handling quickly and easily.

Answer 1

Python is an excellent choice. The csv module makes reading and writing CSV files easy (even Microsoft's, uh, "idiosyncratic" version) and Python syntax is a breeze to pick up.

I'd actually recommend against Perl, if you're coming to it fresh. While Perl is certainly powerful and fast, it's often cryptic to the point of incomprehensible to the uninitiated.

Answer 2

What kind of calculation you have to do? Maybe R would be an alternative?

EDIT: just to give a few basic examples

# Basic usage
data <- read.csv("myfile.csv")

# Pipe-separated values
data <- read.csv("myfile.csv", sep="|")

# File with header (columns will be named as header) 
data <- read.csv("myfile.csv", header=TRUE)

# Skip the first 5 lines of the file
data <- read.csv("myfile.csv", skip=5)

# Read only 100 lines
data <- read.csv("myfile.csv", nrows=100)