is .CSV just a text file ?

Busy's picture

He has: 6,151 posts

Joined: May 2001

Reason I ask is I'm wanting people to save a .xls file as a .csv and upload/insert into a database.
I know a virus and other nasties can be inserted into a .xls file via macros and stuff. Will the macros and nasties be transfered into the .csv or is the .csv strictly a text based file. ?

compwolf's picture

He has: 72 posts

Joined: Nov 2003

To the best of my knowledge it is just a text file that uses commas to indicate the columns ... I have not researched this very well so I may be wrong ...

openmind's picture

He has: 945 posts

Joined: Aug 2001

I cannot see how a macro could become embedded ito a csv as, you rightly stated, it's just a text file with values seperated by commas

Busy's picture

He has: 6,151 posts

Joined: May 2001

Thanks for the replies guys

From the research I've done, there is no black and white answer whether it is just a plain old text file or has methods of hiding objects.
From lack of information, I gather it is just a plain old text file.

He has: 23 posts

Joined: Jun 2004

I have saved CSV and when opened in notepad that are just Comma Seperated Values (or was it Variables).

There is no formatting and no code.

Busy's picture

He has: 6,151 posts

Joined: May 2001

A .csv file can be opened anywhere, even excell, this is why I ask because the file is created in excell, which can include macros etc and has formatting, then saved as .csv but when the file is reopened in excell it still retains the formatting (tabs).

So if it can be formatted by commas, can triggers or macro codes etc be hidden in them.
maybe the sleep in notepad but reawake in excell.

I don't know, I have no idea, hense the reason I asked

He has: 46 posts

Joined: Jun 2004

Busy wrote: So if it can be formatted by commas, can triggers or macro codes etc be hidden in them.
maybe the sleep in notepad but reawake in excell.

No, it's a plain-text format. All a .csv file contains is data. It's perfectly safe.

"In theory, there's no difference between theory and practice. In practice, there is." -- Yogi Berra

He has: 1,758 posts

Joined: Jul 2002

Yup... CSV contains absolutly nothing but data. Any macro's that were hidden would come into excell as plain text in a cell. CSV's are completly safe. (well... as safe as .txt files).

Andy

Busy's picture

He has: 6,151 posts

Joined: May 2001

Thanks guys

Everyday is a learning day Laughing out loud

Want to join the discussion? Create an account or log in if you already have one. Joining is fast, free and painless! We’ll even whisk you back here when you’ve finished.