export SQL data to a csv file from ASP.net - sql

Question

I have a view in the database, i would like to call that view and export the data to a Csv file. I have used the following link to come up with a solution however my view returns a few columns which has values with commas so while opening the csv i get the error the csv is unsafe, might by a sylk file etc. Once i open it there is no date in the CSV.
The link i used
https://www.aspsnippets.com/Articles/Export-data-from-SQL-Server-to-CSV-file-in-ASPNet-using-C-and-VBNet.aspx
I am using VS 2017
SQL and
VB.Net
Thanks in advance

Answer 1

That code is a bit dodgy actually, because it is explicitly replacing commas in data with semicolons and it is also adding an extra comma to the end of each line. Here's concise way to generate CSV data from a DataTable with quoted field values:
Dim csv = String.Join(Environment.NewLine,
myDataTable.AsEnumerable().
Select(Function(row) """" &
String.Join(""",""",
row.ItemArray) &
""""))
If you're not au fait with LINQ, here's a more conventional way to do the same thing:
Dim csv As String
For rowIndex = 0 To myDataTable.Rows.Count - 1
'Add a line break before all but the first line.
If rowIndex > 0 Then
csv &= Environment.NewLine
End If
Dim row = myDataTable.Rows(rowIndex)
'Add a double-quote before the first field value.
csv &= """"
For columnIndex = 0 To myDataTable.Columns.Count - 1
'Add a closing double-quote, a delimiting comma and an opening
' Double-quote before all but the first field value.
If columnIndex > 0 Then
csv &= ""","""
End If
csv &= row(columnIndex).ToString()
Next
'Add a double-quote after the last field value.
csv &= """"
Next