Insert new line in CSV at second row via Python

Question

Is it possible to insert a new line in a CSV file at the 2nd row? For example, I have a CSV with column names and their values:

meter_id, sdp_id, lat, lon
813711, 1331, 34.298, -83.113

The application I'm attempting to read this file into requires a new line added indicating the column type. In the above example all would be string, so the CSV would need to be:

meter_id, sdp_id, lat, lon
String, String, String, String
813711, 1331, 34.298, -83.113

I've read several posts how to add a new line at the end of the CSV, but couldn't find anything on how to do the above.

Possible duplicate of [Insert line at middle of file with Python?](https://stackoverflow.com/questions/10507230/insert-line-at-middle-of-file-with-python) — Mike Scotty, Jun 05 '18 at 13:18

score 5 · Accepted Answer · answered Jun 05 '18 at 13:20

5

This is one approach using csv module.

Demo:

import csv
toAdd = ["String", "String", "String", "String"]
with open(filename, "r") as infile:
    reader = list(csv.reader(infile))
    reader.insert(1, toAdd)

with open(filename, "w") as outfile:
    writer = csv.writer(outfile)
    for line in reader:
        writer.writerow(line)

answered Jun 05 '18 at 13:20

Rakesh

81,458
17
76
113

1

thank you for this answer. It's working, but it is entering an empty row between is row in the updated CSV. – J. Skinner Jun 06 '18 at 12:09
Use `with open(filename, "w", newline='') as outfile:` if you are in python3 – Rakesh Jun 06 '18 at 12:11
I'm using Python 2.7.14. – J. Skinner Jun 06 '18 at 18:50
Then use `with open(filename, "wb") as outfile:` – Rakesh Jun 06 '18 at 18:53

score 2 · Answer 2 · answered Jun 05 '18 at 13:22

2

A simple solution could be:

import csv

row = ['String', ' String', ' String']

with open('file.csv', 'r') as readFile:
    reader = csv.reader(readFile)
    lines = list(reader)
    lines.insert(1, row)

with open('file.csv', 'w') as writeFile:
    writer = csv.writer(writeFile)
    writer.writerows(lines)

readFile.close()
writeFile.close()

I could not try it. Please let me know if it works.

answered Jun 05 '18 at 13:22

CLeo-Dev

196
12

Thanks, one thing I'm noticing is that this is adding an extra row between each row in the updated CSV. – J. Skinner Jun 05 '18 at 17:11

Insert new line in CSV at second row via Python

2 Answers2