Split CSV into Multiple Files with VB.NET 📂

Learn how to efficiently divide a single CSV file into multiple CSV files based on the values in the first column using VB.NET.
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This video is based on the question https://stackoverflow.com/q/77232256/ asked by the user 'Nathaniel Turner' ( https://stackoverflow.com/u/20922879/ ) and on the answer https://stackoverflow.com/a/77232751/ provided by the user 'Idle_Mind' ( https://stackoverflow.com/u/2330053/ ) at 'Stack Overflow' website. Thanks to these great users and Stackexchange community for their contributions.

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How to Divide a CSV File into Multiple Files Using VB.NET

When working with large datasets, it can often be necessary to break down a single CSV file into multiple, smaller CSV files. This can help organize data, improve access speed, or facilitate easier data analysis. In this guide, we'll tackle a common scenario where we need to divide a CSV file based on the values in the first column using VB.NET.

Problem Overview

Let's consider an example. Imagine we have a CSV file named MainFile.csv that contains the following data:

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Our goal is to read this file and create separate CSV files based on the first column's unique values. Specifically, we want to create:

101.csv containing:

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111.csv containing:

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Before we delve into the solution, let’s take a closer look at the steps required to achieve this.

Solution Breakdown

Step 1: Reading the CSV File

First, we need to read the MainFile.csv. We can utilize the File.ReadAllLines method to read each line of the CSV into an array of strings.

Step 2: Writing to Multiple CSV Files

We will then loop through each line, splitting it by the comma to extract the first column (the Monitor ID). Based on this ID, we can create corresponding CSV files.

Here's a working example of how this can be implemented in VB.NET:

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Step 3: Clearing Existing Data

If you want to ensure that previously existing data in the target CSV files is cleared when new data is being written, you can use a Dictionary to track which files have already been written to. Here is an updated version of the code that incorporates this functionality:

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Conclusion

Dividing a CSV file into multiple files based on the first column's value can be achieved effortlessly with VB.NET using simple file and string manipulation techniques. By following the structure outlined in this post, you can easily create manageable data files suited to your needs.

Feel free to customize the provided code snippets to suit your specific requirements or data formats. Happy coding!