Question

I have an .csv with four or five columns of data for webstats.

I analyzed the data with a program how I wanted to, and now I have a text file with a list of the pages I want and I’d like to delete all of the data for every page I don’t need, so that only the ones from the text file remain.

i.e. If I have the .csv as follows:

/fruits-and-veggies/apples    16    3    03:43    .72%
/fruits-and-veggies/pears    8    2    02:34    .65%
/fruits-and-veggies/broccoli    6    5    04:23    .87%
/fruits-and-veggies/asparagus    46    6    01:23    .77%
/fruits-and-veggies/passion-fruit    36    7    05:53    .74%

And I have the text file as follows:

/fruits-and-veggies/apples
/fruits-and-veggies/pears
/fruits-and-veggies/passion-fruit

How do I manipulate the excel file so it only reads:

/fruits-and-veggies/apples    16    3    03:43    .72%
/fruits-and-veggies/pears    8    2    02:34    .65%
/fruits-and-veggies/passion-fruit    36    7    05:53    .74%

I’ve heavily researched this topic and have yet to come up with a viable solution. I’m using Windows XP, and batch files are favored if its possible, but I really don’t know where start.

Answer 1

I would use python and its regular-expression module. It actually even has CSV module if I am not mistaken. There are many other ways / tools to do this.