[Python-checkins] python/dist/src/Doc/whatsnew whatsnew23.tex,1.131,1.132

[akuchling@users.sourceforge.net]

Update of /cvsroot/python/python/dist/src/Doc/whatsnew
In directory sc8-pr-cvs1:/tmp/cvs-serv6513

Modified Files:
	whatsnew23.tex 
Log Message:
Add PEP305 section

Index: whatsnew23.tex
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RCS file: /cvsroot/python/python/dist/src/Doc/whatsnew/whatsnew23.tex,v
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retrieving revision 1.132
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  %======================================================================
+ \section{PEP 305: Comma-separated Files \label{section-pep305}}
+ 
+ Comma-separated files are a format frequently used for exporting data
+ from databases and spreadsheets.  Python 2.3 adds a parser for
+ comma-separated files.
+ The format is deceptively simple at first glance:
+ 
+ \begin{verbatim}
+ Costs,150,200,3.95
+ \end{verbatim}
+ 
+ Read a line and call \code{line.split(',')}: what could be simpler?
+ But toss in string data that can contain commas, and things get more
+ complicated:
+ 
+ \begin{verbatim}
+ "Costs",150,200,3.95,"Includes taxes, shipping, and sundry items"
+ \end{verbatim}
+ 
+ A big ugly regular expression can parse this, but using the new 
+ \module{csv} package is much simpler:
+ 
+ \begin{verbatim}
+ from csv import csv
+ 
+ input = open('datafile', 'rb')
+ reader = csv.reader(input)
+ for line in reader:
+     print line
+ \end{verbatim}
+ 
+ The \function{reader} function takes a number of different options.
+ The field separator isn't limited to the comma and can be changed to
+ any character, and so can the quoting and line-ending characters.
+ 
+ Different dialects of comma-separated files can be defined and
+ registered; currently there are two, both for Microsoft Excel.
+ A separate \class{csv.writer} class will generate comma-separated files
+ from a succession of tuples or lists, quoting strings that contain the
+ delimiter.  
+ 
+ \begin{seealso}
+ 
+ \seepep{305}{CSV File API}{Written and implemented 
+ by Kevin Altis, Dave Cole, Andrew McNamara, Skip Montanaro, Cliff Wells.
+ }
+ 
+ \end{seealso}
+ 
+ %======================================================================
  \section{Extended Slices\label{section-slices}}