Comma-separated Value (CSV) data file

Data files prepared by BASIC programs or Spreadsheets frequently have their data values separated by commas. Each field, and each record, can be of a different length.

 

This is such a data file, CSVDAT.txt:

 

"Mike",1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,1,2,3,4,5,6,9,8,7,6,5,4

"George",3,6,4,2,3,5,2,3,4

"Anne",7,4,3,2,8,5,4,1,,3,4,5

 

The test is of 21 items. Each examinee started at item 1, but stopped when time ran out.

 

The Facform keyword file, CSVkey.txt, to reformat this CSV file is:

 

; File: CSVkey.txt

; This converts a comma-separated value file

$Input = CSVDAT.txt

$Output = CSVFDT.txt

 

; if the separators are not commas, enter the separator code

; $SEP=";"  ; separators are semi-colons

; for Tab separators, use $T

 

$Facets = 2 ; children and item

 

; labels for the Facets

$Flabel = 1, "Examinees"

$Flabel = 2, "Binomial Trial Items"

 

; and let's also output the other specifications that FACETS needs:

$Spec = "Title = Nine Binomial Trials"

$Spec = "Output = csvOUT.txt ;the FACETS output file"

$Spec = "Models = ?,?,B9,1"

 

; the person label

$Label = 1,,$C1 ; first comma separated value

 

; reset item numbering

Item = 1   ; point to first item

Datum = $C(Item+1) ; first rating in 2nd CSV field

; now go across the line until the data runs out

$Do = (Datum<>"") ; perform $Do= while ratings exist

; the ordinal number of this item

$Label = 2,Item

$Rating = Datum

Item = Item + 1  ; increment to next item

Datum = $C(Item+1) ; observation into variable called "Datum"

$Again

 

The resulting Facets specification file, CSVFDT.txt, is:

 

; FACFORM Version No. 1.20,  May 4, 1992

; Run on 05-04-1992 19:37:33

; from Keyword file: CSVkey.txt

Facets = 2

Title = Nine Binomial Trials

Output = csvOUT.txt    ;the FACETS output file

Models = ?,?,B9,1

Labels =

1,Examinees

1=Anne

2=George

3=Mike

*

2,Binomial Trial Items

1=

2=

|

20=

21=

*

Data =

3,1-21,1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,1,2,3,4,5,6,9,8,7,6,5,4

2,1-9,3,6,4,2,3,5,2,3,4

1,1-8,7,4,3,2,8,5,4,1