How to Convert CSV Rows to XML in Python

Learn the step-by-step approach to convert rows from a CSV file into an XML format using Python. This guide will help you handle data efficiently and achieve clean XML output.
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How to Convert CSV Rows to XML in Python

When working with large datasets, you may find yourself needing to convert files from one format to another. A common task is converting data from a CSV file into XML format, especially when you need structured data that can be easily consumed by applications. In this post, we will discuss a common challenge you'll face when performing this conversion using Python, and provide a simple yet effective solution.

The Problem

You might have a CSV file containing numerous entries where each data item is separated by a pipe (|) delimiter. Your goal is to take pairs of rows from this CSV file and convert them into XML format, encapsulating each pair in an XML tag.

Example CSV Data

Here’s how the CSV data can appear:

[[See Video to Reveal this Text or Code Snippet]]

Each pair represents a separate event and is meant to be captured under individual <name> tags in XML.

The Current Output Dilemma

The challenge arises when the XML generated does not encapsulate the pairs correctly; instead, it prematurely generates new <name> tags for each line read, resulting in an incorrect structure.

The Solution

Updated Python Code

Below is the modified code that accurately reads the CSV and outputs the desired XML structure:

[[See Video to Reveal this Text or Code Snippet]]

Explanation of the Code

Imports and Setup: The necessary modules are imported and a list of node names is defined which will correspond to the XML tags.

Element Creation: An XML root tag <Processes> is created.

Building XML Structure: Each line is stripped of whitespace, combined, and split by the delimiter |. For each item generated, a new XML element is created under the corresponding <name> tag.

Output: Finally, the XML structure is printed out using ET.dump(root).

Final Output

The output will be structured correctly, similar to:

[[See Video to Reveal this Text or Code Snippet]]

Conclusion

With this solution, you can effectively convert pairs of rows from a CSV file into a well-structured XML format. Whether working with CSV for data analysis or preparing data for applications, this method will help streamline your workflow. Happy coding!