SoFunction
Updated on 2025-03-01

Explanation of CSV file operation examples in R language

In R language, we can read data from files stored outside the R locale. We can also write data to files that will be stored and accessed by the operating system. R language can read and write to various file formats, such ascsv​,​excel​,​xml​ etc.

In this chapter, we will learn fromcsv​File reads data and then writes data tocsv​File. The file should exist in the current working directory so that it can be read by R. Of course we can also set up our own directory and read the files from there.

Get and set up working directory

You can usegetwd()Function checks the directory pointed to by the R language workspace. You can also usesetwd()Function sets a new working directory.

# Get and print current working directory.
print(getwd())

# Set current working directory.
setwd("/web/com")

# Get and print current working directory.
print(getwd())

When we execute the above code, it produces the following result

[1] "/web/com/1441086124_2016"
[1] "/web/com"

This result depends on your operating system and the directory you are currently working on.

Enter as a CSV file

A csv file is a text file where the values ​​in the column are separated by commas. Let's consider the nameThe following data appears in the file.

You can create this file using Windows Notepad by copying and pasting this data. Use the Save as All Files in Notepad(*.*)Options Save the file as​。

id,name,salary,start_date,dept
1,Rick,623.3,2012-01-01,IT
2,Dan,515.2,2013-09-23,Operations
3,Michelle,611,2014-11-15,IT
4,Ryan,729,2014-05-11,HR
 ,Gary,843.25,2015-03-27,Finance
6,Nina,578,2013-05-21,IT
7,Simon,632.8,2013-07-30,Operations
8,Guru,722.5,2014-06-17,Finance

Read CSV file

The following is()A simple example of a function to read CSV files available in the current working directory

data <- ("")
print(data)

When we execute the above code, it produces the following result

      id,   name,    salary,   start_date,     dept
1      1    Rick     623.30    2012-01-01      IT
2      2    Dan      515.20    2013-09-23      Operations
3      3    Michelle 611.00    2014-11-15      IT
4      4    Ryan     729.00    2014-05-11      HR
5     NA    Gary     843.25    2015-03-27      Finance
6      6    Nina     578.00    2013-05-21      IT
7      7    Simon    632.80    2013-07-30      Operations
8      8    Guru     722.50    2014-06-17      Finance

Analyze CSV files

By default,()The function takes the output as a data frame. This can be easily checked as follows. Additionally, we can check the number of columns and rows.

data <- ("")

print((data))
print(ncol(data))
print(nrow(data))

When we execute the above code, it produces the following result

[1] TRUE
[1] 5
[1] 8

Once we read the data in the data frame, we can apply all functions that apply to the data frame as described in the following section.

Get the maximum salary

# Create a data frame.
data <- ("")

# Get the max salary from data frame.
sal <- max(data$salary)
print(sal)

When we execute the above code, it produces the following result

[1] 843.25

Get detailed information about people with maximum salary

We can get rows that meet specific filter conditions, similar toSQL whereclause.

# Create a data frame.
data <- ("")

# Get the max salary from data frame.
sal <- max(data$salary)

# Get the person detail having max salary.
retval <- subset(data, salary == max(salary))
print(retval)

When we execute the above code, it produces the following result

      id    name  salary  start_date    dept
5     NA    Gary  843.25  2015-03-27    Finance

Get information about all IT department employees

# Create a data frame.
data <- ("")

retval <- subset( data, dept == "IT")
print(retval)

When we execute the above code, it produces the following result

       id   name      salary   start_date   dept
1      1    Rick      623.3    2012-01-01   IT
3      3    Michelle  611.0    2014-11-15   IT
6      6    Nina      578.0    2013-05-21   IT

Personnel in IT departments who receive salary of more than 600

# Create a data frame.
data <- ("")

info <- subset(data, salary > 600 & dept == "IT")
print(info)

When we execute the above code, it produces the following result

       id   name      salary   start_date   dept
1      1    Rick      623.3    2012-01-01   IT
3      3    Michelle  611.0    2014-11-15   IT

Those who have been awarded 2014 or later

# Create a data frame.
data <- ("")

retval <- subset(data, (start_date) > ("2014-01-01"))
print(retval)

When we execute the above code, it produces the following result

       id   name     salary   start_date    dept
3      3    Michelle 611.00   2014-11-15    IT
4      4    Ryan     729.00   2014-05-11    HR
5     NA    Gary     843.25   2015-03-27    Finance
8      8    Guru     722.50   2014-06-17    Finance

Write to CSV file

R language can be createdcsv​Existing data frames in file form.()Functions are used to createcsv​File. This file is created in the working directory.

# Create a data frame.
data <- ("")
retval <- subset(data, (start_date) > ("2014-01-01"))

# Write filtered data into a new file.
(retval,"")
newdata <- ("")
print(newdata)

When we execute the above code, it produces the following result

  X      id   name      salary   start_date    dept
1 3      3    Michelle  611.00   2014-11-15    IT
2 4      4    Ryan      729.00   2014-05-11    HR
3 5     NA    Gary      843.25   2015-03-27    Finance
4 8      8    Guru      722.50   2014-06-17    Finance

Here column X comes from the dataset​newper​. This can be deleted using additional parameters when writing to the file.

# Create a data frame.
data <- ("")
retval <- subset(data, (start_date) > ("2014-01-01"))

# Write filtered data into a new file.
(retval,"",  = FALSE)
newdata <- ("")
print(newdata)

When we execute the above code, it produces the following result

      id    name      salary   start_date    dept
1      3    Michelle  611.00   2014-11-15    IT
2      4    Ryan      729.00   2014-05-11    HR
3     NA    Gary      843.25   2015-03-27    Finance
4      8    Guru      722.50   2014-06-17    Finance

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