CSV Policy C Interface

This interface provides formatting configuration options for parsing CSV. All functions operate via an opaque pointer CSVPolicyHandle for internal function calls.

Character Handling

char get_delimiter(CSVPolicyHandle handle)

Gets the current field delimiter.

Parameters:

  • handle – A valid CSV Policy handle.

Returns:

The field delimiter character.

bool set_delimiter(CSVPolicyHandle handle, char delim)

Sets the field delimiter.

Parameters:

  • handle – A valid CSV Policy handle.

  • delim – The delimiter character to set.

Returns:

true on success, false on failure.

char get_quote(CSVPolicyHandle handle)

Gets the current string escaping character.

Parameters:

  • handle – A valid CSV Policy handle.

Returns:

The string escaping character.

void set_quote(CSVPolicyHandle handle, char quote)

Sets the string escaping character.

Parameters:

  • handle – A valid CSV Policy handle.

  • quote – The string escaping character to set.

void set_no_quote(CSVPolicyHandle handle)

Disables string escaping.

Parameters:

  • handle – A valid CSV Policy handle.

bool is_quote_enabled(CSVPolicyHandle handle)

Checks whether string escaping is enabled.

Parameters:

  • handle – A valid CSV Policy handle.

Returns:

true if enabled, otherwise false.

void add_trim_char(CSVPolicyHandle handle, char trim_char)

Adds a character to the set of trim characters. If the character appears before or after a field value, it will be stripped during field value parsing.

Parameters:

  • handle – A valid CSV Policy handle.

  • trim_char – The character to add to the trim set.

void clear_trim_chars(CSVPolicyHandle handle)

Clears all trim characters.

Parameters:

  • handle – A valid CSV Policy handle.

Column Handling

void ignore_column(CSVPolicyHandle handle, int col)

Marks a column to be ignored during parsing.

Parameters:

  • handle – A valid CSV Policy handle.

  • col – The 1‑based column index to ignore.

Numeric Formatting

char decimal_symbol(CSVPolicyHandle handle)

Gets the current decimal point symbol.

Parameters:

  • handle – A valid CSV Policy handle.

Returns:

The decimal point symbol.

void set_decimal_symbol(CSVPolicyHandle handle, char symbol)

Sets the decimal point symbol.

Parameters:

  • handle – A valid CSV Policy handle.

  • symbol – The decimal point symbol.

char thousand_separator(CSVPolicyHandle handle)

Gets the current digit grouping separator (e.g., thousands separator).

Parameters:

  • handle – A valid CSV Policy handle.

Returns:

The digit grouping separator.

void set_thousand_separator(CSVPolicyHandle handle, char sep)

Sets the digit grouping separator (e.g., thousands separator).

Parameters:

  • handle – A valid CSV Policy handle.

  • sep – The digit grouping separator.

int group_size(CSVPolicyHandle handle)

Gets the current digit grouping size (e.g., for thousands separators, the group size is 3).

Parameters:

  • handle – A valid CSV Policy handle.

Returns:

The grouping size (number of digits per group).

void set_group_size(CSVPolicyHandle handle, int size)

Sets the digit grouping size (e.g., for thousands separators, the group size is 3).

Parameters:

  • handle – A valid CSV Policy handle.

  • size – The grouping size.

Currency

const char *currency_sign(CSVPolicyHandle handle)

Gets the current currency sign string (e.g., "$", "USD").

Parameters:

  • handle – A valid CSV Policy handle.

Returns:

The currency sign string.

void set_currency_sign(CSVPolicyHandle handle, const char *sign)

Sets the currency sign (e.g., "$", "USD").

Parameters:

  • handle – A valid CSV Policy handle.

  • sign – The currency sign string.

Date/Time Format

const char *datetime_format(CSVPolicyHandle handle)

Gets the current date/time format string.

Parameters:

  • handle – A valid CSV Policy handle.

Returns:

The date/time format string.

void set_datetime_format(CSVPolicyHandle handle, const char *fmt)

Sets the date/time format string.

Parameters:

  • handle – A valid CSV Policy handle.

  • fmt – The date/time format string (e.g., "%Y-%m-%d %H:%M:%S").

Date/Time Format Specifier Reference

Specifier

Description

Example

%Y

Full year

2026

%y

Last two digits of year

26

%m

Two‑digit month (01 to 12)

01

%b

Abbreviated month name (Jan, Feb, …)

Jan

%h

Same as %b

%B

Full month name (January, February, …)

January

%d

Two‑digit day (01 to 31)

03

%a

Abbreviated weekday (Sun, Mon, …)

Mon

%A

Full weekday (Sunday, Monday, …)

Monday

%H

Hour in 24‑hour format (00 to 23)

14

%I

Hour in 12‑hour format (01 to 12)

02

%M

Minute (00 to 59)

45

%S

Second (00 to 59)

30

%p

AM or PM (with 12‑hour hour)

AM

%z

Time zone offset (e.g., +0200 or -0800)

+0000

%Z

Time zone name (Only “UTC” is supported)

UTC

%n

Matches whitespace

%t

Matches whitespace

%.

Matches any character (skips it)