IBM BPM, V8.0.1, All platforms > Authoring services in Integration Designer > Services and service-related functions > Work with data handlers, faults and registries > Data handlers > Data handler formats

Delimited format

The delimited format used with a CSV file is discussed.

This format typically stores tabular data. It uses comma to separate the fields of data. The last field ends with a new line character. In the case where the comma is part of the field, the field is surrounded by double quotation marks. If there are double quotation marks or new line characters in the field, then the double quote is followed by another double quote and the entire property value is put in double quotation marks. This data handler follows the RFC4180 specification and Microsoft Excel CSV format. The CSV data may contain a header line.

The following rules apply when using the delimited CSV format.

• The header is optional.

• The header is always on the first line and takes up only one line.

• The order of the fields in the file is the same as the order of the properties in the business object irrespective of the header.

• The file may contain multiple records. In this case, it will be read into a business object that contains one property which is an array. The multiple records will be read in the array.

CSV file with no header and one record

This is a CSV file with one record and it does not contain a header. In this case, the business object properties have to be in the order of the fields in the data.

8A7111,John,Doe,80000

The corresponding business object for the record is as follows. If that the business object property names are in order of the data in the file. If the lastName and firstName fields.

Business object

CustomerBO
id firstName lastName salary	8A7111 John Doe 80000

CSV file with header and one record

This is a CSV file with one record and a header.

id,firstName,lastName,salary
8A7111,John,Doe,80000

The corresponding business object for the first record is as follows. The rest of the records will be similar. If the business object property names are exactly the same as the header and their order is the same.

Business object

CustomerBO
id firstName lastName salary	8A7111 John Doe 80000

CSV file with multiple records and header

This is a CSV file with multiple records and also a header. This file will be read into a business object that contains a single property which is an array. This array will be populated with the records from the incoming data.

id,firstName,lastName,salary
8A7111,John,Doe,80000
8A7112,Mary,Cay,100000
8A7113,Tom,Howard,600000
8A7114,Liz,Taylor,700000

The corresponding business object for this file is as follows:

Business object

CustomerBO
customers[]
id firstName lastName salary	8A7111 John Doe 80000
id firstName lastName salary	8A7112 Mary Cay 100000
id firstName lastName salary	8A7113 Tom Howard 600000
id firstName lastName salary	8A7114 Liz Taylor 700000

• Delimited format with hierarchical business objects
  The hierarchical business objects in a delimited format are described.
• Delimited format properties
  Properties of the delimited format are described.

Data handler formats

Related reference:
Atom feed format
Fixed width format
JavaScript Object Notation (JSON) format
SOAP data handler