Ruby how to merge two CSV files with slightly different headers - ruby

Question

I have two CSV files with some common headers and others that only appear in one or in the other, for example:
# csv_1.csv
H1,H2,H3
V11,V22,V33
V14,V25,V35
# csv_2.csv
H1,H4
V1a,V4b
V1c,V4d
I would like to merge both and obtain a new CSV file that combines all the information for the previous CSV files. Injecting new columns when needed, and feeding the new cells with null values.
Result example:
H1,H2,H3,H4
V11,V22,V33,
V14,V25,V35,
V1a,,,V4b
V1c,,,V4d

Answer 1

Challenge accepted :)
#!/usr/bin/env ruby
require "csv"
module MergeCsv
class << self
def run(csv_paths)
csv_files = csv_paths.map { |p| CSV.read(p, headers: true) }
merge(csv_files)
end
private
def merge(csv_files)
headers = csv_files.flat_map(&:headers).uniq.sort
hash_array = csv_files.flat_map(&method(:csv_to_hash_array))
CSV.generate do |merged_csv|
merged_csv << headers
hash_array.each do |row|
merged_csv << row.values_at(*headers)
end
end
end
# Probably not the most performant way, but easy
def csv_to_hash_array(csv)
csv.to_a[1..-1].map { |row| csv.headers.zip(row).to_h }
end
end
end
if(ARGV.length == 0)
puts "Use: ruby merge_csv.rb <file_path_csv_1> <file_path_csv_2>"
exit 1
end
puts MergeCsv.run(ARGV)

Answer 2

I have the answer, I just wanted to help people that is looking for the same solution
require "csv"
module MergeCsv
def self.run(csv_1_path, csv_2_path)
merge(File.read(csv_1_path), File.read(csv_2_path))
end
def self.merge(csv_1, csv_2)
csv_1_table = CSV.parse(csv_1, :headers => true)
csv_2_table = CSV.parse(csv_2, :headers => true)
return csv_2_table.to_csv if csv_1_table.headers.empty?
return csv_1_table.to_csv if csv_2_table.headers.empty?
headers_in_1_not_in_2 = csv_1_table.headers - csv_2_table.headers
headers_in_1_not_in_2.each do |header_in_1_not_in_2|
csv_2_table[header_in_1_not_in_2] = nil
end
headers_in_2_not_in_1 = csv_2_table.headers - csv_1_table.headers
headers_in_2_not_in_1.each do |header_in_2_not_in_1|
csv_1_table[header_in_2_not_in_1] = nil
end
csv_2_table.each do |csv_2_row|
csv_1_table << csv_1_table.headers.map { |csv_1_header| csv_2_row[csv_1_header] }
end
csv_1_table.to_csv
end
end
if(ARGV.length != 2)
puts "Use: ruby merge_csv.rb <file_path_csv_1> <file_path_csv_2>"
exit 1
end
puts MergeCsv.run(ARGV[0], ARGV[1])
And execute it from the console this way:
$ ruby merge_csv.rb csv_1.csv csv_2.csv
Any other, maybe cleaner, solution is welcome.

Answer 3

Simplied first answer:
How to use it:
listPart_A = CSV.read(csv_path_A, headers:true)
listPart_B = CSV.read(csv_path_B, headers:true)
listPart_C = CSV.read(csv_path_C, headers:true)
list = merge(listPart_A,listPart_B,listPart_C)
Function:
def merge(*csvs)
headers = csvs.map {|csv| csv.headers }.flatten.compact.uniq.sort
csvs.flat_map(&method(:csv_to_hash_array))
end
def csv_to_hash_array(csv)
csv.to_a[1..-1].map do |row|
Hash[csv.headers.zip(row)]
end
end

Answer 4

I had to do something very similar
to merge n CSV files that the might share some of the columns but some may not
if you want to keep a structure and do it easily,
I think the best way is to convert to hash and then re-convert to CSV file
my solution:
#!/usr/bin/env ruby
require "csv"
def join_multiple_csv(csv_path_array)
return nil if csv_path_array.nil? or csv_path_array.empty?
f = CSV.parse(File.read(csv_path_array[0]), :headers => true)
f_h = {}
f.headers.each {|header| f_h[header] = f[header]}
n_rows = f.size
csv_path_array.shift(1)
csv_path_array.each do |csv_file|
curr_csv = CSV.parse(File.read(csv_file), :headers => true)
curr_h = {}
curr_csv.headers.each {|header| curr_h[header] = curr_csv[header]}
new_headers = curr_csv.headers - f_h.keys
exist_headers = curr_csv.headers - new_headers
new_headers.each { |new_header|
f_h[new_header] = Array.new(n_rows) + curr_csv[new_header]
}
exist_headers.each {|exist_header|
f_h[exist_header] = f_h[exist_header] + curr_csv[exist_header]
}
n_rows = n_rows + curr_csv.size
end
csv_string = CSV.generate do |csv|
csv << f_h.keys
(0..n_rows-1).each do |i|
row = []
f_h.each_key do |header|
row << f_h[header][i]
end
csv << row
end
end
return csv_string
end
if(ARGV.length < 2)
puts "Use: ruby merge_csv.rb <file_path_csv_1> <file_path_csv_2> .. <file_path_csv_n>"
exit 1
end
csv_str = join_multiple_csv(ARGV)
f = File.open("results.csv", "w")
f.write(csv_str)
puts "CSV merge is done"