Read a CSV File in C#

When you need to read CSV files in C#, IronXL is an easy answer. You can read a CSV file with commas, or any other delimiter, as seen in the code segments below.

Reading CSV Files in .NET Applications

• Install a C# library for Reading CSV Files (IronXL)
• Read CSV files in C#
• Specify file format and delimiter

Step 1

1. Install the IronXL Library

Before you can make use of IronXL to read CSV files in MVC or ASP or dotnet core, you need to install it first. Here is a quick walk-through.

• In Visual Studio, select the Project menu
• Manage NuGet Packages
• Search for IronXL.Excel
• Install

Figure 1 - IronXL.Excel NuGet Package

Or Download from the Iron Software website, here: https://ironsoftware.com/csharp/excel/packages/IronXL.zip

How to Tutorial

2. Read CSV Files Programmatically

Now for the project!

Add the IronXL Namespace

using IronXL;

using IronXL;

Imports IronXL

Add code to read a CSV file programmatically with IronXL and C#

/**
Read a CSV file
anchor-read-csv-files-programmatically
**/
private void button2_Click(object sender, EventArgs e)
{
    WorkBook workbook = WorkBook.LoadCSV("Read_CSV_Ex.csv", fileFormat: ExcelFileFormat.XLSX, ListDelimiter: ",");
    WorkSheet ws = workbook.DefaultWorkSheet;
    workbook.SaveAs("Csv_To_Excel.xlsx");
}

/**
Read a CSV file
anchor-read-csv-files-programmatically
**/
private void button2_Click(object sender, EventArgs e)
{
    WorkBook workbook = WorkBook.LoadCSV("Read_CSV_Ex.csv", fileFormat: ExcelFileFormat.XLSX, ListDelimiter: ",");
    WorkSheet ws = workbook.DefaultWorkSheet;
    workbook.SaveAs("Csv_To_Excel.xlsx");
}

'''
'''Read a CSV file
'''anchor-read-csv-files-programmatically
'''*
Private Sub button2_Click(ByVal sender As Object, ByVal e As EventArgs)
	Dim workbook As WorkBook = WorkBook.LoadCSV("Read_CSV_Ex.csv", fileFormat:= ExcelFileFormat.XLSX, ListDelimiter:= ",")
	Dim ws As WorkSheet = workbook.DefaultWorkSheet
	workbook.SaveAs("Csv_To_Excel.xlsx")
End Sub

Figure 2 - A CSV file opened in Notepad

A Workbook object is created. The LoadCSV method of the Workbook object is then used to specify the name of the CSV file to be read, in format to read it into, and what the delimiter is for the file. In this case, a comma is used as a separator.

A Worksheet object is then created. This is where the contents of the CSV file will be placed. Then the file is saved under a new name and format.

Figure 3 - The CSV file opened in Excel

Library Quick Access

IronXL API Reference Documentation

Learn more and share how to merge, unmerge, and work with cells in Excel spreadsheets using the handy IronXL API Reference Documentation.

IronXL API Reference Documentation