← Years 5–6 Data & Information

Importing data from a CSV file

A plain text file that stores table data with commas between the values. A spreadsheet can open it and show the data in rows and columns.

Part of: 5-6 Digital Technologies Vic Curric - Data, Information and Privacy — Module 18, VCE Data Analytics - U3O1 - Data Analytics — Module 42, VCE Data Analytics - U3O2 - Analysis and Design — Module 57, 7-8 Digital Technologies: Acquiring, storing and validating data — Module 7, 9-10 Digital Technologies: Acquiring, storing and validating data — Module 4, ACARA Digital Technologies Years 7–8 — Acquiring and Storing Data — Module 29, ACARA Digital Technologies Years 7–8 — Analysing and Visualising Data — Module 8, ACARA Digital Technologies Years 7–8 — Digital Footprints and Data Minimisation — Module 33, ACARA Digital Technologies Years 9–10 — Acquiring and Validating Data — Module 43

Understanding Importing data from a CSV file in Years 5–6 Data & Information

What it does: The .csv ending shows the file is a CSV. A spreadsheet can open it and show the data in rows and columns. CSV means comma separated values. The commas separate each value in a row of the table. True. A CSV file only holds text and commas. It has no colours, charts or fancy formatting. CSV files end with .csv. A file ending in .mp3 is a sound file. Once the data is in a spreadsheet, you can sort it, filter it, use formulas and make charts. Each comma marks where one cell ends and the next begins, so this single line becomes one row in the spreadsheet.

Common mistakes: A CSV file puts commas between values, not spaces. A spreadsheet would put all of this text in one cell. It should be Mia,10,dog. The values must be separated by a comma so the spreadsheet knows where the next column starts. It should be banana,3.

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This module's key terms are also in a printable crossword (Modules 11–20) and word search (Modules 1–20).

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Learning
Duo
What does CSV stand for?
Computer saved versionComma separated values
Matches
name age team Mia 11 Blue
↓
The values are separated by spaces, not commas. A spreadsheet would put each whole line in one cell instead of splitting it into columns.
Applying
Meanings
Term
CSV file
Meaning
A plain text file that stores table data with commas between the values. A spreadsheet can open it and show the data in rows and columns.
Practice
Name,Age,Pets
Testing
Gaps
A CSV file is stored as plain
Check Answer
Spots
1Name,Age,Pet
2Mia 10 dog

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Quick Questions

1. What does CSV stand for?
A. Computer saved version
B. Comma separated values ✓
CSV means comma separated values. The commas separate each value in a row of the table.
2. Which line is shown the way a CSV file stores a row of data?
A. Mia 11 Melbourne |
B. Mia,11,Melbourne ✓
A CSV file puts a comma between each value, so Mia,11,Melbourne is one row with three values.
3. A CSV file is a plain text file.
A. True ✓
B. False
True. A CSV file only holds text and commas. It has no colours, charts or fancy formatting.
4. You download a list of school sports results as a CSV file. Which program can open it and show the data in rows and columns?
A. A spreadsheet ✓
B. A music player
A spreadsheet can open a CSV file and put each value into its own cell in rows and columns.
5. When a spreadsheet opens a CSV file, what does each comma tell it to do?
A. Start a new column ✓
B. Start a new spreadsheet
Each comma marks where one value ends and the next one goes into the next column.

Match the Pairs

name,age,team → The first row of a CSV file with three headings separated by commas. A spreadsheet shows each heading in its own column.
Mia,11,Blue → One row of data in a CSV file. A spreadsheet puts Mia, 11 and Blue into three cells side by side.
A CSV file is saved with a file name ending that tells the computer it holds comma separated values → survey_results.csv
A CSV file stores a small table as plain text, with one line for each row and commas between the values → pet,count dog,8 cat,5
name age team Mia 11 Blue → The values are separated by spaces, not commas. A spreadsheet would put each whole line in one cell instead of splitting it into columns.
Open the CSV file in a word processor to see the data in rows and columns → A word processor shows only the plain text and commas. A spreadsheet is the tool that opens a CSV file and lays the data out in rows and columns.

Key Term

CSV file
A plain text file that stores table data with commas between the values. A spreadsheet can open it and show the data in rows and columns.

Fill in the Blanks

1. A CSV file is stored as plain text
Hint: Type the word for the simple kind of file that holds only characters, with no pictures or fancy formatting.
2. Open the CSV file in a spreadsheet
Hint: Type the kind of program that can open a CSV file and show its data in rows and columns.
3. CSV means Comma Separated Values
Hint: Type the word that describes how the values are divided from each other.
4. Each comma starts a new column
Hint: Type the part of a spreadsheet that a comma moves the next value into.
5. Downloaded file: data.csv
Hint: Type the file extension that shows a file holds comma separated values.

Spot the Error

Question 1
A Name,Age,Pet
B Mia 10 dog
C Leo,11,cat
Line B — A CSV file puts commas between values, not spaces. A spreadsheet would put all of this text in one cell. It should be Mia,10,dog.
Question 2
A Fruit,Price
B apple,2
C banana 3
Line C — The values must be separated by a comma so the spreadsheet knows where the next column starts. It should be banana,3.
Question 3
A Name,Score,Team
B Ava,9
C Sam,7,Blue
Line B — This row is missing the Team value. Every row needs the same number of values as the headings. It should be Ava,9,Red.
Question 4
A Day,Rain,,Temp
B Mon,0,22
C Tue,5,19
Line A — Two commas in a row make an empty extra column. The heading line should have just one comma between each heading. It should be Day,Rain,Temp.
Question 5
A Download the file data.docx
B Open a new spreadsheet
C Choose File, then Import
D Pick data.csv from Downloads
Line A — A CSV file ends in .csv. A .docx file is a word processing document, not comma separated table data. It should be data.csv.

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