Re: [Gretl-users] CSV and decimal point character

On 11/27/2011 06:54 AM, Riccardo (Jack) Lucchetti wrote: > On Sat, 26 Nov 2011, Allin Cottrell wrote: > >> On the principle that what you can do via the gretl GUI you should >> also be able to do via the gretl command line, here's what is now >> available in CVS: >> >> <hansl> >> set csv_decimal_comma >> store teste.csv >> </hansl> >> >> This will save a "CSV" file in which the decimal character is ',' (and >> the column separator is forced to ';'). >> >> However, I'm mostly in agreement with those who don't like use of >> anything other than '.' as the decimal character (except for display >> purposes) so let me hasten to add: >> >> * The default is still to use '.' when saving data, even if the locale >> decimal character is ',' and the user has elected to use this >> character in display of gretl output. >> >> * The new "set" command illustrated above is unusual in that it is not >> persistent (this is documented in CVS, not yet in the snapshots). That >> is, "set csv_decimal_comma" applies only to the next "store" command. >> If you want to save several files using the decimal comma you must >> issue the relevant "set" command each time. In other words, the >> decimal comma never becomes the default for saving data, even within a >> gretl script or session. > > FWIW, I applaud your decision. Just one question: if this new 'set' feature isn't persistent, why not implement it as an option to 'store' instead? Like: store my.csv --decimal-comma That way it wouldn't be necessary to do something "unusual" with 'set'.