Convert ORG to CSV

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ORG vs CSV Format Comparison

Aspect	ORG (Source Format)	CSV (Target Format)
Format Overview	ORG Emacs Org-mode Plain text markup format created for Emacs in 2003. Designed for note-taking, task management, project planning, and literate programming. Features hierarchical structure with collapsible sections, TODO states, scheduling, and code execution. Emacs Native Literate Programming	CSV Comma-Separated Values Simple text format for storing tabular data. Each line represents a row, with values separated by commas (or other delimiters). Universally supported by spreadsheets, databases, and data analysis tools. One of the most portable data formats. Data Exchange Universal Format
Technical Specifications	Structure: Hierarchical outline with * headers Encoding: UTF-8 Format: Plain text with markup Processor: Emacs Org-mode, Pandoc Extensions: .org	Structure: Rows and columns (tabular) Encoding: UTF-8, ASCII, others Format: RFC 4180 standard Delimiter: Comma, semicolon, tab Extensions: .csv, .tsv
Syntax Examples	Org-mode table: \| Name \| Age \| City \| \|---------+-----+----------\| \| Alice \| 30 \| New York \| \| Bob \| 25 \| London \| \| Charlie \| 35 \| Tokyo \| #+TBLFM: @>$2=vmean(@2..@-1)	CSV format: Name,Age,City Alice,30,New York Bob,25,London Charlie,35,Tokyo
Content Support	Hierarchical headers with * levels TODO states and task management Scheduling and deadlines Tags and properties Tables with spreadsheet formulas Literate programming (Babel) Code blocks with execution Links and cross-references LaTeX math support	Tabular data (rows and columns) Text, numbers, dates Quoted fields for special chars Header row support Multiple delimiter options No formatting (plain data) No formulas (static values) No data types (all text) Unicode support (UTF-8)
Advantages	Powerful task management Literate programming support Code execution (40+ languages) Spreadsheet-like tables Agenda and scheduling Deep Emacs integration Extensive customization	Universal compatibility Human readable Extremely simple format Small file sizes Works with all spreadsheets Database import/export Scriptable and parseable Version control friendly
Disadvantages	Requires Emacs for full features Steep learning curve Limited outside Emacs ecosystem Complex syntax for advanced features Less portable than other formats	No formatting or styling No formulas or calculations No data type information Delimiter conflicts possible No multiple sheets
Common Uses	Personal knowledge management Task and project management Literate programming Research notes Journaling and logging Agenda and scheduling	Data import/export Spreadsheet data exchange Database migrations Data analysis input Report generation Bulk data updates
Best For	Emacs users Task management Literate programming Personal notes	Data exchange Spreadsheet import Database operations Data analysis
Version History	Introduced: 2003 (Carsten Dominik) Current Version: 9.6+ (2024) Status: Active development Primary Tool: GNU Emacs	Introduced: 1972 (IBM) Standard: RFC 4180 (2005) Status: Universal standard Primary Use: Data interchange
Software Support	Emacs: Native support (Org-mode) Vim/Neovim: org.nvim, vim-orgmode VS Code: Org Mode extension Other: Logseq, Obsidian (plugins)	Excel: Native import/export Google Sheets: Native support LibreOffice Calc: Native support Databases: All major databases

Why Convert ORG to CSV?

Converting Org-mode tables to CSV format enables you to use your structured data in spreadsheet applications like Excel, Google Sheets, or LibreOffice Calc. This is essential when you need to share data with colleagues who don't use Emacs or perform advanced analysis in specialized tools.

Org-mode's powerful table features include formulas and calculations, but these are specific to Emacs. By exporting to CSV, you get clean, portable data that can be imported into any data analysis tool, from Python pandas to R or database systems like MySQL and PostgreSQL.

The conversion is particularly valuable for researchers and analysts who collect and organize data in Org-mode but need to process it in statistical software, create charts in Excel, or share datasets with collaborators using different tools.

CSV is also the standard format for data migrations and bulk imports. If you've been tracking project data, inventories, or any tabular information in Org-mode, converting to CSV lets you easily import this data into business applications, CRM systems, or databases.

Key Benefits of Converting ORG to CSV:

Universal Compatibility: Open in Excel, Google Sheets, or any spreadsheet
Data Analysis: Import into pandas, R, or statistical tools
Database Import: Load into MySQL, PostgreSQL, SQLite
Data Sharing: Share with non-Emacs users easily
Bulk Operations: Use for mass imports and exports
Clean Data: Remove Org-mode markup for pure data
Automation: Process with scripts and ETL tools

Practical Examples

Example 1: Project Tracker

Input ORG file (projects.org):

* Project Tracker

| Project    | Status   | Due Date   | Budget |
|------------+----------+------------+--------|
| Website    | Active   | 2024-03-15 |   5000 |
| Mobile App | Planning | 2024-06-01 |  15000 |
| API v2     | Complete | 2024-01-31 |   3000 |
#+TBLFM: @>$4=vsum(@2..@-1)

Output CSV (projects.csv):

Project,Status,Due Date,Budget
Website,Active,2024-03-15,5000
Mobile App,Planning,2024-06-01,15000
API v2,Complete,2024-01-31,3000

Example 2: Contact List

Input ORG file (contacts.org):

* Business Contacts

| Name         | Email              | Phone        | Company    |
|--------------+--------------------+--------------+------------|
| John Smith   | [email protected]   | 555-0101     | Tech Corp  |
| Jane Doe     | [email protected]   | 555-0102     | Design Inc |
| Bob Johnson  | [email protected]    | 555-0103     | Data Ltd   |

Output CSV (contacts.csv):

Name,Email,Phone,Company
John Smith,[email protected],555-0101,Tech Corp
Jane Doe,[email protected],555-0102,Design Inc
Bob Johnson,[email protected],555-0103,Data Ltd

Example 3: Inventory Data

Input ORG file (inventory.org):

* Inventory Report

| SKU     | Product        | Qty | Price  | Total    |
|---------+----------------+-----+--------+----------|
| SKU-001 | Laptop Pro     |  25 | 999.99 | 24999.75 |
| SKU-002 | Wireless Mouse | 150 |  29.99 |  4498.50 |
| SKU-003 | USB-C Hub      |  75 |  49.99 |  3749.25 |
#+TBLFM: $5=$3*$4

Output CSV (inventory.csv):

SKU,Product,Qty,Price,Total
SKU-001,Laptop Pro,25,999.99,24999.75
SKU-002,Wireless Mouse,150,29.99,4498.50
SKU-003,USB-C Hub,75,49.99,3749.25

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q: What is CSV format?

A: CSV (Comma-Separated Values) is a simple text format for storing tabular data. Each line is a data row, with values separated by commas. It's universally supported by spreadsheet applications, databases, and programming languages, making it ideal for data exchange.

Q: Will Org-mode table formulas be preserved?

A: No, CSV cannot store formulas. Org-mode table formulas (#+TBLFM) are evaluated, and the resulting calculated values are exported as static data. If you need formulas, consider exporting to Excel format instead.

Q: What if my data contains commas?

A: The converter properly handles fields containing commas by enclosing them in quotes. For example, "New York, NY" will be properly quoted in the CSV output, following RFC 4180 standards.

Q: Can I convert multiple tables from one ORG file?

A: Yes, if your Org file contains multiple tables, each table can be extracted. However, since CSV is a single-table format, multiple tables may be converted to separate CSV files or concatenated with clear separators.

Q: How are table headers handled?

A: The first row of your Org-mode table (before the horizontal separator line) is treated as the header row. Org-mode horizontal separators (|----+-------|) are removed in the CSV output.

Q: What happens to non-table content?

A: CSV only stores tabular data. Non-table content like headers, paragraphs, and lists in your Org file are not included in the CSV output. Only table data is extracted and converted.

Q: Can I import the CSV back into Org-mode?

A: Yes, Emacs Org-mode can import CSV data into tables. Use `org-table-import` or paste CSV data and use `org-table-create-or-convert-from-region`. However, any formulas would need to be recreated manually.

Q: What encoding is used for the CSV output?

A: The CSV output uses UTF-8 encoding by default, which supports all Unicode characters including international text. Most modern spreadsheet applications correctly handle UTF-8 CSV files.