# CSV Node Input Parameters

**URL:** <https://discourse.nodered.org/t/csv-node-input-parameters/92584>\
**Category:** General\
**Created:** [22 October 2024 15:59 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/csv-node-input-parameters/92584 "2024-10-22T15:59:36Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 8\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Flachmann](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex026/user_avatar/discourse.nodered.org/flachmann/32/60457_2.png) [@Flachmann](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/Flachmann)\
**Post date:** [22 October 2024 15:59 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/csv-node-input-parameters/92584/1 "2024-10-22T15:59:36Z")

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Hi,

I have a question regarding the standard " **csv node**".

The node offers to input data in `msg.columns`. What about other parameters, e.g. the _separator_, the _number of lines to skip_, etc.? These are useful parameters and could make the node's usage more flexible. The node itself is able to use different separators, but I don't see how to set them in a message.

Are those parameters not available or not documented?

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**Author:** ![Steve-Mcl](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex026/user_avatar/discourse.nodered.org/steve-mcl/32/4826_2.png) [@Steve-Mcl](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/Steve-Mcl)\
**Post date:** [22 October 2024 18:54 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/csv-node-input-parameters/92584/2 "2024-10-22T18:54:59Z")

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These options are not dynamically settable at runtime.

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**Author:** ![Flachmann](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex026/user_avatar/discourse.nodered.org/flachmann/32/60457_2.png) [@Flachmann](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/Flachmann)\
**Post date:** [6 November 2024 19:23 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/csv-node-input-parameters/92584/3 "2024-11-06T19:23:52Z")

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Well, I expected this. However, it would be great to implement some more flexibility.

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**Author:** ![dceejay](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex026/user_avatar/discourse.nodered.org/dceejay/32/38_2.png) [@dceejay](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/dceejay)\
**Post date:** [6 November 2024 19:28 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/csv-node-input-parameters/92584/4 "2024-11-06T19:28:41Z")

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Not sure how that would work - if it changed every message what would you expect the output to be ?

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Flachmann](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex026/user_avatar/discourse.nodered.org/flachmann/32/60457_2.png) [@Flachmann](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/Flachmann)\
**Post date:** [15 November 2024 07:23 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/csv-node-input-parameters/92584/5 "2024-11-15T07:23:52Z")

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I have the situation, that I receive CSV files from different sources. Their content is logically similar, but the order of the columns and formats are different. An example could be lists of authorizations in different systems, where every system returns a slightly different format, but the data is logically similar.

Some files are separated by semicolon, others by comma, pipe, or whatever. The processing logic should handle that.

At the moment I have a switch node, that switches to different csv nodes, just to handle the different separators. Not a very nice solution (but works).

So, why not having such information optionally in a message. Same with the other options as these also could vary.

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**Author:** ![dceejay](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex026/user_avatar/discourse.nodered.org/dceejay/32/38_2.png) [@dceejay](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/dceejay)\
**Post date:** [15 November 2024 09:31 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/csv-node-input-parameters/92584/6 "2024-11-15T09:31:18Z")

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I think the solution you have is logically the cleanest... If they come from different sources then handle that first - route them to the individual "handlers" that are easy to visually see and debug - then recombine when normalised.

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**Author:** ![Flachmann](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex026/user_avatar/discourse.nodered.org/flachmann/32/60457_2.png) [@Flachmann](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/Flachmann)\
**Post date:** [15 November 2024 18:17 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/csv-node-input-parameters/92584/7 "2024-11-15T18:17:32Z")

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Yep. However, some more flexibility would be great.

Like the filein node, that had been enhanced in v3.

Anyway. thanks all for your comments.

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**Author:** ![system](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex026/uploads/nodered/original/1X/d073cd938eafa2e558d7c2cd59003b3ef4963033.png) [@system](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/system)\
**Post date:** [29 November 2024 18:18 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/csv-node-input-parameters/92584/8 "2024-11-29T18:18:08Z")

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