European Semicolon→Comma Delimiter Swap

Convert semicolon-delimited CSV with double-quote escaping into comma-delimited CSV, preserving decoded cell values and quoted embedded delimiters.

Description

Semicolon-delimited CSV is common where comma is used in numeric spelling.

Semicolon-delimited CSV is common where comma is used in numeric spelling. Delimiter conversion must respect quoted cells rather than replace every semicolon.^[1]

Convert semicolon-delimited CSV with double-quote escaping into comma-delimited CSV, preserving decoded cell values and quoted embedded delimiters.

When to use European Semicolon→Comma Delimiter Swap

Use this for the following task: Convert semicolon-delimited CSV with double-quote escaping into comma-delimited CSV, preserving decoded cell values and quoted embedded delimiters.

Prepare the CSV text, decoded cells or byte values requested below. Choose delimiter and header flags explicitly when those fields are present.

How to use European Semicolon→Comma Delimiter Swap and understand its results

Prepare the CSV text, decoded cells or byte values requested below. Choose delimiter and header flags explicitly when those fields are present.
Enter csv using the field table, then run the tool.
Read csv. Interpret flags, units, ordering and placeholder values using the rules below.
Review any reported issue or failed check, correct the supplied values when appropriate, and verify the result in its intended context.

Input field	Meaning	Value type and bounds	Requirement
csv	CSV text	string; maximum text length 100000	Required

Parse semicolons with double-quote rules, preserve decoded cell content and encode with commas, quoting embedded commas as needed.^[2]

Parse delimiters only outside quoted fields and decode doubled quotes. A quoted line break stays inside its cell; malformed quoting is returned as an input error.

The shared writer doubles interior quotes and quotes cells when needed for delimiters or line breaks, including a single empty-field record. It normally emits LF record endings without a terminal newline; any tool-specific quote-all behavior is stated above.

output = comma writer(semicolon parser(input))

This summarizes the declared operation. Units, indexing, inclusivity and exceptional cases are explained in the surrounding text.

Output field	Meaning	Value type
csv	CSV text	string

json

{
  "input": {
    "csv": "name;note\nAda;\"a;b,c\""
  },
  "output": {
    "csv": "name,note\nAda,\"a;b,c\""
  }
}

Limitations and assumptions

Numeric values are not converted from comma decimals. Outer endings become LF with no terminal newline.

Where CSV is parsed, the shared parser accepts comma, semicolon or tab separators, doubled quotes and quoted line breaks, with CR/LF/CRLF record endings. Blank records remain records. CSV inputs are bounded to 100000 UTF-16 units and 10000 fields. Malformed requests produce input errors. A successfully evaluated request can still contain false flags, empty result lists or a result outside the supplied threshold; those outcomes have the meanings stated above.

Alternative or Complementary methods

Choose TSV Tab-to-Comma Converter for this operation: Convert tab-delimited records using CSV double-quote rules into comma CSV with LF record endings; unquoted multiline or arbitrary TSV escape conventions are outside this profile. For a complementary task, use Numeric Sort EU Decimal-Aware for this operation: Stably sort rectangular CSV rows by exact numbers using comma decimals and optional dot groups of three, preserving original cell spelling and an explicit header.

Further background: Format and language reference: European Semicolon→Comma Delimiter Swap.

References

Format and language reference: European Semicolon→Comma Delimiter Swap — RFC Editor
European Semicolon→Comma Delimiter Swap — tool.io

Similar or alternative tools

TSV Tab-to-Comma Converter
Convert tab-delimited records using CSV double-quote rules into comma CSV with LF record endings; unquoted multiline or arbitrary TSV escape conventions are outside this profile.
Numeric Sort EU Decimal-Aware
Stably sort rectangular CSV rows by exact numbers using comma decimals and optional dot groups of three, preserving original cell spelling and an explicit header.