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Processing CSV Data

The CSV action block allows you to parse comma-separated values (CSV) into structured data (an array of rows) directly within your task. This is pa...

1. How the CSV Action Works#

The CSV block takes a string of CSV formatted text and converts it into a JavaScript array of objects, where the keys are the column headers.

  • Value: The raw CSV text you want to parse.

Using block.output#

If you leave the Value field blank, the CSV block will automatically attempt to use the output from the previous block (block.output). This makes it easy to chain actions, such as downloading a CSV file or fetching CSV text via an API, and immediately parsing it.

2. Basic Example#

Suppose you have the following CSV text:

name,role,email
Alice,Admin,alice@example.com
Bob,User,bob@example.com

Step 1: Input the CSV#

  • Action: csv
  • Value: 
    name,role,email
Alice,Admin,alice@example.com
Bob,User,bob@example.com

Step 2: Accessing the Result#

After the CSV block executes, block.output will contain an array of objects:

[
  { "name": "Alice", "role": "Admin", "email": "alice@example.com" },
  { "name": "Bob", "role": "User", "email": "bob@example.com" }
]

3. Iterating Over Parsed CSV Rows#

The most common use case for parsing CSV data is to iterate over the rows and perform actions for each row. You can achieve this using the For Each action block.

Step 1: Parse the CSV#

  • Action: csv
  • Value: (Your CSV data or leave blank to use previous output)

It's often helpful to store the parsed array in a variable before iterating over it.

  • Action: set
  • Var Name: userData
  • Value: {$block.output}

Step 3: Iterate with For Each#

  • Action: foreach
  • Selector: Leave blank or use it for specific iterations (if dealing with complex structures). For variables, use the variable in a custom iteration logic, or standard For Each setup depending on your task's structure.
  • Var Name: row

Step 4: Use Row Data Inside the Loop#

Inside the loop, you can access the current row's data using the variable you defined (e.g., row).

  • Action: type
  • Selector: #email-input
  • Value: {$row.email}

4. Combining with Other Actions#

You can combine the CSV action with actions like JavaScript or Merge to further process the data. For instance, you could use a JavaScript block to filter the parsed CSV rows before iterating over them.

// Filter the parsed CSV (assuming it's in a variable called 'csvData')
return variables.csvData.filter((row) => row.role === "Admin");

By leveraging the CSV block, you can easily integrate external data sources into your automated tasks.

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