How to read data From *.CSV file using javascript?

No need to write your own...

The jQuery-CSV library has a function called $.csv.toObjects(csv) that does the mapping automatically.

Note: The library is designed to handle any CSV data that is RFC 4180 compliant, including all of the nasty edge cases that most 'simple' solutions overlook.

Like @Blazemonger already stated, first you need to add line breaks to make the data valid CSV.

Using the following dataset:

heading1,heading2,heading3,heading4,heading5
value1_1,value2_1,value3_1,value4_1,value5_1
value1_2,value2_2,value3_2,value4_2,value5_2

Use the code:

var data = $.csv.toObjects(csv):

The output saved in 'data' will be:

[
  { heading1:"value1_1",heading2:"value2_1",heading3:"value3_1",heading4:"value4_1",heading5:"value5_1" } 
  { heading1:"value1_2",heading2:"value2_2",heading3:"value3_2",heading4:"value4_2",heading5:"value5_2" }
]

Note: Technically, the way you wrote the key-value mapping is invalid JavaScript. The objects containing the key-value pairs should be wrapped in brackets.

If you want to try it out for yourself, I suggest you take a look at the Basic Usage Demonstration under the 'toObjects()' tab.

Disclaimer: I'm the original author of jQuery-CSV.

Update:

Edited to use the dataset that the op provided and included a link to the demo where the data can be tested for validity.

Update2:

Due to the shuttering of Google Code. jquery-csv has moved to GitHub


NOTE: I concocted this solution before I was reminded about all the "special cases" that can occur in a valid CSV file, like escaped quotes. I'm leaving my answer for those who want something quick and dirty, but I recommend Evan's answer for accuracy.


This code will work when your data.txt file is one long string of comma-separated entries, with no newlines:

data.txt:

 heading1,heading2,heading3,heading4,heading5,value1_1,...,value5_2

javascript:

$(document).ready(function() {
    $.ajax({
        type: "GET",
        url: "data.txt",
        dataType: "text",
        success: function(data) {processData(data);}
     });
});

function processData(allText) {
    var record_num = 5;  // or however many elements there are in each row
    var allTextLines = allText.split(/\r\n|\n/);
    var entries = allTextLines[0].split(',');
    var lines = [];

    var headings = entries.splice(0,record_num);
    while (entries.length>0) {
        var tarr = [];
        for (var j=0; j<record_num; j++) {
            tarr.push(headings[j]+":"+entries.shift());
        }
        lines.push(tarr);
    }
    // alert(lines);
}

The following code will work on a "true" CSV file with linebreaks between each set of records:

data.txt:

heading1,heading2,heading3,heading4,heading5
value1_1,value2_1,value3_1,value4_1,value5_1
value1_2,value2_2,value3_2,value4_2,value5_2

javascript:

$(document).ready(function() {
    $.ajax({
        type: "GET",
        url: "data.txt",
        dataType: "text",
        success: function(data) {processData(data);}
     });
});

function processData(allText) {
    var allTextLines = allText.split(/\r\n|\n/);
    var headers = allTextLines[0].split(',');
    var lines = [];

    for (var i=1; i<allTextLines.length; i++) {
        var data = allTextLines[i].split(',');
        if (data.length == headers.length) {

            var tarr = [];
            for (var j=0; j<headers.length; j++) {
                tarr.push(headers[j]+":"+data[j]);
            }
            lines.push(tarr);
        }
    }
    // alert(lines);
}

http://jsfiddle.net/mblase75/dcqxr/