Accessing CSV files

The CSV file format is probably one of the most used formats for exchanging data between different applications that don't use the same format by default. Most of the spreadsheet software and RDBMSs have a function for importing and exporting data to the CSV format.

For BI, it can be used to centralize the data written by non-IT people with their favorite spreadsheet editor, such as employee lists, expense reports, sales reports, marketing statistics, and so on.

For example, if your bank lets you export your account activity in CSV, the format of the export will probably be similar to the following:

Date;Description;Debit;Credit;Balance
2015/08/01;"ATM Withdrawal";200.00;;7818.35
2015/07/27;"ATM Withdrawal";200.00;;8018.35
2015/07/26;"Bank transfer";1000.00;;8218.35
2015/07/25;"Bank transfer";;4000.00;9218.35
2015/07/20;"ATM Withdrawal";200.00;;5218.3

By default, the CONNECT storage engine will look for files in the MariaDB data directory, which is set to /var/lib/mysql by...