---
title: "system.dataset.fromCSV"
description: "Converts a dataset stored in a CSV formatted string to a dataset that can be immediately assignable to a dataset property in your project."
---

# system.dataset.fromCSV

> Converts a dataset stored in a CSV formatted string to a dataset that can be immediately assignable to a dataset property in your project.

This function is used in **Python Scripting**.

## Description
Converts a dataset stored in a CSV formatted string to a dataset that can be immediately assignable to a dataset property in your project.  Usually this is used in conjunction with [system.file.readFileAsString](appendix/scripting-functions/system-file/system-file-readFileAsString.md) when reading in a CSV file that was exported using [system.dataset.toCSV](appendix/scripting-functions/system-dataset/system-dataset-toCSV.md). The CSV string must be formatted in a specific way:

```python 
#NAMES
Col 1,Col 2,Col 3
#TYPES
I,str,D
#ROWS,6
44,Test Row 2,1.8713151369491254
86,Test Row 3,97.4913421614675
0,Test Row 8,20.39722542161364
78,Test Row 9,34.57127071614745
20,Test Row 10,76.41114659745085
21,Test Row 13,13.880548366871926
```
The first line must be #NAMES

The second line must list the names of the columns of the dataset separated by commas

The third line must be #TYPES

The fourth line must list the type of each column of the dataset in order, separated by commas

    Integer = I

    String = str

    Double = D

    Date = date

    Long = L

    Short = S

    Float = F

    Boolean = B

The fifth line must be #ROWS followed by a comma and then the number of rows of data (i.e. #ROWS, 6)

 The following lines will be your data, each column value separated by a comma; each row on a separate line. The number of rows must match what was specified on line 5

## Client Permission Restrictions
This scripting function has no [Client Permission](projects\project-properties\project-properties.md#client---permissions) restrictions.

## Syntax
`system.dataset.fromCSV(csv)`

### Parameters
Type | Parameter | Description 
------- | ------- | ------
String | `csv` | A string holding a CSV dataset.

### Returns
**Dataset** - A new dataset.

### Scope
All

## Code Examples
```python title="Example 1"
# This example takes the dataset from a table component and formats the dates to look like Fri, Jan 22, 2018.
  
data = event.source.parent.getComponent('Table').data
formattedData = system.dataset.formatDates(data, "EEE, MMM d, yyyy")
```

```python title="Example 2"
# In this example it is assumed that the CSV file being read was a dataset that was previously exported using system.dataset.toCSV:

# Specify file path
file_path = "C:\\my_dataset.csv"
# Read in the file as a string
data_string = system.file.readFileAsString(file_path)
# Convert the string to a dataset and store in a variable
data = system.dataset.fromCSV(data_string)
# Assign the dataset to a table
event.source.parent.getComponent('Table').data = data
```