Extra characters when writing 2D array to spreadsheet

[adekruif]

I am trying to write some 2D data to a spreadsheet file, but I am getting extra characters at the start of the file. I only get extra characters when I have a user selected file to write the data to. If I let LabVIEW create the file, then there are no extra characters in the file. I created a VI that shows the problem that I am having. 

Am I missing something, or is LabVIEW putting those characters in there for a reason?

Thanks!

-Andrew

[Gregory]

I cannot reproduce your problem, I get 2 rows appended to the CSV whether I input a filename into the front panel or I leave it blank and use the dialog. Either way, I think you should get rid of the file open and close functions.

[adekruif]

In both your cases you tried was LabVIEW creating the file? If I create the Stats.csv file before running the program and then run the program, that is when I get the extra characters. 

[Gregory · Accepted solution]

If I create a blank file in Excel 2010, and save as .csv, I have no problem. I run your VI and I have 3 rows, the first one is blank since the file was already created.

If I create a blank file and save as .xlsx, then go into windows explorer and change the extension to .csv, I get a similar output to yours. It seems like when you create the file before running your VI you might be attaching the .csv extensions to something that is not actually a .csv.

[crossrulz]

The real question is "Where did that initial file come from?"  It looks a lot like you just saved an xlsx file and expected it to work like a csv.  That will not be the case.

[adekruif]

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@Gregory wrote:

If I create a blank file in Excel 2010, and save as .csv, I have no problem. I run your VI and I have 3 rows, the first one is blank since the file was already created.

If I create a blank file and save as .xlsx, then go into windows explorer and change the extension to .csv, I get a similar output to yours. It seems like when you create the file before running your VI you might be attaching the .csv extensions to something that is not actually a .csv.

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Aha! I had a file that was created as a *.xlsx and then converted in windows explorer to a *.csv. That would explain the extra characters when I create the file and no extra characters when LabVIEW cretaes the file. 

Thanks!!