draft-shafranovich-mime-csv-04.txt		draft-shafranovich-mime-csv-05.txt
	Network Working Group Y. Shafranovich		Network Working Group Y. Shafranovich
	Internet-Draft SolidMatrix Technologies, Inc.		Internet-Draft SolidMatrix Technologies, Inc.
	Expires: October 4, 2005 April 2, 2005		Expires: October 7, 2005 April 5, 2005
	Common Format and MIME Type for CSV Files		Common Format and MIME Type for CSV Files
	draft-shafranovich-mime-csv-04.txt		draft-shafranovich-mime-csv-05.txt
	Status of this Memo		Status of this Memo
	This document is an Internet-Draft and is subject to all provisions		By submitting this Internet-Draft, each author represents that any
	of Section 3 of RFC 3667. By submitting this Internet-Draft, each		applicable patent or other IPR claims of which he or she is aware
	author represents that any applicable patent or other IPR claims of		have been or will be disclosed, and any of which he or she becomes
	which he or she is aware have been or will be disclosed, and any of		aware will be disclosed, in accordance with Section 6 of BCP 79.
	which he or she become aware will be disclosed, in accordance with
	RFC 3668.
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	This Internet-Draft will expire on October 4, 2005.		This Internet-Draft will expire on October 7, 2005.
	Copyright Notice		Copyright Notice
	Copyright (C) The Internet Society (2005).		Copyright (C) The Internet Society (2005).
	Abstract		Abstract
	This document documents the format used for Comma-Separated Values		This document documents the format used for Comma-Separated Values
	(CSV) files and registers the associated MIME type "text/csv".		(CSV) files and registers the associated MIME type "text/csv".
	Table of Contents		Table of Contents
	1. Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3		1. Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
	2. Definition of the CSV format . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3		2. Definition of the CSV format . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
	3. MIME Type Registration of text/csv . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5		3. MIME Type Registration of text/csv . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
	4. IANA Considerations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6		4. IANA Considerations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
	5. Security Considerations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6		5. Security Considerations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
	6. Acknowledgments . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7		6. Acknowledgments . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
	7. References . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7		7. References . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
	7.1 Normative References . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7		7.1 Normative References . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
	7.2 Informative References . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7		7.2 Informative References . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
	Author's Address . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8		Author's Address . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
	A. Status of This Document [To Be Removed Upon Publication] . . . 8		A. Status of This Document [To Be Removed Upon Publication] . . . 8
	A.1 Discussion Venue . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8		A.1 Discussion Venue . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
	A.2 Document Repository . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8		A.2 Document Repository . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
	A.3 Document History . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8		A.3 Document History . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
	Intellectual Property and Copyright Statements . . . . . . . . 10		Intellectual Property and Copyright Statements . . . . . . . . 10
	1. Introduction		1. Introduction
	The comma separated values format (CSV) has been used for exchanging		The comma separated values format (CSV) has been used for exchanging
	and converting data between various spreadsheet programs for quite		and converting data between various spreadsheet programs for quite
	some time. Surprisingly, while this format is very common it has		some time. Surprisingly, while this format is very common it has
	never been formally documented. Additionally, while the IANA MIME		never been formally documented. Additionally, while the IANA MIME
	registration tree includes a registration for		registration tree includes a registration for "text/
	"text/tab-separated-values" type, no MIME types have ever been		tab-separated-values" type, no MIME types have ever been registered
	registered with IANA for CSV. At the same time, various programs and		with IANA for CSV. At the same time, various programs and operating
	operating systems have begun to use different MIME types for this		systems have begun to use different MIME types for this format, many
	format, many of which vary from system to system. This document		of which vary from system to system. This document seeks to document
	seeks to document the format of comma separated values (CSV) files		the format of comma separated values (CSV) files and to formally
	and to formally register the "text/csv" MIME type for CSV in		register the "text/csv" MIME type for CSV in accordance with RFC 2048
	accordance with RFC 2048 [1].		[1].
	2. Definition of the CSV format		2. Definition of the CSV format
	While there are various specifications and implementations for the		While there are various specifications and implementations for the
	CSV format (for ex. [4], [5], [6] and [7]), no formal specification		CSV format (for ex. [4], [5], [6] and [7]), no formal specification
	exists which causes a wide variety of interpretations for CSV files.		exists which causes a wide variety of interpretations for CSV files.
	This section seeks to document the format that seems to be followed		This section seeks to document the format that seems to be followed
	by most implementations:		by most implementations:
	1. Each record is located on a separate line delimited by a line		1. Each record is located on a separate line delimited by a line
	skipping to change at page 4, line 43		skipping to change at page 4, line 44
	file = [header CRLF] record *(CRLF record) [CRLF]		file = [header CRLF] record *(CRLF record) [CRLF]
	header = name *(COMMA name)		header = name *(COMMA name)
	record = field *(COMMA field)		record = field *(COMMA field)
	name = field		name = field
	field = (escaped / non-escaped)		field = (escaped / non-escaped)
	escaped = DQUOTE *(TEXTDATA / CR / LF / 2*DQUOTE) DQUOTE		escaped = DQUOTE *(TEXTDATA / COMMA / CR / LF / 2DQUOTE) DQUOTE
	non-escaped = *TEXTDATA		non-escaped = *TEXTDATA
	COMMA = %x2C		COMMA = %x2C
	CR = %x0D ;as per section 6.1 of RFC 2234 [2]		CR = %x0D ;as per section 6.1 of RFC 2234 [2]
	DQUOTE = %x22 ;as per section 6.1 of RFC 2234 [2]		DQUOTE = %x22 ;as per section 6.1 of RFC 2234 [2]
	LF = %x0A ;as per section 6.1 of RFC 2234 [2]		LF = %x0A ;as per section 6.1 of RFC 2234 [2]
	CRLF = CR LF ;as per section 6.1 of RFC 2234 [2]		CRLF = CR LF ;as per section 6.1 of RFC 2234 [2]
	TEXTDATA = %x20-21 / %x23-7E		TEXTDATA = %x20-21 / %x23-2B / %x2D-7E
	3. MIME Type Registration of text/csv		3. MIME Type Registration of text/csv
	This section provides the media-type registration application (as per		This section provides the media-type registration application (as per
	RFC 2048 [1], which will be submitted to IANA after IESG approval of		RFC 2048 [1], which will be submitted to IANA after IESG approval of
	this document.		this document.
	To: ietf-types@iana.org		To: ietf-types@iana.org
	Subject: Registration of MIME media type text/csv		Subject: Registration of MIME media type text/csv
	skipping to change at page 7, line 7		skipping to change at page 7, line 11
	After IESG approval, IANA is expected to register the MIME type		After IESG approval, IANA is expected to register the MIME type
	"text/csv" using the application provided in Section 3 of this		"text/csv" using the application provided in Section 3 of this
	document.		document.
	5. Security Considerations		5. Security Considerations
	See discussion above		See discussion above
	6. Acknowledgments		6. Acknowledgments
	The author would like to thank Dave Crocker, Martin Duerst, Clyde		The author would like to thank Dave Crocker, Martin Duerst, Joel M.
	Ingram, Graham Klyne, Bruce Lilly, Chris Lilley and members of the		Halpern, Clyde Ingram, Graham Klyne, Bruce Lilly, Chris Lilley and
	IESG for their helpful suggestions. A special word of thanks to Dave		members of the IESG for their helpful suggestions. A special word of
	for helping with the ABNF grammar.		thanks to Dave for helping with the ABNF grammar.
	The author would also like to thank Henrik Lefkowetz, Marshall Rose		The author would also like to thank Henrik Lefkowetz, Marshall Rose
	and the folks at xml.resource.org for providing many of the tools		and the folks at xml.resource.org for providing many of the tools
	used for preparing RFCs and Internet drafts.		used for preparing RFCs and Internet drafts.
	7. References		7. References
	7.1 Normative References		7.1 Normative References
	[1] Freed, N., Klensin, J. and J. Postel, "Multipurpose Internet		[1] Freed, N., Klensin, J., and J. Postel, "Multipurpose Internet
	Mail Extensions (MIME) Part Four: Registration Procedures",		Mail Extensions (MIME) Part Four: Registration Procedures",
	BCP 13, RFC 2048, November 1996.		BCP 13, RFC 2048, November 1996.
	[2] Crocker, D., Ed. and P. Overell, "Augmented BNF for Syntax		[2] Crocker, D., Ed. and P. Overell, "Augmented BNF for Syntax
	Specifications: ABNF", RFC 2234, November 1997.		Specifications: ABNF", RFC 2234, November 1997.
	[3] Freed, N. and N. Borenstein, "Multipurpose Internet Mail		[3] Freed, N. and N. Borenstein, "Multipurpose Internet Mail
	Extensions (MIME) Part Two: Media Types", RFC 2046, November		Extensions (MIME) Part Two: Media Types", RFC 2046,
	1996.		November 1996.
	7.2 Informative References		7.2 Informative References
	[4] Repici, J., "HOW-TO: The Comma Separated Value (CSV) File		[4] Repici, J., "HOW-TO: The Comma Separated Value (CSV) File
	Format", 2004,		Format", 2004,
	<http://www.creativyst.com/Doc/Articles/CSV/CSV01.htm>.		<http://www.creativyst.com/Doc/Articles/CSV/CSV01.htm>.
	[5] Edoceo, Inc., "CSV Standard File Format", 2004,		[5] Edoceo, Inc., "CSV Standard File Format", 2004,
	<http://www.edoceo.com/utilis/csv-file-format.php>.		<http://www.edoceo.com/utilis/csv-file-format.php>.
	[6] Rodger, R. and O. Shanaghy, "Documentation for Ricebridge CSV		[6] Rodger, R. and O. Shanaghy, "Documentation for Ricebridge CSV
	Manager", February 2005,		Manager", February 2005,
	<http://www.ricebridge.com/products/csvman/reference.htm>.		<http://www.ricebridge.com/products/csvman/reference.htm>.
	[7] Raymond, E., "The Art of Unix Programming, Chapter 5", September		[7] Raymond, E., "The Art of Unix Programming, Chapter 5",
	2003,		September 2003,
	<http://www.catb.org/~esr/writings/taoup/html/ch05s02.html>.		<http://www.catb.org/~esr/writings/taoup/html/ch05s02.html>.
	[8] Postel, J., "Transmission Control Protocol", STD 7, RFC 793,		[8] Postel, J., "Transmission Control Protocol", STD 7, RFC 793,
	September 1981.		September 1981.
	Author's Address		Author's Address
	Yakov Shafranovich		Yakov Shafranovich
	SolidMatrix Technologies, Inc.		SolidMatrix Technologies, Inc.
	skipping to change at page 8, line 29		skipping to change at page 8, line 30
	which is also reachable via <ietf-types@iana.org>. Of course,		which is also reachable via <ietf-types@iana.org>. Of course,
	comments directly to the author are always welcome.		comments directly to the author are always welcome.
	A.2 Document Repository		A.2 Document Repository
	Copies of this and earlier versions including multiple formats can be		Copies of this and earlier versions including multiple formats can be
	found at <http://www.shaftek.org/publications/drafts/mime-csv/>.		found at <http://www.shaftek.org/publications/drafts/mime-csv/>.
	A.3 Document History		A.3 Document History
			Changes from draft-shafranovich-mime-csv-04 to
			draft-shafranovich-mime-csv-05:
			o Fixes in ABNF grammar: comma excluded from TEXTDATA and added to
			escaped text, 2*DQUOTE changed to 2DQUOTE.
	Changes from draft-shafranovich-mime-csv-03 to		Changes from draft-shafranovich-mime-csv-03 to
	draft-shafranovich-mime-csv-04:		draft-shafranovich-mime-csv-04:
	o Fixed ABNF grammar in response to IESG comments: VCHAR changed to		o Fixed ABNF grammar in response to IESG comments: VCHAR changed to
	TEXTDATA, DQUOTE excluded from TEXTDATA, spaces are included in		TEXTDATA, DQUOTE excluded from TEXTDATA, spaces are included in
	TEXTDATA, CRLF taken out since CR and LF are already included.		TEXTDATA, CRLF taken out since CR and LF are already included.
	o Added clarification that double quotes may not be included inside		o Added clarification that double quotes may not be included inside
	non-quoted fields.		non-quoted fields.
End of changes.
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