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CSV input returns unexpected and unwanted numbers.

3 messages · Jim Burke, Markus Jäntti

Original
Jim Burke
# 
I am having extreme trouble inputting a csv file.
Previously this worked flawlessly.

Resolution attempts tried. Still problems.
. Rebooting the PC
. Defrag the PC
. Reboot with the shift key down (don't run
  startup items).
. Using old R 2.81

PROBLEM is the first column incorrectly comes
out in scientific notation.

My csv data file named h01369_short_blk.csv.
The data file is below.
===================================
"sctbkey","district"
"480019501001000",8
"480019501001001",8
"480019501001002",8
"480019501001003",8
"480019501001004",8
"480019501001005",8
"480019501001006",8

Using R 9.0 on Windows XP I read it as follows.
The syntax is straight from help(read.csv).
====================================
all_hd_df <- read.csv("h01369_short_blk.csv", header = TRUE,
             sep = ",", quote="\"", dec=".",
             fill = TRUE, comment.char="")

Output
WHY THE SCIENTIFIC NUMBERS? I expected
480019501001000 for the first one
====================================
 > all_hd_df
       sctbkey district
1 4.800195e+14        8
2 4.800195e+14        8
3 4.800195e+14        8
4 4.800195e+14        8
5 4.800195e+14        8
6 4.800195e+14        8
7 4.800195e+14        8

Any suggestions?

Thanks,
Jim Burke
Markus Jäntti
#
Jim Burke wrote:
I can't answer the why part, but you can convert to strings by issuing

all_hd_df$sctbkey <- as.character(all_hd_df$sctbkey)

you should probably be able to use colClasses in the call to read.csv to make it 
input as a character string.

Markus

  
    

      
      
    

  


  


      

    

    

      
      

        


  

        

      Jim Burke
    

    

      
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Thanks Markus!!!

Your suggestion worked perfectly. Those 15 digit
numbers point to the lowest USA census level
called a census block.

Then my problem may have caused been saving and
reusing a weird R workspace.

Most grateful,
Jim Burke

        
Markus J?ntti wrote: