UNIX line break problem

[Jeppe Sommer]

Hello,

I am trying to make a comma separated file, but I experience problems with line breaks, when opening the file with Notepad or reading the file into the financial system.
The web server, where the file is created, is running on UNIX, and I need to be able to open the file on a Windows platform.

When I open the file with Notepad I see a rectangle, instead of a line break. It works fine when opening the file using Excel or Wordpad.

I have tried to use the code below:

//Create the file
StringBuffer str = new StringBuffer();
str.append("A1;A2");
str.append( System.getProperty("line.separator") );
str.append("B1;B2");

String file = str.toString();

//Servlet
PrintWriter out = response.getWriter();
...
response.reset();
response.setContentType("text/plain; charset=utf-8");
response.setHeader("Content-Disposition", "attachment; filename=myFile.csv");
out.write( file );

I have tried to replace System.getProperty("line.separator") with "\n" and "\n\r" but it doesn´t solve the problem.

Is it possible to solve the problem from the Java code?

[Greg Charles]

You want "\r\n" not "\n\r". That's the standard DOS line ending, and as you've discovered, Notepad is really stupid about that. Wordpad and most other text editors are smart enough to recognize different line endings.

[Jeppe Sommer]

Greg Charles wrote:You want "\r\n" not "\n\r". That's the standard DOS line ending, and as you've discovered, Notepad is really stupid about that. Wordpad and most other text editors are smart enough to recognize different line endings.

Alright I tried with "\r\n" as well as "\n".

When opening the file using Nodepad it shows:
A1;A2\r\nB1;B2

So I guess there is no other ways to work around this issue?

[Rob Spoor]

Are you using String "\r\n" and not "\\r\\n"? You should use the former.

[Jeppe Sommer]

Rob Prime wrote:Are you using String "\r\n" and not "\\r\\n"? You should use the former.

Yes, I have tried both:

- when using "\r\n", the result is:
A1;A2\r\nB1;B2

- when using "\\r\\n", the result is:
A1;A2\\r\\nB1;B2

I get the line break code from a XML file:
<lineBreak>\r\n</lineBreak>

I build the file using a StringBuffer:

//Create the file   
StringBuffer str = new StringBuffer();   
str.append("A1;A2");   
str.append("\r\n");   
str.append("B1;B2");

- And I write it to HttpServletResponse from a servlet using:

//Servlet   
PrintWriter out = response.getWriter();   
...   
response.reset();   
response.setContentType("text/plain; charset=utf-8");   
response.setHeader("Content-Disposition", "attachment; filename=myFile.csv");   
out.write( file );

Then I save the file on my desktop and open it using Notepad.

[Jeppe Sommer]

Alright, my mistake!

It works now when escaped to:

"& #13 ; & #10 ; "


Thanks for your help :-)

[Rob Spoor]

Jeppe Sommer wrote:I get the line break code from a XML file:
<lineBreak>\r\n</lineBreak>

That means you are using String literal "\\r\\n", not "\r\n". Your solution ensures that the actual characters \r and \n are used.