From: Sam Smoot <ssmoot@...>
Date: 2006-08-11T03:45:11+09:00
Subject: Re: Entering data into Excel, in specific iterated rows/columns

> Where exactly in the FasterCSV code are you stating, "first part",
> "second part".  Would it be the same as just saying "#{firstitem},
> #{seconditem}\n"?

The "csv << [ 'first part', 'second part' ]"

The csv object passed into the block by FasterCSV::open just expects an
array of values. It handles the escaping of those values internally.
Yes, it's fully compatible with Excel, produces a lot smaller files, is
faster, simpler, and works with pretty much any text editor if you
don't have Excel handy.

I used to try to do everything with Excel Automation, but then it
dawned on me... unless you want colored headers, custom fonts, multiple
sheets, etc, there just isn't good reason I should be targetting Excel
and excluding everyone that doesn't have it, when I can just go with
the simpler CSV and it's available to everyone then (including Excel
users of course).

That's just my rationale tho'. Sometimes people do want the colored
headers, multiple sheets, etc. ;-)