CSV Query

CSV is a popular file format that can store tabular data in a structured manner, which is fit for tables in spreadsheets or database contents. Notepad++ offers support for opening CSV files but manipulating data in a way similar to a dedicated CSV editor is not possible. Fortunately, this issue can be addressed using a simple plugin that goes by the name of CSV Query.

Installing CSV Query is extremely easy, as you just have to place the DLL file in the "Plugins" folder of Notepad++ and the editor detects it automatically, displaying it in the dedicated menu after restart.

The query window is only visible if you toggle it active. CSV Query parses the content of the CSV file in focus based on a separator. It can recognize quotes inside text prefix and comments, column types, as well as first-row headers. If automatic detection fails, you are prompted to customize these settings.

At first, CSV Query executes a simple SQL query to select all the data in the input file (SELECT * FROM this). You will notice that the data is then displayed as a table in the CSV Query window.

Provided you are familiar with the standard SQL syntax of SQLite, you can use CSV Query to execute all kinds of queries against the data in the CSV file. The reason that this is possible is that the CSV data is migrated to an in-memory SQLite or MSSQL database.

If you store large data sets in CSV files, CSV Query can become a real asset. Not just that it enables you to view the data in an organized table, but it also allows you to execute SQL queries against the CSV database, extracting rows that match the criteria in the query.