Python, CSV, and Regular Expressions Hackathon

Some pre-written Python scripts, and a demonstration CSV to get us started on using Python and regular expressions to work with CSVs and Excel data:

• A typical Collection Development CSV that a librarian might want to process. Notice it has gaps, mistypings, and other idiosyncrasies. This is the challenge of processing human-created data.

• Script for pulling cells out of a CSV according to a regular expression.
• Similar, using the tablib library.

Here are some helpful links for building regular expressions:

• http://txt2re.com/. The greatest reg-ex builder on the internet. Interesting interface. Was indispensable when I was working on a reg-ex to read Library of Congress Call Numbers.
• http://www.freeformatter.com/regex-tester.html. There are many regular expression testers online. This one has the virtue of useful options and handy documentation.