Re: [bug-recutils] ob-rec.el change delimiter from "comma" to "tab"

[Charles Millar]

Soooo - apparently the solution is

\\\t

( code before the following
(setq cmd (concat cmd " | rec2csv -d \\\t")))

(org-table-convert-region (point-min) (point-max) '(16))



On 08/16/2015 05:42 PM, Charles Millar wrote:
> I am cross posting so as to reach a possibly wider audience and also 
> that this issue may be a feature request.
>
> I have found recutils and recmode are very flexible. I started to use 
> them in my legal work, especially when tables must be generated in 
> estate proceedings for instance. As for simplicity it is easier for me 
> to keep track of contacts as well as "interested parties" using recutils.
>
> Please note that I keep most of my files in as *.org and therefore use 
> ob-rec.el quite a bit.
>
> As you may infer from the subject line, the rec2csv default comma 
> delimited table is a problem for me, whereas a tab delimited table 
> would be much better in my situation - for example an address field with
>
> Name
> + Address
> + City, State ZIP
>
> will generate two columns upon conversion because of the comma between 
> City and State.
>
> Likewise, a field which I call Note: may include two or three 
> sentences with an occasional comma which of course break these 
> sentences into columns.
>
> I rarely use a tab. (I export to latexpdf so almost always I rely on 
> latex commands for indentation, etc.)
>
> So how should I alter ob-rec.el so that the table is tab delimited?
>
> I have changed two lines in my attempt:
>
>      (setq cmd (concat cmd " | rec2csv")))
>
> to a tab delimiter
>
>       (setq cmd (concat cmd " | rec2csv -d     ")))
> ^^
>
> where immediately following the -d I have inserted C-i, or C-q C-i, 
> \t, TAB, and two or three other variations. I have inserted a <space> 
> between the -d and my entry as well as have not inserted a space.
>
> Second I have changed
>
>     (org-table-convert-region (point-min) (point-max) '(4))
>
> to
>
>     (org-table-convert-region (point-min) (point-max) '(16))
>
> The best result I have is an empty table.
>
> The message buffer has the following
>
> org-src-fontification:rec-mode: 2: error: expected a record
> executing Rec code block (SCHEDA)...
> rec2csv: option requires an argument -- 'd'
> user-error: Empty table - created default table
>
> The command line rec2csv -d C-v <tab> :f foo :t bar works.
>
> I want to use recutils as much as possible so any help will be greatly 
> appreciated.
>
> Charlie Millar