CSV to Data List

The CSV to Data List component lets you take a CSV file, a path to a CSV file, or a raw CSV string and turn it into a list of Data objects that can be used in other parts of your Nappai workflow. It’s a quick way to bring tabular data into the system without writing any code.

How it Works

When you provide one of the three inputs, the component reads the CSV content and uses the pandas library to parse it into a table. Each row of the table is then converted into a Data object, which is a simple key‑value container that Nappai can pass around. The result is a list of these Data objects that you can feed into other components.

The component checks that exactly one input is supplied. If you give more than one or none, it will raise an error. It also verifies that the file you upload or the path you provide ends with .csv. The CSV is read using UTF‑8 encoding, so make sure your file is encoded that way to avoid parsing errors.

Inputs

CSV File: Upload a CSV file to convert to a list of Data objects
Upload a CSV file to convert to a list of Data objects
CSV File Path: Provide the path to the CSV file as pure text
Provide the path to the CSV file as pure text
CSV String: Paste a CSV string directly to convert to a list of Data objects
Paste a CSV string directly to convert to a list of Data objects

Outputs

Data List: A list of Data objects created from each row of the CSV.
This output can be connected to any component that accepts a list of Data, such as filters, transformers, or storage components.

Usage Example

Upload a CSV file
Drag the component onto your canvas, click the CSV File field, and select customers.csv.
The component will read the file and output a list of Data objects, each representing a customer row.
Paste a CSV string
If you have a small table, you can paste it directly.
```
name,age,email
Alice,30,alice@example.com
Bob,25,bob@example.com
```
Copy the text, paste it into the CSV String field, and run the workflow. The component will produce the same list of Data objects.

You can then connect the Data List output to a component that, for example, filters customers by age or sends a welcome email.

Data to CSV – Convert a list of Data objects back into a CSV file.
Filter Data – Keep only the rows that meet certain conditions.
Store Data – Save the list of Data objects to a database or file.

Tips and Best Practices

Header Row: Make sure your CSV includes a header row; the component uses it to create keys for each Data object.
Encoding: Use UTF‑8 encoding for your CSV files to avoid parsing errors.
File Size: Very large CSV files may slow down the workflow; consider splitting them or processing in batches.
Validation: If you’re unsure about the CSV format, test with a small sample first.

Security Considerations

The component processes the CSV locally on the Nappai server; it does not send data to external services. However, be cautious when uploading files from untrusted sources, as malformed CSV can sometimes trigger parsing errors or consume excessive resources. Always validate or sanitize input files when possible.