Routines (alphabetical) > Routines: Q > QUERY_CSV

# QUERY_CSV

The QUERY_CSV function tests a file or URL for compatibility with READ_CSV and returns an optional structure containing information about the file.

This routine is written in the IDL language. Its source code can be found in the file `query_csv.pro` in the `lib` subdirectory of the IDL distribution.

## Syntax

Result = QUERY_CSV( Filename [, Info] )

## Return Value

This routine returns a long with the value of 1 (one) if the query was successful (and the file type was correct) or 0 (zero) on failure.

## Arguments

### Filename

A scalar string containing the full pathname or URL of the file to query.

Note: If you are using a URL and you are going to immediately call READ_CSV, you should be aware that the file will be downloaded twice—once for QUERY_CSV and another time for READ_CSV. In this case you may wish to use WGET to retrieve the file yourself.

### Info

A named variable in which to return an anonymous structure containing information about the file. This structure is valid only when the return value of the function is 1. The structure has the following fields:

Field | IDL Type | Description
NAME | String | File name, including full path or URL
TYPE | String | File format (always `'CSV'`)
LINES | Long64 | Number of lines
NFIELDS | Long | Number of columns

## Keywords

None

## Version History

7.1 | Introduced
8.5 | Added support for URL files.

## See Also

QUERY_ASCII, READ_ASCII, READ_CSV, WRITE_CSV, WGET