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DIF (.dif)

Background & Context

    • DIF spreadsheet format.
    • Standard file format for spreadsheets and other tabular data.
    • Used as an exchange format for spreadsheet applications.
    • DIF is an acronym for Data Interchange Format.
    • Plain text format.
    • Stores a single spreadsheet.
    • Developed in 1980 as part of the VisiCalc spreadsheet software.

Import & Export

  • Import["file.dif"] imports a DIF file, returning a list of lists representing the rows and columns stored in the file.
  • Import["file.dif",elem] imports the specified element.
  • Import["file.dif",{elem,suba,subb,…}] imports a subelement.
  • The import format can be specified with Import["file","DIF"] or Import["file",{"DIF",elem,…}].
  • Export["file.dif",expr] creates a DIF file from expr.
  • Supported expressions expr include:
  • {v1,v2,…}a single column of data
    {{v11,v12,…},{v21,v22,…},…}lists of rows of data
    arrayan array such as SparseArray, QuantityArray, etc.
    tseriesa TimeSeries, EventSeries or a TemporalData object
    Dataset[…]a dataset
    Tabular[…]a tabular object
  • Export["file.dif",expr] uses the InputForm of non-numeric table elements.
  • See the following reference pages for full general information:
  • Import, Exportimport from or export to a file
    CloudImport, CloudExportimport from or export to a cloud object
    ImportString, ExportStringimport from or export to a string
    ImportByteArray, ExportByteArrayimport from or export to a byte array

Import Elements

  • General Import elements:
  • "Elements" list of elements and options available in this file
    "Summary"summary of the file
    "Rules"list of rules for all available elements
  • Data representation elements:
  • "Data"two-dimensional array, representing the rows and columns stored in the DIF file
    "EventSeries"table data as an EventSeries
    "Grid"table data as a Grid object
    "Tabular"table data as a Tabular object
    "TimeSeries"table data as a TimeSeries
  • Import and Export use the "Data" element by default.

Import Options

    Import Options
  • Import option:
  • "TimeColumn"Automaticcolumn to use for times in "EventSeries" and "TimeSeries" elements

Examples

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Basic Examples  (3)

Import tabular data from a DIF sample file, formatting it as a table:

Wolfram Language code: Import["ExampleData/timeline.dif"]//TableForm

Summary of a DIF file:

Wolfram Language code: Import["ExampleData/timeline.dif", "Summary"]

Export a Tabular object to a DIF file:

Wolfram Language code: tabular = Tabular[Association["RawSchema" -> Association["ColumnProperties" -> Association["City" -> Association["ElementType" -> "String"], "Country" -> Association["ElementType" -> "String"], "Population" -> Association["ElementType" -> "Real64"]], "KeyColumns" -> None, "Backend" -> "WolframKernel"], "Options" -> {MissingValuePattern -> Automatic}, "BackendData" -> Association["ColumnData" -> DataStructure["ColumnTable", {{TabularColumn[Association["Data" -> {{3, {0, 5, 12, 18, 24}, "TokyoChicagoLondonBerlin"}, {}, None}, "ElementType" -> "String"]], TabularColumn[ Association["Data" -> {{3, {0, 5, 18, 32, 39}, "JapanUnited StatesUnited KingdomGermany"}, {}, None}, "ElementType" -> "String"]], TabularColumn[ Association["Data" -> {{8.3*^6, 2.8*^6, 7.4*^6, 3.4*^6}, {}, None}, "ElementType" -> "Real64"]]}}]]]];
Wolfram Language code: Export["cities.dif", tabular]

Import Elements  (4)

Data Representation  (4)

"Data"  (1)

Import a DIF file as lists of values:

Wolfram Language code: Import["ExampleData/timeline.dif", "Data"]

This is also the default element:

Wolfram Language code: Import["ExampleData/timeline.dif"]

"EventSeries"  (1)

Import a DIF file as an EventSeries object:

Wolfram Language code: Import["ExampleData/timeline.dif", "EventSeries"]

"Tabular"  (1)

Import a DIF file as a Tabular object:

Wolfram Language code: Import["ExampleData/timeline.dif", "Tabular"]

"TimeSeries"  (1)

Import a DIF file as a TimeSeries object:

Wolfram Language code: Import["ExampleData/timeline.dif", "TimeSeries"]