Mathematica Import/Export Format

DIF (.dif)

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 and Export support the DIF format.

IMPORT AND EXPORT

Import["file.dif"] imports a DIF file, returning a list of lists.

Export["file.dif", expr] exports a two-dimensional array to a DIF file.

Import["file.dif"] returns a two-dimensional array of strings and numbers, representing the rows and columns stored in the file.

Export["file.dif", expr] creates a DIF file from an array expr, using the InputForm of non-numeric table elements.

Import["file.dif", elem] imports the specified element from a DIF file.

Import["file.dif", {elem, sub_a, sub_b, ...}] imports a subelement.

Import["file.dif", {{elem₁, elem₂, ...}}] imports multiple elements.

The import format can be specified with Import["file", "DIF"] or Import["file", {"DIF", elem, ...}].

Export["file.dif", expr, elem] creates a DIF file by treating expr as specifying element elem.

Export["file.dif", {expr₁, expr₂, ...}, {{elem₁, elem₂, ...}}] treats each expr_i as specifying the corresponding elem_i.

Export["file.dif", expr, opt₁->val₁, ...] exports expr with the specified option elements taken to have the specified values.

Export["file.dif", {elem₁->expr₁, elem₂->expr₂, ...}, "Rules"] uses rules to specify the elements to be exported.

See the reference pages for full general information on Import and Export.

ImportString and ExportString support the DIF format.

ELEMENTS

General Import elements:

	"Elements"	list of elements and options available in this file
	"Rules"	full list of rules for each element and option
	"Options"	list of rules for options, properties and settings

Data representation elements:

	"Data"	two-dimensional array, representing the rows and columns stored in the DIF file
	"Grid"	table data as a Grid object

Import and Export use the "Data" element by default.

MORE ABOUT

Importing & Exporting

Importing & Exporting Database Formats

Listing of All Formats

New in 6.0: Import & Export Formats

Tabular & Spreadsheet Formats

EXAMPLES

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Basic Examples

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

In[1]:=

Out[1]//TableForm=