Tabview

View a CSV file in a spreadsheet-like display.

Posted by Scott Hansen tech@firecat53.net

Original code forked from: http://www.amk.ca/files/simple/tabview.txt

Contributed by A.M. Kuchling amk@amk.ca

Other Contributors:

• Matus Gura matus.gura@gmail.com
• Nathan Typanski ntypanski@gmail.com
• Sébastien Celles s.celles@gmail.com
• Yuri D'Elia wavexx@thregr.org

The highlighted position is shown in the top-left corner of the screen; next to it are shown the contents of that cell.

Features

• Python 3.11+
• Spreadsheet-like view for easily visualizing tabular data
• Vim-like navigation (h,j,k,l, g(top), G(bottom), 12G goto line 12, m - mark, ' - goto mark, etc.)
• Toggle persistent header row
• Sort ascending or descending by any column. Dynamically change column width and gap
• Sort in 'natural order' to improve numeric sorting
• Full-text incremental search, n and p to cycle between search results
• 'Enter' to view the full cell contents
• Yank cell contents to the clipboard
• File can be reloaded in-place if the data changes.
• F1 or ? for keybindings
• Can also use from python command line to visualize any tabular data (e.g. list-of-lists)
• See the screenshots directory for some pictures.

Requires

• Python 3.11+
• wl-copy (Wayland), xclip or xsel (X11), or pbcopy (macOS) (Optional - only required for 'yank' to clipboard)

Installation

• pipx install tabview OR
• pip install tabview OR
• pip install . (from a source checkout) OR
• Archlinux AUR package

Usage

• From command line:

  tabview <filename>
  tabview <filename> --start_pos 6,5
  tabview <filename> +6:5  # equivalent to previous usage
  tabview <filename> --encoding iso8859-1 +6:
  

• From python command line to view an object:

  import tabview as t
  
  a = [["a", "b", "c"], ["d", "e", "f"]]
  t.view(a)
  

• From python command line to view a file:

  import tabview as t
  t.view(<filename>, start_pos=(60,40))
  

• Using as the pager for MySQL. Set these options in ~/.my.cnf:

  pager=tabview -d '\t' --quoting QUOTE_NONE -
  silent
  

Tests

• make test (creates a .venv), or python -m unittest discover. The integration tests need a terminal.

Keybindings

F1 or ?                   Show this list of keybindings
Cursor keys or h,j,k,l    Move the highlighted cell, scrolling if required.
Q or q                    Quit
Home, ^, Ctrl-a           Move to the start of this line
End, $, Ctrl-e            Move to the end of this line
[num]|                    Goto column <num>, or first column
                          if num not given
PgUp/PgDn or J/K          Move a page up or down
H,L                       Page left or right
g                         Goto top of current column
[num]G                    Goto line <num> or bottom of current column
                          if num not given
Ctrl-g                    Show file/data information
Insert or m               Memorize this position
Delete or '               Return to memorized position (if any)
Enter                     View full cell contents in pop-up window.
/                         Search
n                         Next search result
p                         Previous search result
t                         Toggle fixed header row
< >                       Decrease/Increase column width (all columns)
, .                       Decrease/Increase column width (current column)
- +                       Decrease/Increase column gap
s                         Sort the table by the current column (ascending)
S                         Sort the table by the current column (descending)
a                         'Natural Sort' the table (ascending)
A                         'Natural Sort' the table (descending)
#                         Sort numerically by the current column (ascending)
@                         Sort numerically by the current column (descending)
r                         Reload file/data. Also resets sort order
y                         Yank cell contents to the clipboard
                          (requires wl-copy, xclip, xsel or pbcopy)
[num]c                    Toggle variable column width mode (mode/max),
                          or set width to [num]
[num]C                    Maximize current column, or set width to [num]
[num][                    Skip to (nth) change in row value (backward)
[num]]                    Skip to (nth) change in row value (forward)
[num]{                    Skip to (nth) change in column value (backward)
[num]}                    Skip to (nth) change in column value (forward)