---
title: "CSV Universal Connector"
slug: "csv-universal-connector"
description: "Easily extract CSV data using one of Dataddo's Universal Connectors. Configure CSV files with custom delimiters, new line characters, offsets, and limits."
updated: 2023-12-12T09:38:11Z
published: 2023-12-12T09:38:11Z
canonical: "docs.dataddo.com/csv-universal-connector"
---

> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.dataddo.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# CSV Universal Connector

**CSV**, or **Comma-Separated Values**, is a plain-text file format used to store tabular data, where each line of the file represents a row of data, and the values in each row are separated by commas or other delimiters, like semicolons or tabs. CSV files are commonly used for data import/export, spreadsheet applications, and database management due to their simplicity and compatibility with various software systems.

## How to Create a CSV Data Source
A comma-separated values (CSV) file is a delimited text file that **uses a comma to separate values** and each line of the file is a data record. This guide will be divided into the following steps:
1. [Fill in Basic File Information](/docs/csv-universal-connector#fill-in-basic-file-information)
2. [Optional Steps: Define Your CSV File](/docs/csv-universal-connector#optional-steps-define-your-csv-file)
3. [Specify Your HTTP Request](/docs/csv-universal-connector#specify-your-http-request)
4. [Preview Data and Save Your Data Source](/docs/csv-universal-connector#preview-data-and-save-your-data-source)

If you need to authorize your connection, there are several possible ways to do so. Please refer to the [section on authorization methods](/docs/csv-universal-connector#authorization-methods).

### Fill in Basic File Information
1. On the **Sources** page, click on the [**Create Source**](https://app.dataddo.com/sources/new){target="_blank"} button and select the connector from the list.
2. Select the [**HTTP method**](/docs/connectors#http-methods){target="_blank"} to define a set of request methods.
3. Insert the **URL** of your CSV file. You can embed the service API authorization key or token directly in the call’s URL. For more information, refer to [the section on authorization](/docs/csv-universal-connector#authorization-methods).
4. If authorization is needed, **select your account**.
5. Select your [**{{glossary.snapshot}} keeping policy**](/docs/extraction#snapshot-keeping-policy){target="_blank"}.

### Optional Steps: Define Your CSV File
1. Select your **delimiter** if it is not the default comma.
2. Select how the **start of a new line** is defined. This can be defined in two ways:
    1. Windows-based systems use `\r\n`
    2. Unix-based systems (including Linux and macOS) use `\n`
3. If you need to divide the file into multiple consequent queries or when you need only a part of the file
    1. Set the **file offset**.
    2. Specify the **row limit**. (For more information, see the section on [how to use offset and limit](/docs/csv-universal-connector#how-to-use-offset-and-limit).)

### Specify Your HTTP Request
1. In the [**Transformation Pipeline**](/docs/transformation-pipeline){target="_blank"} window, define a short script to process the data from these APIs. You can also click on the **Get transformation** button. In most cases, it will auto-generate a transformation script for you.
    ![Universal%20connector%20-%20get%20transformation](https://cdn.document360.io/084ed225-3f99-4644-a2da-39ca0cd5ef45/Images/Documentation/Universal%20connector%20-%20get%20transformation.png){height="" width=""}
3. Define your [**HTTP headers**](/docs/connectors#http-headers){target=`_blank`}, name-value pairs that will be included in the request and response messages of the HTTP protocol. In most cases, you will need to set this parameter **for authorization or setting the content type**.
    :::(Info) (**DATADDO TIP**)
    For more information, refer to [the section on authorization](/docs/csv-universal-connector#authorization-methods) or [our article on HTTP headers](/docs/connectors#http-headers).
    :::
4. **[Optional]** On the [**HTTP Body**](/docs/connectors#http-body){target=`_blank`} tab, you can see the data transmitted in an HTTP transaction message.
4. On the **Schedule** tab, choose your [**sync frequency**](https://docs.dataddo.com/docs/extraction#extraction-frequency){target="_blank"} or the exact synchronization time.

### Preview Data and Save Your Data Source
1. Make sure your transformation script has **array symbols (square brackets \[ \] )**.
2. Click on the **Get Data** button to test your transformation and see a preview table.
3. Click on **Save Source** and **congratulations, your new *{{glossary.data source}}* is ready!**

## Authorization Methods
{{snippet.UniversConnector Authorization}}

***
## Troubleshooting
### How to Use Offset and Limit
Offset and limit parameters are useful when you need to divide the file into multiple queries or when you need only a part of the file.

For example, due to a big data volume, you want to divide the data extraction into four batches. To do so, you will need to create four ***{{glossary.data source}}s***.
1. ***Data source*** 1: Offset = 0, Limit = 10 000
2. ***Data source*** 2: Offset = 10 000, Limit = 10 000
3. ***Data source*** 3: Offset = 20 000, Limit = 10 000
4. ***Data source*** 4: Offset = 30 000, Limit = 10 000

{{snippet.Troubleshooting RelatedArticles}}