CSV Desk CLI

Clean a CSV. Keep every row. Review the flags.

CSV Desk CLI is a small local tool for people who already use Node.js and a terminal. It reads one UTF-8 CSV and creates three new files: cleaned.csv, review.csv, and audit.json.

Use it when you want repeatable cleanup of a small export and a separate list of records to inspect. You choose the key, date and number columns. Your source file is opened read-only, and existing result files are refused.

What it does

• Reads comma-, semicolon- or tab-separated text, with automatic detection or an explicit separator.
• Trims data whitespace unless you turn that option off.
• Flags duplicate candidates without deleting any accepted data row.
• Normalizes supported year-first dates and comma thousands separators in the columns you select.
• Lists flagged records with review reasons and records the selected rules and counts in an audit file.

Try the included fictional example

node cli.cjs --input "fictional-sample.csv" --out-dir "sample review" --key-column "Order ID" --date-column "Date" --number-column "Amount"

The included example produces 12 input rows, 12 output rows and 8 rows requiring review. Expected output files are included. The cover is a graphic of these real CLI results using fictional data, not a customer result or a browser screenshot.

Requirements and limits

Node.js must be installed separately. Verified on Windows with Node.js v24.19.0: 26/26 CLI checks passed using actual file reads and writes. Other operating systems and Node versions have not been verified. There is no browser interface in this package.

Maximum input: 5 MiB, 10,000 data rows and 50 columns. It handles UTF-8 CSV text, not Excel workbooks, live Google Sheets, joined files or arbitrary malformed-file repair. Unsupported dates and numbers are left for review. Wide rows are rejected rather than truncated.

CSV export prefixes spreadsheet formula-like values with an apostrophe. This includes signed numbers: -125.00 becomes '-125.00. That change may affect how another program imports or displays the value. Check your results before use. The audit is a summary, not a complete per-cell history or a backup.

Download and permitted use

One ZIP contains the two tool files, a guide, a fictional input, three expected outputs, test results and a license. Node.js itself is not bundled. No npm packages, subscription, API key or network service is required by the command.

One purchase permits one person's personal and internal business use on data they are authorized to handle. You may use and share your output files subject to rights in their underlying data. You may not redistribute or resell the tool files. Full terms are in LICENSE.txt.

Corrections and refunds

Report a reproducible listed-function issue within 7 calendar days of purchase. A material mismatch that cannot be corrected, an unusable download in the stated environment, or non-delivery qualifies for a full refund; duplicate payments are reviewed and the duplicate is refunded through the original method. Consumer-law and payment-provider rights remain applicable.

Use this project's comments for a non-sensitive error report: command, Node version, error text and fictional or redacted input. Use itch.io purchase support for payment or refund requests. Do not post payment information or confidential datasets. Custom features, Node installation, private-data processing and recovery work are not included.

AI disclosure: The code, documentation, fictional examples and cover were created with AI assistance. The reported CLI checks were executed locally. No customer reviews or client results are claimed.

Minimum US$9, plus applicable VAT shown at checkout.