Import CSV file and change field type

[fanpero87]

Hello,
I'm trying to import a CSV file and I need to change the extension field type from Integer to String.
What would be the best way to do that?

Here is an example of the CSV file that I'm importing:

import_data.txt

"first_name","last_name","email","extension"
"fake","user","[email protected]","123"
"fake","user","[email protected]","123"
"fake","user","[email protected]","123"
"fake","user","[email protected]","123"
"fake","user","[email protected]","123"

This is how my Controller looks like:

public function save()
    {
        $this->validate([
            'file' => 'required|file|mimes:csv|max:1024' // 1MB Max
        ]);
        $import = new ExtensionsImport;
        Excel::import($import, $this->file);
        $array = $import->getArray();
        dd($array);
        
        // Make POST request to the API to store the data
}

This is how my "ExtensionsImport.php" file looks like:

<?php

namespace App\Imports;

use Maatwebsite\Excel\Concerns\Importable;
use Maatwebsite\Excel\Concerns\ToArray;
use Maatwebsite\Excel\Concerns\WithHeadingRow;

class ExtensionsImport implements ToArray, WithHeadingRow

{
    use Importable;

    private $data;

    public function __construct()
    {
        $this->data = [];
    }

    public function array(array $rows)
    {
        foreach ($rows as $row) {
            $this->data[] = $row;
        }
    }

    public function getArray(): array
    {
        return $this->data;
    }
}

If I do it like this. I get this Laravel error:

PDOException
SQLSTATE[HY000] [1045] Access denied for user 'forge'@'localhost' (using password: NO)

QUESTION 1: I guess it's because I'm not using any DB. My data comes (GET) as goes (POST/PUT) by doing API calls.
Is my assumption correct? If I don't use a DB, then I cannot use "Excel::import"?
my only options are to use "Excel::toArray" or "Excel::toCollection" ?

---

If I change the code and do it like this, then I do receive the data as an array but the extension field comes as Integer. I need it to be a String. I've tried using "array_map('str_getcsv', file($data));" or "foreach" with "(string) $data['extension']" but so far nothing seems to work. Some one suggested using "array_map()" but I don't know how to use it.

public function save()
    {
        $this->validate([
            'file' => 'required|file|mimes:csv|max:1024' // 1MB Max
        ]);
        $data = Excel::toArray(new ExtensionsImport, $this->file);
        dd($data);
        
        // Make POST request to the API to store the data
}

QUESTION 2: How can I change the extension field to be a string?

---

Thank you.

[patrickbrouwers]

QUESTION 1

Try disabling transactions https://github.com/Maatwebsite/Laravel-Excel/blob/3.1/config/excel.php#L278

Some one suggested using "array_map()" but I don't know how to use it.

Try diving into some documentation/tutorials https://www.w3schools.com/php/func_array_map.asp

[fanpero87]

Thanks for the answer.
If I do this on the config/excel.php file:

'transactions' => [
        null,
        // 'handler' => 'db',
    ],

And run my import like this:

$import = new ExtensionsImport;
        Excel::import($import, $this->file);
        $array = $import->getArray();
        dd($array);

I got this error:

InvalidArgumentException
Unable to resolve NULL driver for [Maatwebsite\Excel\Transactions\TransactionManager].

[patrickbrouwers]

Handler => 'null'

[fanpero87]

Thanks,
now "Excel::import" works and I'm able to use the functions inside my "app/Imports" file.

[fanpero87]

I made it work like this:

On my Controller:

public function save()
    {
        $this->validate([
            'file' => 'required|file|mimes:csv|max:1024' // 1MB Max
        ]);

        $import = new ExtensionsImport;
        Excel::import($import, $this->file);
        $array = $import->getArray();

        // API POST request to store the data

        $this->emitUp('newMessage', $result);
        $this->emitUp('closeModal');
    }

On my Import.php file:

<?php

namespace App\Imports;

use Maatwebsite\Excel\Concerns\Importable;
use Maatwebsite\Excel\Concerns\ToArray;
use Maatwebsite\Excel\Concerns\WithHeadingRow;

class ExtensionsImport implements ToArray, WithHeadingRow

{
    use Importable;

    private $data;

    public function __construct()
    {
        $this->data = [];
    }

    public function array(array $rows)
    {
        foreach ($rows as $key => $row) {
            $this->data[$key]['first_name'] = (string)$row['first_name'];
            $this->data[$key]['last_name'] = (string)$row['last_name'];
            $this->data[$key]['email'] = (string)$row['email'];
            $this->data[$key]['extension'] = (string)$row['extension'];
        }
    }

    public function getArray(): array
    {
        return $this->data;
    }
}

Note: My controller is in fact a Livewire component working as modal.