[Feature Request]: Show preview of csv-files to choose correct separator (comma etc)

[sysoeva]

JASP Version

0.95.0

Commit ID

No response

JASP Module

Unrelated

What analysis are you seeing the problem on?

opening file

What OS are you seeing the problem on?

Windows 10

Bug Description

When I open the csv-file with semicolon separator (where commas are used for separation of fractional part of numbers) the file is opened but some values are read incorrectely. For example, the value "0,435" became "435" instead of "0.435".
The same file was read correctly in previous version of JASP (see screenshot).

The file in example contains 6 values, which must be read as:

variable Valence:
0.435
1.286
0.118

variable Arousal:
2.87
4
2.059

But they are read as:

variable Valence:
435
1,286
118

variable Arousal:
2.87
4
2,059

That is the values in JASP 0.95.0 became wrong.

!problem_Open_csv_file.csv

Expected Behaviour

The values in example file should be read as:

variable Valence:
0.435
1.286
0.118

variable Arousal:
2.87
4
2.059

Steps to Reproduce

Open -> Computer -> file from attachement

Log (if any)

No response

More Debug Information

No response

Final Checklist

• I have included a screenshot showcasing the issue, if possible.
• I have included a JASP file (zipped) or data file that causes the crash/bug, if applicable.
• I have accurately described the bug, and steps to reproduce it.

[boutinb]

This problem is due to the 'locale' used by JASP, that is how JASP should consider the syntax of numbers (or date or money). Different countries have different conventions: a comma ',' or a dot '.' have different meaning in Germany or in the United States. Some users were complaining about this, especially that we can choose the language used by JASP. That why we have added in Preferences/Interface, the Alternative Locale settings ('Alt. language' and 'Alt. territory'). By selecting a language and territory that uses the ',' as decimal indicator, then the file should be read as expected.

[JorisGoosen]

@sysoeva what language have you selected and which locale?

[tomtomme]

JASP Version: JASP 0.95.1 flatpak
If I set the lang to english I get:

If I set to german I get:

So this is kind of a regression, since with 0.19.3 this file would have benn imported fine with both languages set.
During the above I did not change these settings:

Note:
If I switch to englisch after importing the file with german lang set I get even stranger stuff:

-------- Application Info --------
JASP Version: JASP 0.95.1
Build Branch: HEAD
Build Date: Aug 21 2025 15:02:20 (Netherlands)
Last Commit: 180d14c18d13c107ee7c16b0993ff7e1cc02680b

-------- Basic Info --------
Operating System: KDE Flatpak runtime
Product Version: 6.8
Kernel Type: linux
Kernel Version: 6.15.9-2-MANJARO
Architecture: x86_64
Install Path: /app/bin
Platfotm Name: wayland
System Local: de_DE

[sysoeva]

@boutinb @JorisGoosen Thank you for your explanation!

I didn't know about this new setting because of in the previous version all kind of csv-files (comma-separeted or semicolon separated) were read correctly with default settings (no matter what type of csv-file I used, in the JASP table it always showed correct numbers with ".").

Indeed, if I change settings as you suggest, I see the correct numbers (with ",").

But for me this new feature is not comfortable because it makes me change settings for every single file (because I have to work with different types of csv-files).