# How to read CSV files

Here's a quick example of [converting a CSV file](manual.html#csv).

Say we have downloaded `checking.csv` from a bank for the first time:

    "Date","Note","Amount"
    "2012/3/22","DEPOSIT","50.00"
    "2012/3/23","TRANSFER TO SAVINGS","-10.00"

We tell hledger how to intepret this with a file named `checking.csv.rules`, using the [CSV rules syntax](manual.html#csv). Eg:

    # skip the first CSV line (headings)
    skip 1

    # use the first three fields in each CSV record as transaction date, description and amount respectively
    fields   date, description, amount

    # prepend $ to CSV amounts
    currency $

    # always set the first account to assets:bank:checking
    account1 assets:bank:checking

    # if the CSV record contains ‘SAVINGS’, set the second account to assets:bank:savings
    # (if not set, it will be expenses:unknown or income:unknown)
    if ~ SAVINGS
      account2 assets:bank:savings

Now hledger can read this CSV file as journal data:

    $ hledger -f checking.csv print
    using conversion rules file checking.csv.rules
    2012/03/22 DEPOSIT
        income:unknown             $-50.00
        assets:bank:checking        $50.00

    2012/03/23 TRANSFER TO SAVINGS
        assets:bank:savings         $10.00
        assets:bank:checking       $-10.00

We might save this output as `checking.journal`, and/or merge it (manually) into the main journal file.
We could also run other commands:

    $ hledger -f checking.csv balance
    using conversion rules file checking.csv.rules
                  $50.00  assets:bank
                  $40.00    checking
                  $10.00    savings
                 $-50.00  income:unknown
    --------------------
                       0