# CSV File Directives

> [HTML Version](csv_file_directives.htm)

_Updated May 2023_

To assert greater control over details of the output file formatting, you may optionally insert //XL directives into the CSV file. These should be at the top, before any data lines, except in the case of the //XL,SetRow directive, which may be inserted anywhere above the affected row(s).

The syntax for the //XL directives is a bit tricky, and differs from normal A-Shell conventions. See [Notes on Syntax](notesonsyntax.htm.md).

| **Directive** | **Operation** |
|------|------|
| [AddComment](csv2xldirectivesdetail.htm.md#csv2xl-addcomment) | Add a cell comment. |
| [AddFootnote](addfootnote.htm.md) | Add explanatory note at bottom of sheet. |
| [AddLink](addlink.htm.md) | Create link from specified cell to footnotes. |
| [AddSheet](addsheet.htm.md) | Add or rename sheet. |
| [AddTotals](addtotals.htm.md) | Override Totals directive in ini file. |
| [DefineFont](csv2xldirectivesdetail.htm.md#csv2xl-definefont) | Define a font and give it an identifier. |
| [DefineFormat](csv2xldirectivesdetail.htm.md#csv2xl-defineformat) | Define a format and give it an identifier. |
| [MergeCells](csv2xldirectivesdetail.htm.md#csv2xl-mergecells) | Merge cells. |
| [SetAppendSeqno](csv2xldirectivesdetail.htm.md#csv2xl-setappendseqno) | Override AppendSeqno directive in ini file. |
| [SetBanner](setbanner.htm.md) | Add text and special formatting to line one. |
| [SetCol](setcol.htm.md) | Set attributes for one or more columns. |
| [SetDefaultFont](csv2xldirectivesdetail.htm.md#csv2xl-setdefaultfont) | Set default font. |
| [SetGroup](setgroup.htm.md) | Create a row group. |
| [SetIni](csv2xldirectivesdetail.htm.md#csv2xl-setini) | Override default ini file name. |
| [SetLaunch](csv2xldirectivesdetail.htm.md#csv2xl-setlaunch) | Override Launch directive in ini file. |
| [SetOutputFormat](csv2xldirectivesdetail.htm.md#csv2xl-setoutputformat) | Override OutputFormat directive in ini file. |
| [SetPageBreak](csv2xldirectivesdetail.htm.md#csv2xl-setpagebreak) | Force page break at specified location. |
| [SetPrint](setprint.htm.md) | Set various print features. |
| [SetRGBmode](specifying-colors.htm.md) | Enable RGB color specifications. |
| [SetRow](csv2xldirectivesdetail.htm.md#csv2xl-setrow) | Set attributes for a row. |
| [SplitRow](csv2xldirectivesdetail.htm.md#csv2xl-splitrowcol) | Freeze one or more rows at top of sheet. |
| [SplitCol](csv2xldirectivesdetail.htm.md#csv2xl-splitrowcol) | Freeze one or more columns at left of sheet. |