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CSV Reader converting data in all CAPS to all lowercase

  • February 12, 2026
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kschon109
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I’m working in an FME Form workbench reading in CSV files that reflect database updates and then using them to update a central XLSX file. However, when the CSV reader is pulling in a column with values of either ‘TRUE’ or ‘FALSE’, it is automatically converting them to ‘true’ or ‘false’.

Has anyone ever noticed this with a CSV reader?

Unfortunately the domain I am describing with this data has capitalized values, so reporting the codes as lower case somewhat defeats the purpose. I know the parameter for Case Sensitive Field Names would resolve the issue if i were seeing this in the attribute names but unfortunately i haven’t been able to find a similar parameter for the data itself.

Is this just an inherent setting to the CSV reader format?

Best answer by ebygomm

Are you sure your csv contains the values TRUE and FALSE in uppercase?

 

I’ve just noticed that if you open a csv with values true and false in excel it displays them as TRUE/FALSE even if they’re really lowercase.

    6 replies

    javierml
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    • javiermlContributor
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    • February 13, 2026

    Hi ​@kschon109 , 

     

    maybe it isn’t the answer you’re looking for because I can’t recall any occasion in which this CSV behaviour has appened to me before. But in case, if that happens you with a reader, you can always try the BulkAttributeRenamer transformer and set it up to “Case = Change Case” and “Case Change Type = UPPERCASE”. 

    Unfortunately, this only solves the problem if you use it happens when csv is a reader and you don’t mind adding an extra transformer to your workspace. Does this problem also happen when setting up the .csv as a writer? And does it only happen in FME or have you also seen a similar case with other softwares?

      ebygomm
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      • ebygommInfluencer
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      • February 13, 2026

      I’ve not seen true/false, I have seen yes/no when the type has been set to Boolean under Attribute Definition

      It’s probably worth taking a look at the attribute definition set in the reader to check what is set there

       

        kschon109
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        • kschon109Contributor
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        • February 16, 2026

        The fields in my readers are set to a varchar type and the ones in the writers are set to strings. Originally I thought it was the writer that was making the change because when i went to check my output file I saw the lowercase difference, but when i traced it back, I actually think it’s coming in that way from the reader.

        crystalatsafe
        Safer
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        Hi ​@kschon109 

        I’m not able to reproduce this issue. If possible, could you please send some sample data? I would be happy to take a look! 

        ebygomm
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        • ebygommInfluencer
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        • Best Answer
        • February 19, 2026

        Are you sure your csv contains the values TRUE and FALSE in uppercase?

         

        I’ve just noticed that if you open a csv with values true and false in excel it displays them as TRUE/FALSE even if they’re really lowercase.

          kschon109
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          • kschon109Contributor
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          • February 23, 2026

          Oh interesting, I had assumed that Excel was telling me the truth since a lot of our other TRUE/FALSE values are domain coded to all caps. But when I opened the same file with Notepad it was indeed all lowercase!

          I targeted the wrong program for lying to me, lol. FME would never!

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