st: importing quirky csv

[Douglas Levy <douglas_levy@post.harvard.edu>]

I have a large number of large comma-separated text files that I am
trying to import. "insheet" is not working; it imports the data, but
many lines are missing. I think the reason is the file contains string
fields that a) have embedded spaces, and b) are not enclosed in
quotes. The string fields are not uniform in length. What is the best
way to import such a file? I've included the variable names and the
first 5 lines of the file below. It is important that the importation
method be something that does not require manipulation of the .csv
file outside of Stata because there are a large number of files to
import and I need to be able to automate it all within a do-file.
Thanks!

Variable names:  rvc term_id trans_nbr date_txt time maj_grp fam_grp
item_nbr item_name item_price item_wgt trans_seq menu_item_seq
check_seq

Sample data, as is:

1                       ,1                       ,2,20111012
     ,06:46:48                ,RYG - Weight - BFast,Salad Bar
B,130002,B-Fast Bar,5.60,0.390,8232096,1007,8206654
1                       ,1                       ,2,20111012
     ,06:46:48                ,RYG - Green,Hot Beverage B+L+D,50005,16
ozs Coffee,1.50,0.000,8232096,876,8206654
1                       ,1                       ,2,20111007
     ,11:39:23                ,RYG - Green,Carvery
L+D,400007,Spinach,1.25,0.000,8211986,1369,8186585
1                       ,1                       ,2,20111007
     ,11:39:23                ,RYG - Carvery Special,Carvery
L+D,370017,ChixPrm+Pst+Sauc,5.95,0.000,8211986,1308,8186585
1                       ,1                       ,2,20111007
     ,11:39:23                ,RYG - Yellow,Salad Bar
B+L+D,160508,Butter,0.10,0.000,8211986,1073,8186585

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