csv.stringify StringifyOptions to output numbers in fixed point notation without trailing zeros

[dandv]

When outputting CSV fields that are small numbers, the output can end up in scientific notation. This can confuse spreadsheet software.

Describe the solution you'd like

A StringifyOption to disable scientific notation.

Describe alternatives you've considered

Using Big.js.

[lionel-rowe]

A few things to bear in mind:

• Number.MIN_VALUE is 5e-324
• Number.MAX_VALUE is 1.7976931348623157e+308
• In Excel, entering the string 5e-324 into a cell gives a string; 1e-307 gives the number value of 1e-307; 1e-308 gives 0 (0.00E+00); 0.000000001 (1e-9) remains displayed as a decimal point, whereas 0.0000000001 (1e-10) starts displaying as scientific notation.
• In Excel, entering the string 1e308 into a cell gives a string; 1e307 gives the number value of 1e307; 10000000000 (1e10) remains displayed as a decimal point, whereas 100000000000 (1e11) starts displaying as scientific notation.
• File size would increase significantly for certain types of datasets if e.g. 1e100 was getting written out as 10000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000 each time.
• Saving from Excel to a CSV prints cells with scientific notation as n.nnE[+-]n format. Re-opening them in Excel gives a dialog box that gives the option to treat them as numbers. Excel also seems to handle numbers formatted like 1.2e-8 the same way (YMMV with other spreadsheet software).
• JS and (I think?) most other programming languages handle the formatting variations between 1e5, 1E5, 1.0E+05 etc. perfectly fine, so if using scientific notation at all, it might be worth preferring whichever version of scientific notation is most widely compatible with spreadsheet programs (if there's a difference).
• For pure plaintext readability, scientific notation is obviously preferable for very small and very large numbers.