How to Read Microsoft Excel 2007 Using a Connection String in C#

Introduction

This article explains how to connect to Microsoft Excel 2007 using ADO.NET Connection string and populate a DataGridView on a form.

Using the Code

First create a C# Windows application using Visual Studio. Add the following controls to the main form from the tool box.

DataViewGrid control (name as dgvExcelList)
BindingSource control (name as dataBindingSrc)
Button control (name as btnPopulate)

Now open Microsoft Excel 2007 and enter a few records. Save the file and close Excel.

I have already created a sample Excel 2007 file which is available in the project folder of the demo project. If you want, you can use it by copying to C:\. The name of the Excel file is Members.xlsx.

Copy the following codes into the btnPopulate_Click event and run the application. you will find the dgvExcelList is filled with all the entries in Sheet1 of the Excel file.

Note: If you want to use your own Excel file or save the Members.xlsx file in a different location other than C:\, change the file and path name from the connection string.

Code

// You can change C:\Members.xlsx to any valid path 
// where the file is located.

string connectionString = @"Provider=Microsoft.ACE.OLEDB.12.0;
    FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: #a31515; FONT-FAMILY: 'Courier New'">
				Data Source=C:\Members.xlsx;Extended
    FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: #a31515; FONT-FAMILY: 'Courier New'">
				Properties=""Excel 12.0;HDR=YES;"""; 
// if you don't want to show the header row (first row) in the grid
// use 'HDR=NO' in the string

string strSQL = "SELECT * FROM [Sheet1$]";
OleDbConnection excelConnection = new OleDbConnection(connectionString);
excelConnection.Open(); // this will open an Excel file
OleDbCommand dbCommand = new OleDbCommand(strSQL,excelConnection);
OleDbDataAdapter dataAdapter = new OleDbDataAdapter(dbCommand);

// create data table
DataTable dTable = new DataTable();

dataAdapter.Fill(dTable);

// bind the datasource
dataBingingSrc.DataSource = dTable;
// assign the dataBindingSrc to the DataGridView
dgvExcelList.DataSource = dataBingingSrc;

// dispose used objects
dTable.Dispose()
dataAdapter.Dispose();
dbCommand.Dispose();
excelConnection.Close();
excelConnection.Dispose();