Import Excel files to SQL Server dynamically

Introduction

This article will show you how to import an Excel file to SQL Server, dynamically, without the need to open the Import wizard from SQL Server. This could be of great help if you have a lot of Excel files to import.

Using the code

First, create the Datamanage class that holds the import code. The “excelCommand” will create a new table in the SQL Server database, taking into consideration the names and data types of the Excel file fields.

Public Class Datamanage
    ''' <span class="code-SummaryComment"><summary /></span>
    ''' Imports the selected Excel file to SQL Server 
    ''' <span class="code-SummaryComment"></summary /></span>
   Public Sub importToServer(ByVal ExcelPath As String, _
              ByVal ServerName As String, _
              ByVal DBName As String, ByVal UserName As String, _
              ByVal Password As String, ByVal InsertedTableName As String)
        Try
            Dim ExceCon As String = _
                &quot;Provider=Microsoft.ACE.OLEDB.12.0;Data Source=&quot; & _
                ExcelPath & &quot;; Extended Properties=Excel 8.0&quot;
            Dim excelConnection As System.Data.OleDb.OleDbConnection = _
                New System.Data.OleDb.OleDbConnection(ExceCon)
            excelConnection.Open()
            'Dim OleStr As String = &quot;SELECT * INTO [ODBC; Driver={SQL Server};&quot; & _
                 &quot;Server=Hoss;Database=Excel_Test;Uid=sa;Pwd=sa2008; ].[myTable]   
            FROM [Sheet1$];&quot;
            Dim OleStr As String = &quot;SELECT * INTO [ODBC; Driver={SQL Server};Server=&quot; _
                & ServerName & &quot;;Database=&quot; & DBName & &quot;;Uid=&quot; & _
                UserName & &quot;;Pwd=&quot; & Password & &quot;; ].[&quot; & _
                InsertedTableName & &quot;]   FROM [Sheet1$];&quot;
            Dim excelCommand As New System.Data.OleDb.OleDbCommand(OleStr, _
                                                      excelConnection)
            excelCommand.ExecuteNonQuery()
            excelConnection.Close()
        Catch ex As Exception
            Throw New Exception(&quot;Error: &quot; & ex.Message)
        End Try
    End Sub
End Class

Now, the main form:

Imports System.IO
Public Class ImportExcel
    Dim dm As New Datamanage
    Private Sub Button2_Click(ByVal sender As System.Object, _
            ByVal e As System.EventArgs) Handles Button2.Click
        OpenFileDialog1.ShowDialog()
        txtexcelPath.Text = OpenFileDialog1.FileName
                     
    End Sub
    Private Sub Button1_Click(ByVal sender As System.Object,
        ByVal e As System.EventArgs) Handles Button1.Click
        Try
                Dim ExcelPath As String = txtexcelPath.Text.ToLower()
                Dim Ext As String = _
                    ExcelPath.Substring(ExcelPath.LastIndexOf(".") + 1)
                If File.Exists(ExcelPath) AndAlso (Ext.Equals("xls") _
                        Or Ext.Equals("xlsx")) Then
                    dm.importToServer(OpenFileDialog1.FileName, txtServer.Text,_
                        txtDbName.Text, txtusername.Text, txtpassword.Text,_
                        txtInsertedTableName.Text)
                    ProgressBar1.Visible = False
                    MessageBox.Show("File imported successfully")
                 End If
        Catch ex As Exception
            ProgressBar1.Visible = False
            MessageBox.Show(ex.Message)
        End Try
    End Sub
End Class

I hope this helps!