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

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• Download source - 810 B

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();

Your suggestions and comments are most welcome.

History

• 28^th November, 2007: Initial post