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Import Excel File to DataSet

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4.69/5 (23 votes)
29 May 2012CPOL 342.8K   12.5K   104   41
Allows for inputting Excel tables into a DataSet.

Introduction

I just wanted to put out two ways to import data from Excel into a DataSet.

  1. Preferred - Importing from an XLS file using the OLE Jet engine (simple).
    1. UPDATED: I'm now setting the IMEX flag to 0. This may cause worse performance. Check out  http://www.connectionstrings.com/excel for more information.
    2. UPDATED: I switched it to use ACE driver if it has an XLSX extension. You will need to ensure ACE is installed on the server you deploy to.
      1. http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=13255 
    3. UPDATED: Please refer to these links for good information about connecting to xls and xlsx files. 
      1. http://www.connectionstrings.com/excel
      2. http://www.connectionstrings.com/excel-2007  
  2. Importing from an Excel XML file. (The XML format that Excel uses, not just any XML file.) 
    1. Note: This is a long-winded custom solution. Should work, but might require tweaks.
    2. This works well if you're sure the data will be valid, or if you don't require it to do type-detection (flag for this on procedure). 
    3. Exporting to an Excel XML file can be found here

Using the code

Download the file for specifics, but here's a summary:

XLS Import 

C#
public static DataSet ImportExcelXLS(string FileName, bool hasHeaders) {
    string HDR = hasHeaders ? "Yes" : "No";
    string strConn;
    if (FileName.Substring(FileName.LastIndexOf('.')).ToLower() == ".xlsx")
        strConn = "Provider=Microsoft.ACE.OLEDB.12.0;Data Source=" + FileName + ";Extended Properties=\"Excel 12.0;HDR=" + HDR + ";IMEX=0\"";
    else
        strConn = "Provider=Microsoft.Jet.OLEDB.4.0;Data Source=" + FileName + ";Extended Properties=\"Excel 8.0;HDR=" + HDR + ";IMEX=0\"";

    DataSet output = new DataSet();

    using (OleDbConnection conn = new OleDbConnection(strConn)) {
        conn.Open();

        DataTable schemaTable = conn.GetOleDbSchemaTable(
            OleDbSchemaGuid.Tables, new object[] { null, null, null, "TABLE" });

        foreach (DataRow schemaRow in schemaTable.Rows) {
            string sheet = schemaRow["TABLE_NAME"].ToString();

            if (!sheet.EndsWith("_")) {
                try {
                    OleDbCommand cmd = new OleDbCommand("SELECT * FROM [" + sheet + "]", conn);
                    cmd.CommandType = CommandType.Text;

                    DataTable outputTable = new DataTable(sheet);
                    output.Tables.Add(outputTable);
                    new OleDbDataAdapter(cmd).Fill(outputTable);
                } catch (Exception ex) {
                    throw new Exception(ex.Message + string.Format("Sheet:{0}.File:F{1}", sheet, FileName), ex);
                }
            }
        }
    }
    return output;
} 

Excel XML Import (Summary)

C#
public static DataSet ImportExcelXML(Stream inputFileStream, 
                      bool hasHeaders, bool autoDetectColumnType) {
    XmlDocument doc = new XmlDocument();
    doc.Load(new XmlTextReader(inputFileStream));
    XmlNamespaceManager nsmgr = new XmlNamespaceManager(doc.NameTable);

    nsmgr.AddNamespace("o", "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office");
    nsmgr.AddNamespace("x", "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:excel");
    nsmgr.AddNamespace("ss", "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:spreadsheet");

    DataSet ds = new DataSet();

    foreach (XmlNode node in 
      doc.DocumentElement.SelectNodes("//ss:Worksheet", nsmgr)) {
        DataTable dt = new DataTable(node.Attributes["ss:Name"].Value);
        ds.Tables.Add(dt);
        XmlNodeList rows = node.SelectNodes("ss:Table/ss:Row", nsmgr);
        if (rows.Count > 0) {

            //*************************
            //Add Columns To Table from header row
            //*************************
            List<ColumnType> columns = new List<ColumnType>();
            int startIndex = 0;
            if (hasHeaders) {
                foreach (XmlNode data in rows[0].SelectNodes("ss:Cell/ss:Data", nsmgr)) {
                    columns.Add(new ColumnType(typeof(string)));//default to text
                    dt.Columns.Add(data.InnerText, typeof(string));
                }
                startIndex++;
            }
            //*************************
            //Update Data-Types of columns if Auto-Detecting
            //*************************
            if (autoDetectColumnType && rows.Count > 0) {
                XmlNodeList cells = rows[startIndex].SelectNodes("ss:Cell", nsmgr);
                int actualCellIndex = 0;
                for (int cellIndex = 0; cellIndex < cells.Count; cellIndex++) {
                    XmlNode cell = cells[cellIndex];
                    if (cell.Attributes["ss:Index"] != null)
                        actualCellIndex = 
                          int.Parse(cell.Attributes["ss:Index"].Value) - 1;

                    ColumnType autoDetectType = 
                      getType(cell.SelectSingleNode("ss:Data", nsmgr));

                    if (actualCellIndex >= dt.Columns.Count) {
                        dt.Columns.Add("Column" + 
                          actualCellIndex.ToString(), autoDetectType.type);
                        columns.Add(autoDetectType);
                    } else {
                        dt.Columns[actualCellIndex].DataType = autoDetectType.type;
                        columns[actualCellIndex] = autoDetectType;
                    }

                    actualCellIndex++;
                }
            }
            //*************************
            //Load Data
            //*************************
            for (int i = startIndex; i < rows.Count; i++) {
                DataRow row = dt.NewRow();
                XmlNodeList cells = rows[i].SelectNodes("ss:Cell", nsmgr);
                int actualCellIndex = 0;
                for (int cellIndex = 0; cellIndex < cells.Count; cellIndex++) {
                    XmlNode cell = cells[cellIndex];
                    if (cell.Attributes["ss:Index"] != null)
                        actualCellIndex = int.Parse(cell.Attributes["ss:Index"].Value) - 1;

                    XmlNode data = cell.SelectSingleNode("ss:Data", nsmgr);

                    if (actualCellIndex >= dt.Columns.Count) {
                        for (int i = dt.Columns.Count; i < actualCellIndex; i++) {
                            dt.Columns.Add("Column" + 
                                       actualCellIndex.ToString(), typeof(string));
                            columns.Add(getDefaultType());
                        }
                        ColumnType autoDetectType = 
                           getType(cell.SelectSingleNode("ss:Data", nsmgr));
                        dt.Columns.Add("Column" + actualCellIndex.ToString(), 
                                       typeof(string));
                        columns.Add(autoDetectType);
                    }
                    if (data != null)
                        row[actualCellIndex] = data.InnerText;

                    actualCellIndex++;
                }

                dt.Rows.Add(row);
            }
        }
    }
    return ds;
}
    //*************************
    //Format of file, in case you're wondering
    //*************************

    //<?xml version="1.0"?>
    //<?mso-application progid="Excel.Sheet"?>
    //<Workbook>
    // <Worksheet ss:Name="Sheet1">
    //  <Table>
    //   <Row>
    //    <Cell><Data ss:Type="String">Item Number</Data></Cell>
    //    <Cell><Data ss:Type="String">Description</Data></Cell>
    //    <Cell ss:StyleID="s21"><Data ss:Type="String">Item Barcode</Data></Cell>
    //   </Row>
    // </Worksheet>
    //</Workbook>

License

This article, along with any associated source code and files, is licensed under The Code Project Open License (CPOL)


Written By
Software Developer
United States United States
likes boardgames, computer games, and enjoys his .net programming job.

Comments and Discussions

 
AnswerRe: I recive this error message "Could not find installable ISAM" Pin
ColinBashBash5-Apr-11 4:25
ColinBashBash5-Apr-11 4:25 
GeneralexcException.Message = "Data at the root level is invalid. Line 1, position 1." Pin
Roger C Moore7-Jan-11 11:21
Roger C Moore7-Jan-11 11:21 
GeneralRe: excException.Message = "Data at the root level is invalid. Line 1, position 1." Pin
ColinBashBash7-Jan-11 11:29
ColinBashBash7-Jan-11 11:29 
GeneralRe: excException.Message = "Data at the root level is invalid. Line 1, position 1." Pin
ColinBashBash7-Jan-11 11:32
ColinBashBash7-Jan-11 11:32 
GeneralMy vote of 5 Pin
Member 74095413-Nov-10 20:15
Member 74095413-Nov-10 20:15 
GeneralExternal Table not supported Pin
Sujeet Bhujbal23-Feb-10 18:29
Sujeet Bhujbal23-Feb-10 18:29 
GeneralRe: External Table not supported Pin
HardikSitapara24-Oct-10 18:37
HardikSitapara24-Oct-10 18:37 
GeneralList<ColumnType> columns = new List<ColumnType>(); Pin
fargodude12-Feb-10 5:11
fargodude12-Feb-10 5:11 
For some reason I can't get this to compile due to ColumnType is not defined.

Any suggestions?

Thanks,
Dustin
GeneralRe: List columns = new List(); Pin
ColinBashBash12-Feb-10 5:24
ColinBashBash12-Feb-10 5:24 
GeneralRe: List columns = new List(); Pin
ColinBashBash12-Feb-10 5:26
ColinBashBash12-Feb-10 5:26 
GeneralI did the opposite some time ago Pin
Sacha Barber12-Jan-09 21:58
Sacha Barber12-Jan-09 21:58 
GeneralRe: I did the opposite some time ago Pin
wizardzz17-Apr-12 7:44
wizardzz17-Apr-12 7:44 
GeneralRe: I did the opposite some time ago Pin
Sacha Barber17-Apr-12 10:35
Sacha Barber17-Apr-12 10:35 
GeneralRe: I did the opposite some time ago Pin
wizardzz17-Apr-12 10:42
wizardzz17-Apr-12 10:42 
GeneralRe: I did the opposite some time ago Pin
Slacker00729-May-12 5:16
professionalSlacker00729-May-12 5:16 

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