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Exporting Data into Excel in Multiple Worksheets

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29 Mar 2007CPOL 98.1K   34   17
How to export data into Excel in more than one worksheet.

Introduction

One thing that all developers come across is putting DataGrid data into an Excel sheet. In this article, I will show you how you can export your DataGrid data to an Excel file.

Exporting DataGrid to Excel

Exporting to Excel is carried out here by dynamically building Excel XML code. The advantage of such an approach is that any number of worksheets can be created. This solves the problem were Excel truncates records after a count of 63000.

Using the Code

A brief description of how to use the code is given below. Use the below function in your web page in your code-behind or in a separate class. The function dynamically generates XML code for Excel. It returns a StringWriter object.

C#
public System.IO.StringWriter ExportToExcelXML(DataSet source)
{
    System.IO.StringWriter excelDoc;
    excelDoc = new System.IO.StringWriter();
    StringBuilder ExcelXML = new StringBuilder();

    ExcelXML.Append("<xml version>\r\n<Workbook ");
    ExcelXML.Append("xmlns=\"urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:spreadsheet\"\r\n");
    ExcelXML.Append(" xmlns:o=\"urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office\"\r\n ");
    ExcelXML.Append("xmlns:x=\"urn:schemas- microsoft-com:office:");
    ExcelXML.Append("excel\"\r\n xmlns:ss=\"urn:schemas-microsoft-com:");
    ExcelXML.Append("office:spreadsheet\">\r\n <Styles>\r\n ");
    ExcelXML.Append("<Style ss:ID=\"Default\" ss:Name=\"Normal\">\r\n ");
    ExcelXML.Append("<Alignment ss:Vertical=\"Bottom\"/>\r\n <Borders/>");
    ExcelXML.Append("\r\n <Font/>\r\n <Interior/>\r\n <NumberFormat/>");
    ExcelXML.Append("\r\n <Protection/>\r\n </Style>\r\n ");
    ExcelXML.Append("<Style ss:ID=\"BoldColumn\">\r\n <Font ");
    ExcelXML.Append("x:Family=\"Swiss\" ss:Bold=\"1\"/>\r\n </Style>\r\n ");
    ExcelXML.Append("<Style ss:ID=\"StringLiteral\">\r\n <NumberFormat");
    ExcelXML.Append(" ss:Format=\"@\"/>\r\n </Style>\r\n <Style ");
    ExcelXML.Append("ss:ID=\"Decimal\">\r\n <NumberFormat ");
    ExcelXML.Append("ss:Format=\"0.0000\"/>\r\n </Style>\r\n ");
    ExcelXML.Append("<Style ss:ID=\"Integer\">\r\n <NumberFormat ");
    ExcelXML.Append("ss:Format=\"0\"/>\r\n </Style>\r\n <Style ");
    ExcelXML.Append("ss:ID=\"DateLiteral\">\r\n <NumberFormat ");
    ExcelXML.Append("ss:Format=\"mm/dd/yyyy;@\"/>\r\n </Style>\r\n ");
    ExcelXML.Append("<Style ss:ID=\"s28\">\r\n");
    ExcelXML.Append("<Alignment ss:Horizontal=\"Left\" ss:Vertical=\"Top\" 
        ss:ReadingOrder=\"LeftToRight\" ss:WrapText=\"1\"/>\r\n");
    ExcelXML.Append("<Font x:CharSet=\"1\" ss:Size=\"9\" ss:Color=\"#808080\" 
        ss:Underline=\"Single\"/>\r\n");
    ExcelXML.Append("<Interior ss:Color=\"#FFFFFF\" ss:Pattern=\"Solid\"/>
        </Style>\r\n");
    ExcelXML.Append("</Styles>\r\n ");

    string startExcelXML = ExcelXML.ToString();
    const string endExcelXML = "</Workbook>";
    int rowCount = 0;
    int sheetCount = 1;

    excelDoc.Write(startExcelXML);
    excelDoc.Write("<Worksheet ss:Name=\"Report_Sheet" + 
                   sheetCount + "\">");
    excelDoc.Write("<Table>");

    ///Header Part
    // Add any Header for the report
    ///

    excelDoc.Write("<Row ss:AutoFitHeight=\"0\" ss:Height=\"6.75\"/>\r\n");
    excelDoc.Write("<Row><Cell ss:MergeAcross=\"10\" ss:StyleID=\"s34\">
        <Data ss:Type=\"String\">");
    excelDoc.Write("HEADER TEXT");
    excelDoc.Write("</Data></Cell>");
    excelDoc.Write("<Cell ss:MergeAcross=\"1\" ss:StyleID=\"BoldColumn\">
        <Data ss:Type=\"String\">");
    excelDoc.Write("Report Date");
    excelDoc.Write("</Data></Cell>");
    excelDoc.Write("<Cell ss:MergeAcross=\"1\" ss:StyleID=\"DateLiteral\">
                <Data ss:Type=\"String\">");
    excelDoc.Write(GetDate(DateTime.Now.ToShortDateString()));
    excelDoc.Write("</Data></Cell></Row>"); 
    excelDoc.Write("<Row ss:AutoFitHeight=\"0\" ss:Height=\"10\"/>\r\n");

    ///Complete
    excelDoc.Write("<Row>");
    for (int x = 0; x < source.Tables[0].Columns.Count; x++)
    {
        excelDoc.Write("<Cell ss:StyleID=\"BoldColumn\"><Data ss:Type=\"String\">");
        excelDoc.Write(source.Tables[0].Columns[x].ColumnName);
        excelDoc.Write("</Data></Cell>");
    }
    excelDoc.Write("</Row>");

    foreach (DataRow x in source.Tables[0].Rows)
    {
        rowCount++;

        //if the number of rows is > 63000 create a new page to continue output
        if (rowCount == 63000)
        {
            rowCount = 0;
            sheetCount++;
            excelDoc.Write("</Table>");
            excelDoc.Write(" </Worksheet>");
            excelDoc.Write("<Worksheet ss:Name=\"Report_Sheet" + 
                           sheetCount + "\">");
            excelDoc.Write("<Table>");
            excelDoc.Write("<Row>");

            for (int xi = 0; xi < source.Tables[0].Columns.Count; xi++)
            {
                excelDoc.Write("<Cell ss:StyleID=\"BoldColumn\">" + 
                               "<Data ss:Type=\"String\">");
                excelDoc.Write(source.Tables[0].Columns[xi].ColumnName);
                excelDoc.Write("</Data></Cell>");
            }
            excelDoc.Write("</Row>");
        }
        excelDoc.Write("<Row>"); 

        for (int y = 0; y < source.Tables[0].Columns.Count; y++)
        {
            string XMLstring = x[y].ToString();

            XMLstring = XMLstring.Trim();
            XMLstring = XMLstring.Replace("&", "&");
            XMLstring = XMLstring.Replace(">", ">");
            XMLstring = XMLstring.Replace("<", "<");

            excelDoc.Write("<Cell ss:StyleID=\"StringLiteral\">" + 
                           "<Data ss:Type=\"String\">");
            excelDoc.Write(XMLstring);
            excelDoc.Write("</Data></Cell>");
        }
        excelDoc.Write("</Row>");
    }

    ///Ending Tag
    ///

    excelDoc.Write("<Row ss:Height=\"15\"><Cell ss:HRef=\http://www.sachin" + 
      "kumark.com\ss:MergeAcross=\"2\" ss:StyleID" + 
      "=\"s28\"><Data ss:Type=\"String\">");
    excelDoc.Write("www.sachinkumark.com");
    excelDoc.Write("</Data></Cell></Row>");
    excelDoc.Write("<Row ss:Height=\"15\"><Cell ss:MergeAcross=\"6\" 
            ss:StyleID=\"s28\"><Data ss:Type=\"String\">");
    excelDoc.Write("Copyright © 2007");
    excelDoc.Write("</Data></Cell></Row>"); 

    ///Complete
    excelDoc.Write("</Table>");
    excelDoc.Write(" </Worksheet>");
    excelDoc.Write(endExcelXML);

    return excelDoc;
}
//

The above function can be called from a button event like below:

C#
private void lnkExcel1_Click(object sender, System.EventArgs e)
{
    Response.Buffer = true; 
    Response.ContentType = "application/vnd.ms-excel";
    Response.AddHeader("Content-Disposition", "attachment; filename=Report.xls");

    this.EnableViewState = false;
    Response.Charset = string.Empty;
    System.IO.StringWriter myTextWriter = new System.IO.StringWriter();
    myTextWriter = ExportToExcelXML(Dataset);
    Response.Write(myTextWriter.ToString());
    Response.End();
}

Provide the DataSet as input to the function. For clarifications, please post in the discussion area below.

Points of Interest

Once you understand the schema, the code can be manipulated to format the rows inside Excel.

License

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


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Comments and Discussions

 
GeneralRC1C1 Notation Pin
OliverGu2-Mar-11 12:10
OliverGu2-Mar-11 12:10 
GeneralRe: RC1C1 Notation Pin
SachinKumarK2-Mar-11 22:05
SachinKumarK2-Mar-11 22:05 
The method used here for exporting data is by XML, which would mean anything entered is considered as data. So the formula would have to be computed in code before exporting to excel.
GeneralHaving Problem when file is generated the error is as Pin
hanmanthreddygurrala15-Dec-09 8:56
hanmanthreddygurrala15-Dec-09 8:56 
GeneralGetting Error "System.outofmemory" while preparing excel with a huge data. Pin
Suvarna A26-Oct-09 20:47
Suvarna A26-Oct-09 20:47 
GeneralRe: Getting Error "System.outofmemory" while preparing excel with a huge data. Pin
SachinKumarK27-Oct-09 3:31
SachinKumarK27-Oct-09 3:31 
QuestionHow can i create a sheet breakup within the same workbook Pin
speedriser14-Oct-08 2:18
speedriser14-Oct-08 2:18 
AnswerRe: How can i create a sheet breakup within the same workbook Pin
SachinKumarK27-Oct-09 3:34
SachinKumarK27-Oct-09 3:34 
Generalmade it by hand Pin
bigblue19808-Sep-08 17:26
bigblue19808-Sep-08 17:26 
GeneralRe: made it by hand Pin
SachinKumarK16-Sep-08 22:10
SachinKumarK16-Sep-08 22:10 
GeneralWindows Application code Pin
Walaza8-Apr-08 8:02
Walaza8-Apr-08 8:02 
GeneralRe: Windows Application code Pin
SachinKumarK30-Apr-08 1:23
SachinKumarK30-Apr-08 1:23 
QuestionNot Looping Pin
ferapont12328-Nov-07 9:06
ferapont12328-Nov-07 9:06 
AnswerRe: Not Looping Pin
SachinKumarK30-Nov-07 8:44
SachinKumarK30-Nov-07 8:44 
GeneralRe: Not Looping Pin
ferapont1233-Dec-07 10:04
ferapont1233-Dec-07 10:04 
GeneralSource code Pin
pratap ankesh3-Apr-07 2:16
pratap ankesh3-Apr-07 2:16 
GeneralRe: Source code Pin
SachinKumarK5-Apr-07 23:33
SachinKumarK5-Apr-07 23:33 
GeneralRe: Source code Pin
Pradeep K V6-Apr-07 0:18
Pradeep K V6-Apr-07 0:18 

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