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Export to Excel using VB.NET

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25 Apr 2008CPOL1 min read 1M   36K   172   132
Export data from VB.NET Dataset to Excel without using Datagrid/DataTable

Senthil_S__Software_Eng_/image2.jpg

Introduction

Exporting data to Excel of Microsoft Office is currently needed. But many of them used very complicated coding for simple export either from Datagrid or DataTable. I used simple Dataset to export the data.

Background

Introducing the way of sending data from datagrid or by Datatable. I used Dataset which is easy to use. But for code optimization, dataset is not advisable compared to Reader and DataTable.

Using the Code

Currently, available code for exporting the data to Excel are given which is so complete and not straight forward because they used the Datagrid and DataTable which are given below:

From DataTable to Excel sheet:

VB.NET
Dim dt1 As New DataTable
Dim I1, J1 As Integer
For I1 = 0 To dsmas1.Tables(0).Columns.Count - 1
      dt1.Columns.Add(dsmas1.Tables(0).Columns(I1).ColumnName)
 Next
 For I1 = 0 To dsmas1.Tables(0).Rows.Count - 1
      Dim DR As DataRow = Nothing
      DR = dt1.NewRow
      For J1 = 0 To dsmas1.Tables(0).Columns.Count - 1
          DR.Item(J1) = dsmas1.Tables(0).Rows(I1).ItemArray(J1)
      Next
      dt1.Rows.Add(DR)
 Next
 rel_ds.Tables.Add(dt1)
 Dim dt As New DataTable
 Dim I, J As Integer
 For I = 0 To dschd1.Tables(0).Columns.Count - 1
      dt.Columns.Add(dschd1.Tables(0).Columns(I).ColumnName)
 Next
 For I = 0 To dschd1.Tables(0).Rows.Count - 1
      Dim DR As DataRow = Nothing
      DR = dt.NewRow
      For J = 0 To dschd1.Tables(0).Columns.Count - 1
          DR.Item(J) = dschd1.Tables(0).Rows(I).ItemArray(J)
      Next
      dt.Rows.Add(DR)
 Next
  rel_ds.Tables.Add(dt)

For DataGrid to Excel sheet:

VB.NET
'verfying the datagridview having data or not
If ((DataGridView1.Columns.Count = 0) Or (DataGridView1.Rows.Count = 0)) Then
    Exit Sub
End If

'Creating dataset to export
Dim dset As New DataSet
'add table to dataset
dset.Tables.Add()
'add column to that table
For i As Integer = 0 To DataGridView1.ColumnCount - 1
    dset.Tables(0).Columns.Add(DataGridView1.Columns(i).HeaderText)
Next
'add rows to the table
Dim dr1 As DataRow
For i As Integer = 0 To DataGridView1.RowCount - 1
    dr1 = dset.Tables(0).NewRow
    For j As Integer = 0 To DataGridView1.Columns.Count - 1
        dr1(j) = DataGridView1.Rows(i).Cells(j).Value
    Next
    dset.Tables(0).Rows.Add(dr1)
Next

Dim excel As New Microsoft.Office.Interop.Excel.ApplicationClass
Dim wBook As Microsoft.Office.Interop.Excel.Workbook
Dim wSheet As Microsoft.Office.Interop.Excel.Worksheet

wBook = excel.Workbooks.Add()
wSheet = wBook.ActiveSheet()

Dim dt As System.Data.DataTable = dset.Tables(0)
Dim dc As System.Data.DataColumn
Dim dr As System.Data.DataRow
Dim colIndex As Integer = 0
Dim rowIndex As Integer = 0

For Each dc In dt.Columns
    colIndex = colIndex + 1
    excel.Cells(1, colIndex) = dc.ColumnName
Next

For Each dr In dt.Rows
    rowIndex = rowIndex + 1
    colIndex = 0
    For Each dc In dt.Columns
        colIndex = colIndex + 1
        excel.Cells(rowIndex + 1, colIndex) = dr(dc.ColumnName)

    Next
Next

wSheet.Columns.AutoFit()
Dim strFileName As String = "D:\ss.xls"
Dim blnFileOpen As Boolean = False
Try
    Dim fileTemp As System.IO.FileStream = System.IO.File.OpenWrite(strFileName)
    fileTemp.Close()
Catch ex As Exception
    blnFileOpen = False
End Try

If System.IO.File.Exists(strFileName) Then
    System.IO.File.Delete(strFileName)
End If

wBook.SaveAs(strFileName)
excel.Workbooks.Open(strFileName)
excel.Visible = True

But I used only Dataset to Excel sheet.

In code, I used a user defined function called "Load_Excel_Details()" in which I used an old technique like create Object for Excel, add the Book for a sheet and sheet for the data.

i.e,.

  • Excel <-- System.Runtime.InteropServices.Marshal.ReleaseComObject(Excel)
    • Book <------ Excel Workbooks.Add()
      • Sheet <----- Excel SheetsInNewWorkbook = 1
        • Data <----- Excel cells(1, i).value

which is used in the code like given below:

VB.NET
 With Excel
       .SheetsInNewWorkbook = 1
       .Workbooks.Add()
       .Worksheets(1).Select()

      Dim i As Integer = 1
      For col = 0 To ComDset.Tables(0).Columns.Count - 1
           .cells(1, i).value = ComDset.Tables(0).Columns(col).ColumnName
           .cells(1, i).EntireRow.Font.Bold = True
           i += 1
      Next

            i = 2

       Dim k As Integer = 1
       For col = 0 To ComDset.Tables(0).Columns.Count - 1
          i = 2
          For row = 0 To ComDset.Tables(0).Rows.Count - 1
              .Cells(i, k).Value = ComDset.Tables(0).Rows(row).ItemArray(col)
               i += 1
          Next
               k += 1
       Next
          filename = "c:\File_Exported.xls"
         .ActiveCell.Worksheet.SaveAs(filename)
 End With

Points of Interest

I used simple For loops.... and insert the values by Rows, Columns and Cells formats.

History

I proposed this after I used it in my company project which was appreciate by the customers.

License

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


Written By
Software Developer
India India
Hello,
This is Senthil.S. I am a Software Engineer at TCS. I am Currently Standing on .Net and Flex Platform.

Comments and Discussions

 
AnswerRe: Exporting DataGridView contents in an excel file following designed column format in an excel template 97-2003 Pin
Kurfuerstendamm19-Nov-13 0:25
Kurfuerstendamm19-Nov-13 0:25 
GeneralMy vote of 5 Pin
MacParekh21-May-12 21:20
MacParekh21-May-12 21:20 
GeneralMy vote of 5 Pin
Member 432084410-Feb-12 4:52
Member 432084410-Feb-12 4:52 
QuestionSeriously? Pin
ortund5-Jan-12 20:57
ortund5-Jan-12 20:57 
AnswerRe: Seriously? Pin
Senthil Sambandam14-Nov-14 5:06
professionalSenthil Sambandam14-Nov-14 5:06 
SuggestionAlternative way to export to a (genuine) Excel 2007 file, using OpenXML Pin
Michael Gledhill5-Dec-11 0:58
Michael Gledhill5-Dec-11 0:58 
GeneralMy vote of 5 Pin
Member 815120624-Nov-11 2:55
Member 815120624-Nov-11 2:55 
QuestionKeep getting error "A first chance exception of type 'System.NotImplementedException' occurred" Pin
Member 833666720-Oct-11 11:22
Member 833666720-Oct-11 11:22 
AnswerRe: Keep getting error "A first chance exception of type 'System.NotImplementedException' occurred" Pin
Senthil Sambandam14-Nov-14 5:19
professionalSenthil Sambandam14-Nov-14 5:19 
QuestionThans Senthil S Pin
dongcr10-Aug-11 22:54
dongcr10-Aug-11 22:54 
GeneralMy vote of 5 Pin
dongcr10-Aug-11 22:39
dongcr10-Aug-11 22:39 
QuestionExport only visible columns Pin
Member 80141176-Jul-11 6:31
Member 80141176-Jul-11 6:31 
GeneralMy vote of 4 Pin
Member 80141176-Jul-11 6:29
Member 80141176-Jul-11 6:29 
GeneralMy vote of 5 Pin
deo cabral14-Jun-11 7:29
professionaldeo cabral14-Jun-11 7:29 
GeneralRetrieve all the database table values to an excel Pin
Bhagya1112-Jun-11 22:56
Bhagya1112-Jun-11 22:56 
Generalyet another very nice excel export library Pin
aron.sinoai22-Apr-11 10:00
aron.sinoai22-Apr-11 10:00 
Generali got error Pin
sanhadenn9-Mar-11 20:10
sanhadenn9-Mar-11 20:10 
GeneralMy vote of 5 Pin
McGuire28-Feb-11 12:25
McGuire28-Feb-11 12:25 
Generalthanks Pin
ekomahendro22-Feb-11 22:05
ekomahendro22-Feb-11 22:05 
GeneralMy vote of 5 Pin
vvsbabji18-Jan-11 4:28
vvsbabji18-Jan-11 4:28 
Generalthanks Pin
jonesberyl17-Aug-10 22:15
jonesberyl17-Aug-10 22:15 
GeneralMy vote of 5 Pin
kumar_vk15-Aug-10 23:14
kumar_vk15-Aug-10 23:14 
GeneralMy vote of 5 Pin
sankar07Ind15-Aug-10 23:10
sankar07Ind15-Aug-10 23:10 
GeneralDataset takes too much time Pin
lbs.allies31-Mar-10 23:32
lbs.allies31-Mar-10 23:32 
GeneralRe: Dataset takes too much time Pin
JamesHoward9726-Nov-11 22:50
JamesHoward9726-Nov-11 22:50 

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