using IronXL; using System; using System.Linq; // Supported for XLSX, XLS, XLSM, XLTX, CSV and TSV WorkBook workBook = WorkBook.Load("sample.xlsx"); // Select worksheet at index 0 WorkSheet workSheet = workBook.WorkSheets[0]; // Get any existing worksheet WorkSheet firstSheet = workBook.DefaultWorkSheet; // Select a cell and return the converted value int cellValue = workSheet["A2"].IntValue; // Read from ranges of cells elegantly. foreach (var cell in workSheet["A2:A10"]) { Console.WriteLine("Cell {0} has value '{1}'", cell.AddressString, cell.Text); } // Calculate aggregate values such as Min, Max and Sum decimal sum = workSheet["A2:A10"].Sum(); // Linq compatible decimal max = workSheet["A2:A10"].Max(c => c.DecimalValue);

using IronXL; using IronXL.Styles; using IronSoftware.Drawing; using System.Linq; WorkBook workBook = WorkBook.Load("sample.xls"); WorkSheet workSheet = workBook.WorkSheets.First(); var range = workSheet["A1:H10"]; var cell = range.First(); // Set background color of the cell with an rgb string cell.Style.SetBackgroundColor("#428D65"); // Apply styling to the whole range. // Set underline property to the font // FontUnderlineType is enum that stands for different types of font underlying range.Style.Font.Underline = FontUnderlineType.SingleAccounting; // Define whether to use horizontal line through the text or not range.Style.Font.Strikeout = false; // Define whether the font is bold or not range.Style.Font.Bold = true; // Define whether the font is italic or not range.Style.Font.Italic = false; // Get or set script property of a font // Font script enum stands for available options range.Style.Font.FontScript = FontScript.Super; // Set the type of the border line // There are also TopBorder,LeftBorder,RightBorder,DiagonalBorder properties // BorderType enum indicates the line style of a border in a cell range.Style.BottomBorder.Type = BorderType.MediumDashed; // Indicate whether the cell should be auto-sized range.Style.ShrinkToFit = true; // Set alignment of the cell range.Style.VerticalAlignment = VerticalAlignment.Bottom; // Set border color range.Style.DiagonalBorder.SetColor("#20C96F"); // Define border type and border direction as well range.Style.DiagonalBorder.Type = BorderType.Thick; // DiagonalBorderDirection enum stands for direction of diagonal border inside cell range.Style.DiagonalBorderDirection = DiagonalBorderDirection.Forward; // Set background color of cells range.Style.SetBackgroundColor(Color.Aquamarine); // Set fill pattern of the cell // FillPattern enum indicates the style of fill pattern range.Style.FillPattern = FillPattern.Diamonds; // Set the number of spaces to intend the text range.Style.Indention = 5; // Indicate if the text is wrapped range.Style.WrapText = true; workBook.SaveAs("stylingOptions.xls");

Published February 12, 2023

How to Create CSV File in C# (Step-By-Step) Tutorial

Looking for how to create/write new CSV file data format using C# .NET class library in Console Application? If yes, then you are on the right place.

This is the simple tutorial written for creating multi-row CSV files (with headings) from strings using the IronXL C#.NET library. IronXL is the market leading .NET library for handling documents like Excel, CSV and XLS without any additional user configuration.

About CSV Files

CSV (or Comma Separated Values) is a well-known data format used in databases and spreadsheets by users. Commas are used to separate rows of strings when information is retained on a single line. Using this format, thousands of lines of text separated by newline can be read in mere seconds. Furthermore, it is portable and light enough to be easily moved between devices.

How can I store/parse data in a CSV file?

In this context, CSV files can be separated by commas. All the written rows should be saved separately and terminated by newline when the files are loaded. The columns should be formatted using two commas to separate the values or points for users.

How can I create and write CSV files using C#?

Here is simplest method on generating and editing CSV files using C#, and you can expand upon it for specific writing needs. First, you must create a new C# Console app and follow the following steps.

All you need to get started is Visual Studio, and we'll walk you through installing the IronXL C#.NET library using the Package Manager below.

1. Starting a New Project in Visual Studio

Open the Visual Studio IDE.

Go to the File menu, and select Console Application after choosing "New Project."

Enter the Project Name and the preferred project location in the appropriate text box.

How to Create CSV Files in C# - Figure 1: Configure New Project

Create a New C#.NET Console Project

Click the Next button, and select the required .NET Framework, as shown in the screenshot below, and click on Create.

How to Create CSV Files in C# - Figure 2: Target Framework Selection

Select a .NET Framework for the New C#.NET Console Project

The program.cs file will open.

How to Create CSV Files in C# - Figure 3: Program.cs

The code for this sample project will be added to the program.cs file

2. Install the IronXL C# Library

The IronXL library can be downloaded and installed in many different ways but we will only discuss two of those:

Using the Visual Studio NuGet Package Manager
Using the Visual Studio Command-Line

2.1. Using the Visual Studio NuGet Package Manager

The NuGet Package Manager option is available in the Visual Studio software to install the package directly into the solution. The below screenshot shows how to open it.

How to Create CSV Files in C# - Figure 4: NuGet Package Manager

Accessing Visual Studio's NuGet Package Manager UI Feature

The NuGet Package Manager feature provides an area where users can browse and search for packages that are offered on the NuGet website. Enter "IronXL" in the search field to find the IronXL library.

How to Create CSV Files in C# - Figure 5: NuGet Package Manager

Locate the IronXL library in Visual Studio's NuGet Package Manager UI by searching for it in the Browse section

We can see the list of linked packages from the search in the image up above. We need to select the IronXL option and install the package to our solution.

2.2. Using the Visual Studio Command-Line

In Visual Studio menu go to Tools, move the cursor to NuGet Package Manager and click on Package Manager Console.

How to Create CSV Files in C# - Figure 6: Visual Studio Commandline

You can install the IronXL C# Excel Library via the commandline using the Install-Package IronXL.Excel NuGet Console command.

Package Manager Console will appear in the bottom of the screen. Just write the following code command and press enter, IronXL will install an instance.

Install-Package IronXL.Excel

3. Creating CSV Files

In this blog, we will discuss about two different methods for creating a CSV file using IronXL.

Create CSV from XLSX file
Create CSV file by creating new workbook and write data

3.1. Create CSV from XLSX file

For creating CSV file, we need an Excel file containing some example data. For this example, we will use the following XLSX file to create a CSV file.

How to Create CSV Files in C# - Figure 7: Sample Excel File

A sample .XLSX Excel File that will be transformed into an CSV file

Enter the code given below in the opened program.cs file and run the project.

using IronXL;
WorkBook wb = WorkBook.Load("test.xlsx");
wb.SaveAsCsv("Parsed CSV.csv");

using IronXL;
WorkBook wb = WorkBook.Load("test.xlsx");
wb.SaveAsCsv("Parsed CSV.csv");

Imports IronXL
Private wb As WorkBook = WorkBook.Load("test.xlsx")
wb.SaveAsCsv("Parsed CSV.csv")

VB C#

After execution is completed, a new file named Parsed CSV.csv file will be created. Open the file using your preferred Spreadsheet application.

How to Create CSV Files in C# - Figure 8: CSV Data

The resulting CSV File generated from an .XLSX file using IronXL

3.2. Create new CSV Workbook Programmatically

Here, we will discuss about how to create CSV file from scratch using IronXL.

Let's get started with an example code.

using IronXL;

WorkBook xlsWorkbook = WorkBook.Create(ExcelFileFormat.XLSX);
xlsWorkbook.Metadata.Author = "IronXL";
WorkSheet xlsSheet = xlsWorkbook.CreateWorkSheet("new_sheet");
xlsSheet["A1"].Value = "Hello";
xlsSheet["B1"].Value = "World";
xlsSheet["A2"].Value = "New CSV example output";
xlsSheet["B2"].Value = "From Scratch";
xlsWorkbook.SaveAsCsv("NewCSVFile.csv");

using IronXL;

WorkBook xlsWorkbook = WorkBook.Create(ExcelFileFormat.XLSX);
xlsWorkbook.Metadata.Author = "IronXL";
WorkSheet xlsSheet = xlsWorkbook.CreateWorkSheet("new_sheet");
xlsSheet["A1"].Value = "Hello";
xlsSheet["B1"].Value = "World";
xlsSheet["A2"].Value = "New CSV example output";
xlsSheet["B2"].Value = "From Scratch";
xlsWorkbook.SaveAsCsv("NewCSVFile.csv");

Imports IronXL

Private xlsWorkbook As WorkBook = WorkBook.Create(ExcelFileFormat.XLSX)
xlsWorkbook.Metadata.Author = "IronXL"
Dim xlsSheet As WorkSheet = xlsWorkbook.CreateWorkSheet("new_sheet")
xlsSheet("A1").Value = "Hello"
xlsSheet("B1").Value = "World"
xlsSheet("A2").Value = "New CSV example output"
xlsSheet("B2").Value = "From Scratch"
xlsWorkbook.SaveAsCsv("NewCSVFile.csv")

VB C#

The sample code above first creates a new workbook, and then populates the rows and columns of the workbook with data. Afterwards, it saves the file using the SaveAsCsv method.