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 IronSoftware.Drawing; using IronXL; using IronXL.Styles; 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 April 20, 2023

How to Convert Dataset to Excel in C#

C# is a versatile programming language commonly used in the development of desktop and web applications. One useful feature of C# is the ability to export data from a dataset to an Excel spreadsheet. This functionality is particularly beneficial for developers who need to analyze and share data in a format that can be easily understood by non-technical users. With C#, developers can extract data from a dataset and transfer it to a Microsoft Excel spreadsheet for further analysis and visualization. This sought-after feature of C# allows developers to automate the process of exporting data to Excel, saving time and effort.

In this article, we will explore how to use C# to export data from a dataset to an Excel spreadsheet using the market-leading C# Excel library, IronXL.

1. IronXL

IronXL is a popular C# library that provides developers with the ability to read, write, and manipulate Excel files programmatically. With its simple and intuitive interface, IronXL makes it easy for developers to integrate Excel functionality into their C# applications. This powerful library supports various Excel file formats, including XLSX, XLS, and CSV, and offers a wide range of features such as cell styling, formula calculation, data validation, and charting.

With IronXL, developers can automate tasks related to Excel, such as importing data from external sources, generating reports, and exporting data to different file formats. Additionally, IronXL is highly efficient and capable of handling large Excel files with ease. In this article, we will explore the features and capabilities of IronXL and demonstrate how it can be used to work with Excel files in C# applications.

2. Prerequisites

To export data from a DataTable to Excel using the IronXL library, you need to meet a few prerequisites:

Visual Studio: You must have Visual Studio installed on your system to create a C# project. If you don't have it installed, you can download it from the Microsoft website.
ASP.NET: Before creating a C# project, ensure that ASP.NET is installed on your system. You can check for this by navigating to the Control Panel and searching for the "Turn Windows features on or off" option. Make sure that the ASP.NET option is enabled.
IronXL Library: The IronXL library must be installed to export data from a DataTable to an Excel file. You can install it by downloading the IronXL NuGet package from the NuGet Package Manager within Visual Studio.

3. Creating New Project on Visual Studio

To utilize the IronXL library with Excel, you need to create a .NET project in Visual Studio. You can use any version of Visual Studio, but it is recommended to use the latest version available. Depending on your requirements, you can choose from various project templates, such as Windows Forms or ASP.NET. For the purpose of this tutorial, we will use the Console Application project template to demonstrate the usage of IronXL.

How to Convert Dataset to Excel in C#: Figure 1 - Create a New Project Window

After selecting the project type, provide a name for the project and designate its location. Choose the desired framework, such as .NET Core 6, for the project.

How to Convert Dataset to Excel in C#: Figure 2 - Project configuration

Once the solution is created, the program.cs file will be opened, enabling you to enter code and construct/run the application.

How to Convert Dataset to Excel in C#: Figure 3 - Project with code open

Finally, you can incorporate the library to test the code.

4. Install IronXL

The IronXL Library can be downloaded and installed in different ways.

These are:

Using Visual Studio NuGet packages
Using the Visual Studio Command-Line.

4.1 Using Visual Studio

To install the IronXL library, we can use the NuGet Package Manager in Visual Studio. Simply open the NuGet Package Manager and search for IronXL in the Browse tab. Once you have located IronXL in the search results, select it and proceed with the installation. Once the installation is complete, you can start using the IronXL library in your project.

The below screenshot shows how we can open the NuGet Package Manager in Visual Studio.

How to Convert Dataset to Excel in C#: Figure 4 - NuGet Package Manager

IronXL in search results:

How to Convert Dataset to Excel in C#: Figure 5 - IronXL search result

4.2 Using the Visual Studio Command-Line

Many developers prefer to install packages using the command line interface. To install IronXL using the command line, follow these steps:

In Visual Studio, go to Tools > NuGet Package Manager > Package Manager Console
Enter the following line in the package manager console tab:
```
Install-Package IronXL.Excel
```

Now the package will download/install to the current project and be ready to use.

How to Convert Dataset to Excel in C#: Figure 6 - Installing via command line

5. Dataset to Excel file using IronXL

Creating an Excel file from a dataset using IronXL is straightforward, and anyone who is familiar with setting up the environment and running a program can easily convert a dataset to an Excel file with ease. In this tutorial, we will explore how to convert data from CSV and XML file formats to an Excel sheet within the Microsoft Excel application using IronXL.

5.1. Convert Dataset CSV file to XLSX file format

In this section, we will discuss how to convert CSV files to XLSX file format using IronXL in C# with just a few lines of code.


using IronXL;

WorkBook workbook = WorkBook.LoadCSV("demo.csv", fileFormat: ExcelFileFormat.XLSX, ListDelimiter: ",");
workbook.SaveAs("Csv_To_Excel.xlsx");


using IronXL;

WorkBook workbook = WorkBook.LoadCSV("demo.csv", fileFormat: ExcelFileFormat.XLSX, ListDelimiter: ",");
workbook.SaveAs("Csv_To_Excel.xlsx");

Imports IronXL

Private workbook As WorkBook = WorkBook.LoadCSV("demo.csv", fileFormat:= ExcelFileFormat.XLSX, ListDelimiter:= ",")
workbook.SaveAs("Csv_To_Excel.xlsx")

VB C#

5.1.1. Input CSV file

How to Convert Dataset to Excel in C#: Figure 7 - CSV file

5.1.2. Output xlsx file

How to Convert Dataset to Excel in C#: Figure 8 - Output spreadsheet file

Also with just a little tweak you can also convert a CSV file to an XLS file. The below code will show how.

5.2. Convert Dataset CSV file to XLSX file format

You can also convert a CSV file to an XLS file by modifying a single line of code in the above example. Replace the last line of code with this line, and the output file that gets generated will be in XLS format.


    workbook.SaveAs("Csv_To_Excel.xls");


    workbook.SaveAs("Csv_To_Excel.xls");

workbook.SaveAs("Csv_To_Excel.xls")

VB C#

How to Convert Dataset to Excel in C#: Figure 9 - Spreadsheet file

6. Conclusion

Exporting a dataset to an Excel spreadsheet using C# is a crucial functionality that can save developers significant time and effort. Fortunately, IronXL, a powerful C# library, makes this task easy by providing capabilities to read, write, and manipulate Excel files programmatically. With IronXL, developers can automate various Excel-related tasks, including importing data from external sources, generating reports, and exporting data to different file formats.

To use IronXL with Excel, developers need to create a .NET project in Visual Studio, install the IronXL library, and then convert the dataset to an Excel file. This process is straightforward, and with just a few lines of code, developers can convert a CSV file or any other data format to an Excel file in either XLS or XLSX format.

For a detailed tutorial on how to convert CSV to Excel using IronXL, please visit the following link.

To gain more insights about IronXL and how to export a DataTable to various Excel formats, please visit the following link. Additionally, you can refer to the pricing plans to obtain detailed information about prices and licensing.

Users can also benefit from Iron Suite, a suite of five professional libraries including IronXL, IronPDF, and others.