Excel Spreadsheet Files in C# & VB.NET Applications

Reading and creating Excel (XLS, XLSX and CSV) files in C# and all other .NET languages is easy using the IronXL software library from Iron Software.

IronXL does not require Excel to be installed on your server or Interop. IronXL provides a faster and more intuitive API than Microsoft.Office.Interop.Excel.

IronXL works on the following platforms:

  • .NET Framework 4.6.2 and above for Windows and Azure
  • .NET Core 2 and above for Windows, Linux, MacOS, and Azure
  • .NET 5, .NET 6, .NET 7, Mono, Mobile, and Xamarin

Install IronXL

Firstly install IronXL, using our NuGet package or by downloading the DLL. IronXL classes can be found in the IronXL namespace.

The easiest way to install IronXL is using the NuGet Package Manager for Visual-Studio: The package name is IronXL.Excel.

Install-Package IronXL.Excel

https://www.nuget.org/packages/ironxl.excel/

Reading an Excel Document

Reading data from an excel file with IronXL takes a few lines of code.

:path=/static-assets/excel/content-code-examples/get-started/get-started-1.cs
using IronXL;

// Supported spreadsheet formats for reading include: XLSX, XLS, CSV and TSV
WorkBook workBook = WorkBook.Load("data.xlsx");
WorkSheet workSheet = workBook.WorkSheets.First();

// Select cells easily in Excel notation and return the calculated value, date, text or formula
int cellValue = workSheet["A2"].IntValue;

// Read from Ranges of cells elegantly.
foreach (var cell in workSheet["A2:B10"])
{
    Console.WriteLine("Cell {0} has value '{1}'", cell.AddressString, cell.Text);
}
Imports IronXL

' Supported spreadsheet formats for reading include: XLSX, XLS, CSV and TSV
Private workBook As WorkBook = WorkBook.Load("data.xlsx")
Private workSheet As WorkSheet = workBook.WorkSheets.First()

' Select cells easily in Excel notation and return the calculated value, date, text or formula
Private cellValue As Integer = workSheet("A2").IntValue

' Read from Ranges of cells elegantly.
For Each cell In workSheet("A2:B10")
	Console.WriteLine("Cell {0} has value '{1}'", cell.AddressString, cell.Text)
Next cell
VB   C#

Creating New Excel Documents

To create Excel documents in C# or VB.NET; IronXL provides a simple, fast interface.

:path=/static-assets/excel/content-code-examples/get-started/get-started-2.cs
using IronXL;

// Create new Excel WorkBook document.
WorkBook workBook = WorkBook.Create(ExcelFileFormat.XLSX);
workBook.Metadata.Author = "IronXL";

// Add a blank WorkSheet
WorkSheet workSheet = workBook.CreateWorkSheet("main_sheet");

// Add data and styles to the new worksheet
workSheet["A1"].Value = "Hello World";
workSheet["A2"].Style.BottomBorder.SetColor("#ff6600");
workSheet["A2"].Style.BottomBorder.Type = IronXL.Styles.BorderType.Double;

// Save the excel file
workBook.SaveAs("NewExcelFile.xlsx");
Imports IronXL

' Create new Excel WorkBook document.
Private workBook As WorkBook = WorkBook.Create(ExcelFileFormat.XLSX)
workBook.Metadata.Author = "IronXL"

' Add a blank WorkSheet
Dim workSheet As WorkSheet = workBook.CreateWorkSheet("main_sheet")

' Add data and styles to the new worksheet
workSheet("A1").Value = "Hello World"
workSheet("A2").Style.BottomBorder.SetColor("#ff6600")
workSheet("A2").Style.BottomBorder.Type = IronXL.Styles.BorderType.Double

' Save the excel file
workBook.SaveAs("NewExcelFile.xlsx")
VB   C#

Exporting as CSV, XLS, XLSX, JSON or XML

We can also save or export as many common structured spreadsheet file formats.

:path=/static-assets/excel/content-code-examples/get-started/get-started-3.cs
// Export to many formats with fluent saving
workSheet.SaveAs("NewExcelFile.xls");
workSheet.SaveAs("NewExcelFile.xlsx");
workSheet.SaveAsCsv("NewExcelFile.csv");
workSheet.SaveAsJson("NewExcelFile.json");
workSheet.SaveAsXml("NewExcelFile.xml");
' Export to many formats with fluent saving
workSheet.SaveAs("NewExcelFile.xls")
workSheet.SaveAs("NewExcelFile.xlsx")
workSheet.SaveAsCsv("NewExcelFile.csv")
workSheet.SaveAsJson("NewExcelFile.json")
workSheet.SaveAsXml("NewExcelFile.xml")
VB   C#

Styling Cells and Ranges

Excel cells and ranges can be styled using the IronXL.Range.Style object.

:path=/static-assets/excel/content-code-examples/get-started/get-started-4.cs
// Set cell's value and styles
workSheet["A1"].Value = "Hello World";
workSheet["A2"].Style.BottomBorder.SetColor("#ff6600");
workSheet["A2"].Style.BottomBorder.Type = IronXL.Styles.BorderType.Double;
' Set cell's value and styles
workSheet("A1").Value = "Hello World"
workSheet("A2").Style.BottomBorder.SetColor("#ff6600")
workSheet("A2").Style.BottomBorder.Type = IronXL.Styles.BorderType.Double
VB   C#

Sorting Ranges

Using an IronXL we can sort a range of Excel Cells using Range.

:path=/static-assets/excel/content-code-examples/get-started/get-started-5.cs
using IronXL;

WorkBook workBook = WorkBook.Load("test.xls");
WorkSheet workSheet = workBook.WorkSheets.First();

// This is how we get range from Excel worksheet
Range range = workSheet["A2:A8"];

// Sort the range in the sheet
range.SortAscending();
workBook.Save();
Imports IronXL

Private workBook As WorkBook = WorkBook.Load("test.xls")
Private workSheet As WorkSheet = workBook.WorkSheets.First()

' This is how we get range from Excel worksheet
Private range As Range = workSheet("A2:A8")

' Sort the range in the sheet
range.SortAscending()
workBook.Save()
VB   C#

Editing Formulas

Editing an Excel formula is as easy as assigning a value with an = equals sign at the start. The formula will be calculated live.

:path=/static-assets/excel/content-code-examples/get-started/get-started-6.cs
// Set a formula
workSheet["A1"].Value = "=SUM(A2:A10)";

// Get the calculated value
decimal sum = workSheet["A1"].DecimalValue;
' Set a formula
workSheet("A1").Value = "=SUM(A2:A10)"

' Get the calculated value
Dim sum As Decimal = workSheet("A1").DecimalValue
VB   C#

Why Choose IronXL?

IronXL features an easy API for developers to read and write excel documents for .NET.

IronXL does not require installation of Microsoft Excel on your server or Excel Interop to access Excel documents. This makes working with Excel files in .NET, a very quick and simple task.

Moving Forward

To get more out of IronXL, we encourage you to read the documentation within the .NET API Reference in an MSDN format.