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C# Excel Interop Workaround

Many projects use Excel to communicate clearly, but if you are using Microsoft.Office.Interop.Excel then you have likely had to face many complicated lines of code. In this tutorial, we will use IronXL as a C# Excel Interop workaround, so you don't have to use Interop in order to finish your project. You can use Excel file data, create Excel files, edit and manipulate, all using C# programming.

C# Excel No Interop

How to Use Excel Interop Alternatively

  1. Install an Excel library to process Excel files.
  2. Open the Workbook and add the current Excel file.
  3. Set the default Worksheet.
  4. Read the value from the Excel Workbook.
  5. Process and show the value.

Step 1

1. Download IronXL Library

Download IronXL Library or install with NuGet to access the free library and then follow step by step to work through this tutorial on using Excel without Interop. Licenses available if you want to go live with your project.

Install-Package IronXL.Excel

How to Tutorial

2. Access Excel File Data

To develop business applications, we need easy and perfect access to data from Excel files and the ability to manipulate them programmatically according to a variety of requirements. With IronXL, use the WorkBook.Load() function, which grants access to reading a specific Excel file.

After accessing the WorkBook, you can then choose a specific WorkSheet using the WorkBook.GetWorkSheet() function. Now you have all Excel file data available. See the following example for how we used these functions to get Excel file data in a C# project.

/**
Access File Data
anchor-access-excel-file-data
**/
using IronXL;
static void Main(string [] args)
{
    //Access Excel file
    WorkBook wb = WorkBook.Load("sample.xlsx");
    //Access WorkSheet of Excel file
    WorkSheet ws = wb.GetWorkSheet("Sheet1");
    //get specific cell value
    string a = ws ["A5"].Value.ToString();
    Console.WriteLine(" Getting Single Value:\n\n   Value of Cell A5: {0} ",a);
    Console.WriteLine("\n Getting Many Cells Value using Loop:\n");
    //get many cell values using range function
    foreach (var cell in ws ["B2:B10"])
    {
        Console.WriteLine("   Value is: {0}", cell.Text);
    }
    Console.ReadKey();
}
/**
Access File Data
anchor-access-excel-file-data
**/
using IronXL;
static void Main(string [] args)
{
    //Access Excel file
    WorkBook wb = WorkBook.Load("sample.xlsx");
    //Access WorkSheet of Excel file
    WorkSheet ws = wb.GetWorkSheet("Sheet1");
    //get specific cell value
    string a = ws ["A5"].Value.ToString();
    Console.WriteLine(" Getting Single Value:\n\n   Value of Cell A5: {0} ",a);
    Console.WriteLine("\n Getting Many Cells Value using Loop:\n");
    //get many cell values using range function
    foreach (var cell in ws ["B2:B10"])
    {
        Console.WriteLine("   Value is: {0}", cell.Text);
    }
    Console.ReadKey();
}
'''
'''Access File Data
'''anchor-access-excel-file-data
'''*
Imports Microsoft.VisualBasic
Imports IronXL
Shared Sub Main(ByVal args() As String)
	'Access Excel file
	Dim wb As WorkBook = WorkBook.Load("sample.xlsx")
	'Access WorkSheet of Excel file
	Dim ws As WorkSheet = wb.GetWorkSheet("Sheet1")
	'get specific cell value
	Dim a As String = ws ("A5").Value.ToString()
	Console.WriteLine(" Getting Single Value:" & vbLf & vbLf & "   Value of Cell A5: {0} ",a)
	Console.WriteLine(vbLf & " Getting Many Cells Value using Loop:" & vbLf)
	'get many cell values using range function
	For Each cell In ws ("B2:B10")
		Console.WriteLine("   Value is: {0}", cell.Text)
	Next cell
	Console.ReadKey()
End Sub
VB   C#

This code will produce the following outcome:

With the Excel file looking like this:

We can see that our Excel file, sample.xlsx, has small business in the A5 cell. The other values from B2 to B10 are the same and displayed in the output.

DataSet and DataTables

We also can also work with Excel files as a dataset, and datatables, using these directions.

/**
DataSet and DataTables
anchor-dataset-and-datatables
**/
//Access WorkBook.          
WorkBook wb = WorkBook.Load("sample.xlsx");
//Access WorkSheet.
 WorkSheet ws = wb.GetWorkSheet("Sheet1");
//Behave with a workbook as Dataset.
DataSet ds = wb.ToDataSet(); 
//Behave with workbook as DataTable
DataTable dt = ws.ToDataTable(true);
/**
DataSet and DataTables
anchor-dataset-and-datatables
**/
//Access WorkBook.          
WorkBook wb = WorkBook.Load("sample.xlsx");
//Access WorkSheet.
 WorkSheet ws = wb.GetWorkSheet("Sheet1");
//Behave with a workbook as Dataset.
DataSet ds = wb.ToDataSet(); 
//Behave with workbook as DataTable
DataTable dt = ws.ToDataTable(true);
'''
'''DataSet and DataTables
'''anchor-dataset-and-datatables
'''*
'Access WorkBook.          
Dim wb As WorkBook = WorkBook.Load("sample.xlsx")
'Access WorkSheet.
 Dim ws As WorkSheet = wb.GetWorkSheet("Sheet1")
'Behave with a workbook as Dataset.
Dim ds As DataSet = wb.ToDataSet()
'Behave with workbook as DataTable
Dim dt As DataTable = ws.ToDataTable(True)
VB   C#

You can read more about how to work with Excel DataSet and DataTables, which provides more code examples and explanations on the process.

Now, we will see other aspect, which is about creating new Excel file in our C# project.

3. Create New Excel File

We can easily create a new Excel SpreadSheet and insert data in it programmatically in our CSharp project. To accomplish this, IronXL provides the WorkBook.Create() function, which creates a new Excel file.

We can then create as many WorkSheets as needed using the WorkBook.CreateWorkSheet() function.

After that, we can also insert data, as shown in the example below:

/**
Create New Excel 
anchor-create-new-excel-file
**/
using IronXL;
static void Main(string [] args)
{
    //create new WorkBook
    WorkBook wb = WorkBook.Create();
    //Create new WorkSheet in wb
    WorkSheet ws = wb.CreateWorkSheet("sheet1");
    //Insert Data 
    ws ["A1"].Value = "New Value A1";
    ws ["B2"].Value = "New Value B2";
    //Save newly created Excel file
    wb.SaveAs("NewExcelFile.xlsx");
}
/**
Create New Excel 
anchor-create-new-excel-file
**/
using IronXL;
static void Main(string [] args)
{
    //create new WorkBook
    WorkBook wb = WorkBook.Create();
    //Create new WorkSheet in wb
    WorkSheet ws = wb.CreateWorkSheet("sheet1");
    //Insert Data 
    ws ["A1"].Value = "New Value A1";
    ws ["B2"].Value = "New Value B2";
    //Save newly created Excel file
    wb.SaveAs("NewExcelFile.xlsx");
}
'''
'''Create New Excel 
'''anchor-create-new-excel-file
'''*
Imports IronXL
Shared Sub Main(ByVal args() As String)
	'create new WorkBook
	Dim wb As WorkBook = WorkBook.Create()
	'Create new WorkSheet in wb
	Dim ws As WorkSheet = wb.CreateWorkSheet("sheet1")
	'Insert Data 
	ws ("A1").Value = "New Value A1"
	ws ("B2").Value = "New Value B2"
	'Save newly created Excel file
	wb.SaveAs("NewExcelFile.xlsx")
End Sub
VB   C#

The above code will create a new Excel file with the name NewExcelFile.xlsx, and insert new data in cell addresses A1 and B1 with values New Value A1 and New Value B2 respectively. With this set up, you can insert data in the same way, as much as you need.

Note: If you are creating a new Excel file or modify the existing one, don't forget to save the file as shown in the example above.

Dig deeper into how to Create new Excel SpreadSheets using C# and try the code in your project.

4. Modify Existing Excel File

We can modify existing Excel files and insert updated data in it programmatically. In Excel file modifications, we will see the following aspects:

  • Update the cell value
  • Replace old values with new one
  • Remove the row or column

Let's see how to implement the above topics in our CSharp project.

Update Cell Value

It is very simple to update the cell value of an existing Excel SpreadSheet. Just access the Excel file in the project and specify its WorkSheet, and then update its data as shown in the example below:

/**
Update Cell Value
anchor-update-cell-value
**/
using IronXL;
static void Main(string [] args)
{
    WorkBook wb = WorkBook.Load("sample.xlsx");
    WorkSheet ws = wb.GetWorkSheet("Sheet1");
    //update A3 value
    ws ["A3"].Value = "New Value of A3";
    wb.SaveAs("sample.xlsx");
}
/**
Update Cell Value
anchor-update-cell-value
**/
using IronXL;
static void Main(string [] args)
{
    WorkBook wb = WorkBook.Load("sample.xlsx");
    WorkSheet ws = wb.GetWorkSheet("Sheet1");
    //update A3 value
    ws ["A3"].Value = "New Value of A3";
    wb.SaveAs("sample.xlsx");
}
'''
'''Update Cell Value
'''anchor-update-cell-value
'''*
Imports IronXL
Shared Sub Main(ByVal args() As String)
	Dim wb As WorkBook = WorkBook.Load("sample.xlsx")
	Dim ws As WorkSheet = wb.GetWorkSheet("Sheet1")
	'update A3 value
	ws ("A3").Value = "New Value of A3"
	wb.SaveAs("sample.xlsx")
End Sub
VB   C#

The above code will update the value of cell A3 with New Value of A3.

We also can update multiple cells with a static value, using the range function:

 ws ["A3:C3"].Value = "New Value";
 ws ["A3:C3"].Value = "New Value";
ws ("A3:C3").Value = "New Value"
VB   C#

This will update row number 3 from A3 to C3 cells with the New Value of Excel file.

Learn more about using the Range Function in C# with these examples.

Replace Cell Values

It is the beauty of IronXL that we can easily replaces the old values with new values in existing Excel file and it covers all the following aspects:

  • Replace values of a complete WorkSheet:

    WorkSheet.Replace("old value", "new value");
    WorkSheet.Replace("old value", "new value");
    WorkSheet.Replace("old value", "new value")
    VB   C#

  • Replace values of a specific row:

    WorkSheet.Rows [RowIndex].Replace("old value", "new value");
    WorkSheet.Rows [RowIndex].Replace("old value", "new value");
    WorkSheet.Rows (RowIndex).Replace("old value", "new value")
    VB   C#

  • Replace values of a specific column:

    WorkSheet.Columns [ColumnIndex].Replace("old value", "new Value")
    WorkSheet.Columns [ColumnIndex].Replace("old value", "new Value")
    'INSTANT VB TODO TASK: The following line uses invalid syntax:
'WorkSheet.Columns [ColumnIndex].Replace("old value", "new Value")
    VB   C#
  • Replace values in a specific range:
    WorkSheet ["From:To"].Replace("old value", "new value");
    WorkSheet ["From:To"].Replace("old value", "new value");
    WorkSheet ("From:To").Replace("old value", "new value")
    VB   C#

Let's view an example to clearly see how to use the above functions in our CSharp Project to replace the values. For this, we will use the replace function to replace a value in a specific range.

/**
Replace Cell Value Range
anchor-replace-cell-values
**/
using IronXL;
static void Main(string [] args)
{
    WorkBook wb = WorkBook.Load("sample.xlsx");
    WorkSheet ws = wb.GetWorkSheet("Sheet1");
    //Specifying Range from B5 to G5
    ws ["B5:G5"].Replace("Normal", "Good");
    wb.SaveAs("sample.xlsx");
}
/**
Replace Cell Value Range
anchor-replace-cell-values
**/
using IronXL;
static void Main(string [] args)
{
    WorkBook wb = WorkBook.Load("sample.xlsx");
    WorkSheet ws = wb.GetWorkSheet("Sheet1");
    //Specifying Range from B5 to G5
    ws ["B5:G5"].Replace("Normal", "Good");
    wb.SaveAs("sample.xlsx");
}
'''
'''Replace Cell Value Range
'''anchor-replace-cell-values
'''*
Imports IronXL
Shared Sub Main(ByVal args() As String)
	Dim wb As WorkBook = WorkBook.Load("sample.xlsx")
	Dim ws As WorkSheet = wb.GetWorkSheet("Sheet1")
	'Specifying Range from B5 to G5
	ws ("B5:G5").Replace("Normal", "Good")
	wb.SaveAs("sample.xlsx")
End Sub
VB   C#

The above code will replace the Normal value with Good from B5 to G5, and the rest of the WorkSheet remains the same. See more about how to Edit Excel Cell Values in a Range and using this function of IronXL.

Remove Rows of Excel File

In application development, we soemtimes need to remove whole rows of existing Excel files programmatically. For this task, we use the RemoveRow() function of IronXL. Here's an example:

/**
Remove Row
anchor-remove-rows-of-excel-file
**/
using IronXL;
static void Main(string [] args)
{ 
    WorkBook wb = WorkBook.Load("sample.xlsx");
    WorkSheet ws = wb.GetWorkSheet("Sheet1");
    //Remove the row number 2
    ws.Rows [2].RemoveRow();
    wb.SaveAs("sample.xlsx");
}
/**
Remove Row
anchor-remove-rows-of-excel-file
**/
using IronXL;
static void Main(string [] args)
{ 
    WorkBook wb = WorkBook.Load("sample.xlsx");
    WorkSheet ws = wb.GetWorkSheet("Sheet1");
    //Remove the row number 2
    ws.Rows [2].RemoveRow();
    wb.SaveAs("sample.xlsx");
}
'''
'''Remove Row
'''anchor-remove-rows-of-excel-file
'''*
Imports IronXL
Shared Sub Main(ByVal args() As String)
	Dim wb As WorkBook = WorkBook.Load("sample.xlsx")
	Dim ws As WorkSheet = wb.GetWorkSheet("Sheet1")
	'Remove the row number 2
	ws.Rows (2).RemoveRow()
	wb.SaveAs("sample.xlsx")
End Sub
VB   C#

The above code will remove row number 2 of sample.xlsx.

Tutorial Quick Access

IronXL Reference

Read the API Reference for IronXL to read more about all the functions, features, classes, and namespaces.

IronXL Reference