How to use C# to convert a data table to CSV

You can export a datatable to CSV with IronXL by taking an existing data table and converting it to CSV in just a few steps. This article aims to show you a quick example on this.

Code Examples

Save a datatable to CSV

private void button6_Click(object sender, EventArgs e)
{
    DataTable table = new DataTable();
    table.Columns.Add("Example_DataSet", typeof(string));

    table.Rows.Add("0");
    table.Rows.Add("1");
    table.Rows.Add("2");
    table.Rows.Add("3");
    table.Rows.Add("1");
    table.Rows.Add("2");
    table.Rows.Add("3");

    WorkBook wb = WorkBook.Create(ExcelFileFormat.XLS);
    wb.Metadata.Author = "OJ";
    WorkSheet ws = wb.DefaultWorkSheet;

    int rowCount = 1;
    foreach (DataRow row in table.Rows)
    {

        ws["A" + (rowCount)].Value = row[0].ToString();

        rowCount++;
    }

    wb.SaveAsCsv("Save_DataTable_CSV.csv", ";"); // Saved as : Save_DataTable_CSV.Sheet1.csv
}

Private Sub button6_Click(ByVal sender As Object, ByVal e As EventArgs)
	Dim table As New DataTable()
	table.Columns.Add("Example_DataSet", GetType(String))

	table.Rows.Add("0")
	table.Rows.Add("1")
	table.Rows.Add("2")
	table.Rows.Add("3")
	table.Rows.Add("1")
	table.Rows.Add("2")
	table.Rows.Add("3")

	Dim wb As WorkBook = WorkBook.Create(ExcelFileFormat.XLS)
	wb.Metadata.Author = "OJ"
	Dim ws As WorkSheet = wb.DefaultWorkSheet

	Dim rowCount As Integer = 1
	For Each row As DataRow In table.Rows

		ws("A" & (rowCount)).Value = row(0).ToString()

		rowCount += 1
	Next row

	wb.SaveAsCsv("Save_DataTable_CSV.csv", ";") ' Saved as : Save_DataTable_CSV.Sheet1.csv
End Sub

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Try IronXL free for development

Convert a data table to CSV for .NET

Add IronXL free to your project
Create a datatable, then export it to CSV

Step 1

1. Add IronXL Free

You need IronXL installed first, before you can use it in your applications. Luckily, they provide many options for installing IronXL into your projects.

Download from their site by using the following link: https://ironsoftware.com/csharp/excel/docs/

In Visual Studio select the Project menu
Click Manage NuGet Packages
Search for IronXL.Excel
Click Install

PM> Install-Package IronPdf

Figure 1 - IronXL.Excel NuGet Package

How to Tutorial

2. Create and Export Datatable to CSV

Now you are ready.

First import the IronXL namespace

using IronXL;

using IronXL;

Imports IronXL

VB C#

Then, add the following code:

private void button6_Click(object sender, EventArgs e)
{
    DataTable table = new DataTable();
    table.Columns.Add("Example_DataSet", typeof(string));

    table.Rows.Add("0");
    table.Rows.Add("1");
    table.Rows.Add("2");
    table.Rows.Add("3");
    table.Rows.Add("1");
    table.Rows.Add("2");
    table.Rows.Add("3");

    WorkBook wb = WorkBook.Create(ExcelFileFormat.XLS);
    wb.Metadata.Author = "OJ";
    WorkSheet ws = wb.DefaultWorkSheet;

    int rowCount = 1;
    foreach (DataRow row in table.Rows)
    {

        ws["A" + (rowCount)].Value = row[0].ToString();

        rowCount++;
    }

    wb.SaveAsCsv("Save_DataTable_CSV.csv", ";"); // Saved as : Save_DataTable_CSV.Sheet1.csv
}

private void button6_Click(object sender, EventArgs e)
{
    DataTable table = new DataTable();
    table.Columns.Add("Example_DataSet", typeof(string));

    table.Rows.Add("0");
    table.Rows.Add("1");
    table.Rows.Add("2");
    table.Rows.Add("3");
    table.Rows.Add("1");
    table.Rows.Add("2");
    table.Rows.Add("3");

    WorkBook wb = WorkBook.Create(ExcelFileFormat.XLS);
    wb.Metadata.Author = "OJ";
    WorkSheet ws = wb.DefaultWorkSheet;

    int rowCount = 1;
    foreach (DataRow row in table.Rows)
    {

        ws["A" + (rowCount)].Value = row[0].ToString();

        rowCount++;
    }

    wb.SaveAsCsv("Save_DataTable_CSV.csv", ";"); // Saved as : Save_DataTable_CSV.Sheet1.csv
}

Private Sub button6_Click(ByVal sender As Object, ByVal e As EventArgs)
	Dim table As New DataTable()
	table.Columns.Add("Example_DataSet", GetType(String))

	table.Rows.Add("0")
	table.Rows.Add("1")
	table.Rows.Add("2")
	table.Rows.Add("3")
	table.Rows.Add("1")
	table.Rows.Add("2")
	table.Rows.Add("3")

	Dim wb As WorkBook = WorkBook.Create(ExcelFileFormat.XLS)
	wb.Metadata.Author = "OJ"
	Dim ws As WorkSheet = wb.DefaultWorkSheet

	Dim rowCount As Integer = 1
	For Each row As DataRow In table.Rows

		ws("A" & (rowCount)).Value = row(0).ToString()

		rowCount += 1
	Next row

	wb.SaveAsCsv("Save_DataTable_CSV.csv", ";") ' Saved as : Save_DataTable_CSV.Sheet1.csv
End Sub

VB C#

The above code creates a data table, then creates a new workbook specifying ‘OJ’ as its owner / creator. A foreach loop follows that inserts the data from the data table into the Excel Worksheet. Lastly, the SaveAsCsv method is used to export the datatable to csv.

The output Excel Worksheet looks as follows: