Optimal way to Read an Excel file (.xls/.xlsx&

Question

I know that there are different ways to read an Excel file:

• Iterop
• Oledb
• Open Xml SDK

Compatibility is not a question because the program will be executed in a controlled environment.

My Requirement :
Read a file to a DataTable / CUstom Entities (I don't know how to make dynamic properties/fields to an object[column names will be variating in an Excel file])

Use DataTable/Custom Entities to perform some operations using its data.

Update DataTable with the results of the operations

Write it back to excel file.

Which would be simpler.

Also if possible advice me on custom Entities (adding properties/fields to an object dynamically)

Answer 1

If you can restrict it to just (Open Office XML format) *.xlsx files, then probably the most popular library would be EPPLus.

Bonus is, there are no other dependencies. Just install using nuget:

Install-Package EPPlus

Answer 2

Take a look at Linq-to-Excel. It's pretty neat.

var book = new LinqToExcel.ExcelQueryFactory(@"File.xlsx");

var query =
    from row in book.Worksheet("Stock Entry")
    let item = new
    {
        Code = row["Code"].Cast<string>(),
        Supplier = row["Supplier"].Cast<string>(),
        Ref = row["Ref"].Cast<string>(),
    }
    where item.Supplier == "Walmart"
    select item;

It also allows for strongly-typed row access too.

Answer 3

Try to use this free way to this, https://freenetexcel.codeplex.com

 Workbook workbook = new Workbook();

 workbook.LoadFromFile(@"..\..\parts.xls",ExcelVersion.Version97to2003);
 //Initialize worksheet
 Worksheet sheet = workbook.Worksheets[0];

 DataTable dataTable = sheet.ExportDataTable();

Answer 4

Using OLE Query, it's quite simple (e.g. sheetName is Sheet1$):

DataTable LoadWorksheetInDataTable(string fileName, string sheetName)
{           
    DataTable sheetData = new DataTable();
    using (OleDbConnection conn = this.returnConnection(fileName))
    {
       conn.Open();
       // retrieve the data using data adapter
       OleDbDataAdapter sheetAdapter = new OleDbDataAdapter("select * from [" + sheetName + "]", conn);
        sheetAdapter.Fill(sheetData);
    }                        
    return sheetData;
}

private OleDbConnection returnConnection(string fileName)
{
    return new OleDbConnection("Provider=Microsoft.Jet.OLEDB.4.0;Data Source=" + fileName + "; Jet OLEDB:Engine Type=5;Extended Properties=\"Excel 8.0;\"");
}

For newer Excel versions:

return new OleDbConnection("Provider=Microsoft.ACE.OLEDB.12.0;Data Source=" + filename + ";Extended Properties=Excel 12.0;");

You can also use Excel Data Reader an open source project on CodePlex. Its works really well to export data from Excel sheets.

The sample code given on the link specified:

FileStream stream = File.Open(filePath, FileMode.Open, FileAccess.Read);

//1. Reading from a binary Excel file ('97-2003 format; *.xls)
IExcelDataReader excelReader = ExcelReaderFactory.CreateBinaryReader(stream);
//...
//2. Reading from a OpenXml Excel file (2007 format; *.xlsx)
IExcelDataReader excelReader = ExcelReaderFactory.CreateOpenXmlReader(stream);
//...
//3. DataSet - The result of each spreadsheet will be created in the result.Tables
DataSet result = excelReader.AsDataSet();
//...
//4. DataSet - Create column names from first row
excelReader.IsFirstRowAsColumnNames = true;
DataSet result = excelReader.AsDataSet();

//5. Data Reader methods
while (excelReader.Read())
{
//excelReader.GetInt32(0);
}

//6. Free resources (IExcelDataReader is IDisposable)
excelReader.Close();

Reference: How do I import from Excel to a DataSet using Microsoft.Office.Interop.Excel?