I have a folder on my PC containing multiple Excel spreadsheets that are all marked as read-only.
The folder is synced to my company's Sharepoint via OneDrive.
When I try to programmatically read data from one of these sheets via Microsoft.Office.Interop.Excel, I keep getting the You cannot use this command on a protected sheet error.
Here's the code I use to open the file:
public ExcelReader(String filePath)
{
this.filePath = filePath;
FileName = filePath.Substring(filePath.LastIndexOf("\\")+1);
app = new Excel.Application();
app.DisplayAlerts = false;
workbook = app.Workbooks.Open(filePath, false, true); //open in read only
}
public void openSheet(String sheet)
{
SheetName = sheet;
worksheet = workbook.Sheets[sheet];
Excel.Range last = worksheet.Cells.SpecialCells(Excel.XlCellType.xlCellTypeLastCell, Type.Missing);
ColumnsTotal = last.Column;
RowsTotal = last.Row;
}
The line that throws the exception is Excel.Range last = worksheet.Cells.SpecialCells(Excel.XlCellType.xlCellTypeLastCell, Type.Missing);.
I figured that since I explicitly tell the Workbook to open in Read-only mode, and since I never modify the content of these files, the fact that files are read-only shouldn't be a problem.
What am I doing wrong here? How do I read the content of these files without unprotecting them (I can't do that for security reasons)?
I'm wondering if it is possible to write to an Excel file using C#/EPPlus while I have the file open. I continue to get exceptions while trying to write using my program and I can't find anything online.
Here is the code I have to append to an existing worksheet which works fine when the spreadsheet isn't opened
public static void AppendExistingMailingWorkbook(string workSheet, string filePath, IList<MailingReportItem> reportData)
{
//create a fileinfo object of an excel file on the disk
FileInfo file = new FileInfo(filePath);
Object thisLock = new Object();
lock (thisLock)
{
//create a new Excel package from the file
using (ExcelPackage excelPackage = new ExcelPackage(file))
{
ExcelWorksheet worksheet = excelPackage.Workbook.Worksheets[workSheet];
var rowToAppend = worksheet.Dimension.End.Row + 1;
for (int i = 0; i < reportData.Count; i++, rowToAppend++)
{
worksheet.Cells[rowToAppend, 1].Value = reportData[i].BatchDate.Date.ToString("MM/dd/yyyy");
worksheet.Cells[rowToAppend, 2].Value = reportData[i].BatchId;
worksheet.Cells[rowToAppend, 3].Value = reportData[i].FileName;
worksheet.Cells[rowToAppend, 4].Value = reportData[i].PageCount;
worksheet.Cells[rowToAppend, 5].Value = reportData[i].MailDate;
}
//save the changes
excelPackage.Save();
}
}
}
In Excel, set the workbook to be shared. From the office help:
Open workbook in Excel
Click Review > Share Workbook
On the Editing tab, select the Allow changes by more than one user ... check box.
On the Advanced tab, select the options that you want to use for tracking and updating changes, and then click OK.
If this is a new workbook, type a name in the File name box. Or, if this is an existing workbook, click OK to save the workbook.
If the workbook contains links to other workbooks or documents, verify the links and update any links that are broken.
Click File > Save.
When you're done, - Shared will appear at the top of the Excel window, next to the filename.
The file will then be opened non-exclusively, allowing others to edit it while Excel has it open.
I have had an issue for the last few hours trying to pull the sheet names from an excel workbook and display for selection in a combobox. I managed to get it to work but i'm a little concerned its crude and not very efficient.
private void btnChoose2_Click(object sender, RoutedEventArgs e)
{
OpenFileDialog openfileDialog1 = new OpenFileDialog();
if (openfileDialog1.ShowDialog() == System.Windows.Forms.DialogResult.OK)
{
openLabel.Text = openfileDialog1.SafeFileName;
String filename = DialogResult.ToString();
var excelApp = new Microsoft.Office.Interop.Excel.Application();
excelApp.Visible = false;
excelApp.Workbooks.Open(openfileDialog1.FileName);
int rcountTag = excelApp.Sheets.Count - 1;
for (int i = 1; i <= rcountTag + 1; i++)
{
Microsoft.Office.Interop.Excel.Sheets excelSheets = excelApp.Worksheets;
Microsoft.Office.Interop.Excel.Worksheet worksheet = (Microsoft.Office.Interop.Excel.Worksheet)
excelSheets.get_Item(i);
comboBoxMapping.Items.Insert(i - 1, worksheet.Name);
}
}
}
Any advice would be greatly appreciated.
You should look at using a 3rd party library for this that will make your life much easier than messing with interop.
Excel Data Reader
This will let you get all the sheet names and read data into a DataTable which then you can access however you want to get whatever data you need out of it. The GitHub Read Me page has simple examples that should solve your issue for you.
I would recommend EPPLUS if xlsx Excel format is to be dealt with.
Install epplus library from nuget package manager:
Then using OfficeOpenXml;
Get the list of sheet names:
ExcelPackage DocInv = new ExcelPackage(new FileInfo(ExcelDocument));
DocList = DocInv.Workbook.Worksheets.AsEnumerable().Select(x => x.Name).ToList();
I am trying to export data from dataset to excel and save it directly to a given path without giving me the option to open,save or cancel.
Using ExcelLibrary this is a one liner ...
DataSet myDataSet;
... populate data set ...
ExcelLibrary.DataSetHelper.CreateWorkbook("MyExcelFile.xls", myDataSet);
See also Create Excel (.XLS and .XLSX) file from C#
This C# Excel library can also be used to export the dataset. More details about how to export can be found here.
ExcelDocument xls = new ExcelDocument();
xls.easy_WriteXLSFile_FromDataSet("ExcelFile.xls", dataset,
new ExcelAutoFormat(Styles.AUTOFORMAT_EASYXLS1), "Sheet Name");
It's not the greatest solution but here is what I did, it opens a new excel document then copies what is in the dataset, all you need to do is sort out the columns and save it.
Btw totes my first post to answer a question, hope it helps
private void cmdExport_Click(object sender, EventArgs e)
{
System.Diagnostics.Process.Start("excel.exe");
try
{
copyAlltoClipboard();
Microsoft.Office.Interop.Excel.Application xlexcel;
Microsoft.Office.Interop.Excel.Workbook xlWorkBook;
Microsoft.Office.Interop.Excel.Worksheet xlWorkSheet;
object misValue = System.Reflection.Missing.Value;
xlexcel = new Excel.Application();
xlexcel.Visible = true;
xlWorkBook = xlexcel.Workbooks.Add(misValue);
xlWorkSheet = (Excel.Worksheet)xlWorkBook.Worksheets.get_Item(1);
Excel.Range CR = (Excel.Range)xlWorkSheet.Cells[1, 1];
CR.Select();
xlWorkSheet.PasteSpecial(CR, Type.Missing, Type.Missing, Type.Missing, Type.Missing, Type.Missing, true);
}
catch (Exception ex)
{
MessageBox.Show("Error :" + ex.Message);
}
}
private void copyAlltoClipboard()
{
dataGridViewItems.SelectAll();
DataObject dataObj = dataGridViewItems.GetClipboardContent();
if (dataObj != null)
Clipboard.SetDataObject(dataObj);
}
Check this DataSetToExcel
and c# (WinForms-App) export DataSet to Excel
In the first link change the code as follows:
Remove the all code that initially starts and try the following
using (StringWriter sw = new StringWriter("Your Path to save"))
{
using (HtmlTextWriter htw = new HtmlTextWriter(sw))
{
// instantiate a datagrid
DataGrid dg = new DataGrid();
dg.DataSource = ds.Tables[0];
dg.DataBind();
dg.RenderControl(htw);
}
}
Here's another C# library, which lets you export from a DataSet to an Excel 2007 .xlsx file, using the OpenXML libraries.
http://www.mikesknowledgebase.com/pages/CSharp/ExportToExcel.htm
All of the source code is provided, free of charge, along with a demo application, and you can use this in your ASP.Net, WPF and WinForms applications.
Once you've added the class to your application, it just takes one function call to export your data into an Excel file.
CreateExcelFile.CreateExcelDocument(myDataSet, "C:\\Sample.xlsx");
It doesn't get much easier than that.
Good luck !
Hi i found a perfect solution Here
Just replace 'missing.value' with System.Type.Missing in the code. Also remove
oWB.Close(System.Type.Missing, System.Type.Missing, System.Type.Missing);
and
oXL.Quit();
from the code. Otherwise your excel will get closed automatically as soon as it open.
I am trying to convert some VBA code to C#. I am new to C#. Currently I am trying to open an Excel file from a folder and if it does not exist then create it. I am trying something like the following. How can I make it work?
Excel.Application objexcel;
Excel.Workbook wbexcel;
bool wbexists;
Excel.Worksheet objsht;
Excel.Range objrange;
objexcel = new Excel.Application();
if (Directory("C:\\csharp\\error report1.xls") = "")
{
wbexcel.NewSheet();
}
else
{
wbexcel.Open("C:\\csharp\\error report1.xls");
objsht = ("sheet1");
}
objsht.Activate();
You need to have installed Microsoft Visual Studio Tools for Office (VSTO).
VSTO can be selected in the Visual Studio installer under Workloads > Web & Cloud > Office/SharePoint Development.
After that create a generic .NET project and add a reference to Microsoft.Office.Interop.Excel via 'Add Reference... > Assemblies' dialog.
Application excel = new Application();
Workbook wb = excel.Workbooks.Open(path);
Missing.Value is a special reflection struct for unnecessary parameters replacement
In newer versions, the assembly reference required is called Microsoft Excel 16.0 Object Library. If you do not have the latest version installed you might have Microsoft Excel 15.0 Object Library, or an older version, but it is the same process to include.
FileInfo fi = new FileInfo("C:\\test\\report.xlsx");
if(fi.Exists)
{
System.Diagnostics.Process.Start(#"C:\test\report.xlsx");
}
else
{
//file doesn't exist
}
private void btnChoose2_Click(object sender, EventArgs e)
{
OpenFileDialog openfileDialog1 = new OpenFileDialog();
if (openfileDialog1.ShowDialog() == System.Windows.Forms.DialogResult.OK)
{
this.btnChoose2.Text = openfileDialog1.FileName;
String filename = DialogResult.ToString();
var excelApp = new Excel.Application();
excelApp.Visible = true;
excelApp.Workbooks.Open(btnChoose2.Text);
}
}
Imports
using Excel= Microsoft.Office.Interop.Excel;
using Microsoft.VisualStudio.Tools.Applications.Runtime;
Here is the code to open an excel sheet using C#.
Microsoft.Office.Interop.Excel.Application excel = new Microsoft.Office.Interop.Excel.Application();
Microsoft.Office.Interop.Excel.Workbook wbv = excel.Workbooks.Open("C:\\YourExcelSheet.xlsx");
Microsoft.Office.Interop.Excel.Worksheet wx = excel.ActiveSheet as Microsoft.Office.Interop.Excel.Worksheet;
wbv.Close(true, Type.Missing, Type.Missing);
excel.Quit();
Here is a video mate on how to open an excel worksheet using C# https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O5Dnv0tfGv4
For opening a file, try this:
objexcel.Workbooks.Open(#"C:\YourPath\YourExcelFile.xls",
missing, missing, missing, missing, missing, missing, missing,
missing, missing, missing, missing, missing,missing, missing);
You must supply those stupid looking 'missing' arguments. If you were writing the same code in VB.Net you wouldn't have needed them, but you can't avoid them in C#.
you should open like this
Excel.Application xlApp ;
Excel.Workbook xlWorkBook ;
Excel.Worksheet xlWorkSheet ;
object misValue = System.Reflection.Missing.Value;
xlApp = new Excel.ApplicationClass();
xlWorkBook = xlApp.Workbooks.Open("csharp.net-informations.xls", 0, true, 5, "", "", true, Microsoft.Office.Interop.Excel.XlPlatform.xlWindows, "\t", false, false, 0, true, 1, 0);
xlWorkSheet = (Excel.Worksheet)xlWorkBook.Worksheets.get_Item(1);
source : http://csharp.net-informations.com/excel/csharp-open-excel.htm
ruden
It's easier to help you if you say what's wrong as well, or what fails when you run it.
But from a quick glance you've confused a few things.
The following doesn't work because of a couple of issues.
if (Directory("C:\\csharp\\error report1.xls") = "")
What you are trying to do is creating a new Directory object that should point to a file and then check if there was any errors.
What you are actually doing is trying to call a function named Directory() and then assign a string to the result. This won't work since 1/ you don't have a function named Directory(string str) and you cannot assign to the result from a function (you can only assign a value to a variable).
What you should do (for this line at least) is the following
FileInfo fi = new FileInfo("C:\\csharp\\error report1.xls");
if(!fi.Exists)
{
// Create the xl file here
}
else
{
// Open file here
}
As to why the Excel code doesn't work, you have to check the documentation for the Excel library which google should be able to provide for you.
Microsoft.Office.Interop.Excel.Application excapp;
excapp = new Microsoft.Office.Interop.Excel.Application();
object misval=System.Reflection.Missing.Value;
Workbook wrkbuk = new Workbook();
Worksheet wrksht = new Worksheet();
wrkbuk = excapp.Workbooks._Open(#"C:\Users\...\..._template_v1.0.xlsx", misval, misval,
misval, misval, misval, misval, misval, misval, misval, misval, misval, misval);
wrksht = (Microsoft.Office.Interop.Excel.Worksheet)wrkbuk.Worksheets.get_Item(2);
Is this a commercial application or some hobbyist / open source software?
I'm asking this because in my experience, all free .NET Excel handling alternatives have serious problems, for different reasons. For hobbyist things, I usually end up porting jExcelApi from Java to C# and using it.
But if this is a commercial application, you would be better off by purchasing a third party library, like Aspose.Cells. Believe me, it totally worths it as it saves a lot of time and time ain't free.
Code :
private void button1_Click(object sender, EventArgs e)
{
textBox1.Enabled=false;
OpenFileDialog ofd = new OpenFileDialog();
ofd.Filter = "Excell File |*.xlsx;*,xlsx";
if (ofd.ShowDialog() == DialogResult.OK)
{
string extn = Path.GetExtension(ofd.FileName);
if (extn.Equals(".xls") || extn.Equals(".xlsx"))
{
filename = ofd.FileName;
if (filename != "")
{
try
{
string excelfilename = Path.GetFileName(filename);
}
catch (Exception ew)
{
MessageBox.Show("Errror:" + ew.ToString());
}
}
}
}
For editing Excel files from within a C# application, I recently started using NPOI.
I'm very satisfied with it.