How to Create Excel Files in C# Without Interop

using IronXL;

// Create a new Excel workbook with XLSX format
WorkBook workBook = WorkBook.Create(ExcelFileFormat.XLSX);

// Add a worksheet to the workbook
var workSheet = workBook.CreateWorkSheet("example_sheet");

// Set individual cell values using intuitive syntax
workSheet["A1"].Value = "Example";

// Set multiple cells at once using range syntax
workSheet["A2:A4"].Value = 5;

// Apply cell styling - set background color using hex code
workSheet["A5"].Style.SetBackgroundColor("#f0f0f0");

// Make text bold for better visibility
workSheet["A5:A6"].Style.Font.Bold = true;

// Add Excel formula to calculate sum
workSheet["A6"].Formula = "=SUM(A2:A4)";

// Calculate all formulas to show results
workSheet.EvaluateAll();

// Verify formula calculation worked correctly
if (workSheet["A6"].IntValue == 15) // Sum of three cells with value 5
{
    Console.WriteLine("Formula calculation successful!");
}

// Save the Excel file to disk
workBook.SaveAs("example_workbook.xlsx");

Imports IronXL

' Create a new Excel workbook with XLSX format
Private workBook As WorkBook = WorkBook.Create(ExcelFileFormat.XLSX)

' Add a worksheet to the workbook
Private workSheet = workBook.CreateWorkSheet("example_sheet")

' Set individual cell values using intuitive syntax
Private workSheet("A1").Value = "Example"

' Set multiple cells at once using range syntax
Private workSheet("A2:A4").Value = 5

' Apply cell styling - set background color using hex code
workSheet("A5").Style.SetBackgroundColor("#f0f0f0")

' Make text bold for better visibility
workSheet("A5:A6").Style.Font.Bold = True

' Add Excel formula to calculate sum
workSheet("A6").Formula = "=SUM(A2:A4)"

' Calculate all formulas to show results
workSheet.EvaluateAll()

' Verify formula calculation worked correctly
If workSheet("A6").IntValue = 15 Then ' Sum of three cells with value 5
	Console.WriteLine("Formula calculation successful!")
End If

' Save the Excel file to disk
workBook.SaveAs("example_workbook.xlsx")

// Create a worksheet with custom name for budget tracking
WorkSheet budgetSheet = workbook.CreateWorkSheet("2020 Budget");

// Add multiple worksheets for different purposes
WorkSheet salesSheet = workbook.CreateWorkSheet("Sales Data");
WorkSheet inventorySheet = workbook.CreateWorkSheet("Inventory");

// Access existing worksheet by name
WorkSheet existingSheet = workbook.GetWorkSheet("2020 Budget");

' Create a worksheet with custom name for budget tracking
Dim budgetSheet As WorkSheet = workbook.CreateWorkSheet("2020 Budget")

' Add multiple worksheets for different purposes
Dim salesSheet As WorkSheet = workbook.CreateWorkSheet("Sales Data")
Dim inventorySheet As WorkSheet = workbook.CreateWorkSheet("Inventory")

' Access existing worksheet by name
Dim existingSheet As WorkSheet = workbook.GetWorkSheet("2020 Budget")

// Set month names in first row for annual budget spreadsheet
workSheet["A1"].Value = "January";
workSheet["B1"].Value = "February";
workSheet["C1"].Value = "March";
workSheet["D1"].Value = "April";
workSheet["E1"].Value = "May";
workSheet["F1"].Value = "June";
workSheet["G1"].Value = "July";
workSheet["H1"].Value = "August";
workSheet["I1"].Value = "September";
workSheet["J1"].Value = "October";
workSheet["K1"].Value = "November";
workSheet["L1"].Value = "December";

// Set different data types - IronXL handles conversion automatically
workSheet["A2"].Value = 1500.50m;  // Decimal for currency
workSheet["A3"].Value = DateTime.Now;  // Date values
workSheet["A4"].Value = true;  // Boolean values

' Set month names in first row for annual budget spreadsheet
workSheet("A1").Value = "January"
workSheet("B1").Value = "February"
workSheet("C1").Value = "March"
workSheet("D1").Value = "April"
workSheet("E1").Value = "May"
workSheet("F1").Value = "June"
workSheet("G1").Value = "July"
workSheet("H1").Value = "August"
workSheet("I1").Value = "September"
workSheet("J1").Value = "October"
workSheet("K1").Value = "November"
workSheet("L1").Value = "December"

' Set different data types - IronXL handles conversion automatically
workSheet("A2").Value = 1500.50D ' Decimal for currency
workSheet("A3").Value = DateTime.Now ' Date values
workSheet("A4").Value = True ' Boolean values

// Initialize random number generator for sample data
Random r = new Random();

// Populate cells with random budget data for each month
for (int i = 2; i <= 11; i++)
{
    // Set different budget categories with increasing ranges
    workSheet[$"A{i}"].Value = r.Next(1, 1000);     // Office Supplies
    workSheet[$"B{i}"].Value = r.Next(1000, 2000);  // Utilities
    workSheet[$"C{i}"].Value = r.Next(2000, 3000);  // Rent
    workSheet[$"D{i}"].Value = r.Next(3000, 4000);  // Salaries
    workSheet[$"E{i}"].Value = r.Next(4000, 5000);  // Marketing
    workSheet[$"F{i}"].Value = r.Next(5000, 6000);  // IT Services
    workSheet[$"G{i}"].Value = r.Next(6000, 7000);  // Travel
    workSheet[$"H{i}"].Value = r.Next(7000, 8000);  // Training
    workSheet[$"I{i}"].Value = r.Next(8000, 9000);  // Insurance
    workSheet[$"J{i}"].Value = r.Next(9000, 10000); // Equipment
    workSheet[$"K{i}"].Value = r.Next(10000, 11000); // Research
    workSheet[$"L{i}"].Value = r.Next(11000, 12000); // Misc
}

// Alternative: Set range of cells with same value
workSheet["A13:L13"].Value = 0; // Initialize totals row

' Initialize random number generator for sample data
Dim r As New Random()

' Populate cells with random budget data for each month
For i As Integer = 2 To 11
	' Set different budget categories with increasing ranges
	workSheet($"A{i}").Value = r.Next(1, 1000) ' Office Supplies
	workSheet($"B{i}").Value = r.Next(1000, 2000) ' Utilities
	workSheet($"C{i}").Value = r.Next(2000, 3000) ' Rent
	workSheet($"D{i}").Value = r.Next(3000, 4000) ' Salaries
	workSheet($"E{i}").Value = r.Next(4000, 5000) ' Marketing
	workSheet($"F{i}").Value = r.Next(5000, 6000) ' IT Services
	workSheet($"G{i}").Value = r.Next(6000, 7000) ' Travel
	workSheet($"H{i}").Value = r.Next(7000, 8000) ' Training
	workSheet($"I{i}").Value = r.Next(8000, 9000) ' Insurance
	workSheet($"J{i}").Value = r.Next(9000, 10000) ' Equipment
	workSheet($"K{i}").Value = r.Next(10000, 11000) ' Research
	workSheet($"L{i}").Value = r.Next(11000, 12000) ' Misc
Next i

' Alternative: Set range of cells with same value
workSheet("A13:L13").Value = 0 ' Initialize totals row

using System.Data;
using System.Data.SqlClient;
using IronXL;

// Database connection setup for retrieving sales data
string connectionString = @"Data Source=ServerName;Initial Catalog=SalesDB;Integrated Security=true";
string query = "SELECT ProductName, Quantity, UnitPrice, TotalSales FROM MonthlySales";

// Create DataSet to hold query results
DataSet salesData = new DataSet();

using (SqlConnection connection = new SqlConnection(connectionString))
using (SqlDataAdapter adapter = new SqlDataAdapter(query, connection))
{
    // Fill DataSet with sales information
    adapter.Fill(salesData);
}

// Write headers for database columns
workSheet["A1"].Value = "Product Name";
workSheet["B1"].Value = "Quantity";
workSheet["C1"].Value = "Unit Price";
workSheet["D1"].Value = "Total Sales";

// Apply header formatting
workSheet["A1:D1"].Style.Font.Bold = true;
workSheet["A1:D1"].Style.SetBackgroundColor("#4472C4");
workSheet["A1:D1"].Style.Font.FontColor = "#FFFFFF";

// Populate Excel with database records
DataTable salesTable = salesData.Tables[0];
for (int row = 0; row < salesTable.Rows.Count; row++)
{
    int excelRow = row + 2; // Start from row 2 (after headers)

    workSheet[$"A{excelRow}"].Value = salesTable.Rows[row]["ProductName"].ToString();
    workSheet[$"B{excelRow}"].Value = Convert.ToInt32(salesTable.Rows[row]["Quantity"]);
    workSheet[$"C{excelRow}"].Value = Convert.ToDecimal(salesTable.Rows[row]["UnitPrice"]);
    workSheet[$"D{excelRow}"].Value = Convert.ToDecimal(salesTable.Rows[row]["TotalSales"]);

    // Format currency columns
    workSheet[$"C{excelRow}"].FormatString = "$#,##0.00";
    workSheet[$"D{excelRow}"].FormatString = "$#,##0.00";
}

// Add summary row with formulas
int summaryRow = salesTable.Rows.Count + 2;
workSheet[$"A{summaryRow}"].Value = "TOTAL";
workSheet[$"B{summaryRow}"].Formula = $"=SUM(B2:B{summaryRow-1})";
workSheet[$"D{summaryRow}"].Formula = $"=SUM(D2:D{summaryRow-1})";

Imports System.Data
Imports System.Data.SqlClient
Imports IronXL

' Database connection setup for retrieving sales data
Private connectionString As String = "Data Source=ServerName;Initial Catalog=SalesDB;Integrated Security=true"
Private query As String = "SELECT ProductName, Quantity, UnitPrice, TotalSales FROM MonthlySales"

' Create DataSet to hold query results
Private salesData As New DataSet()

Using connection As New SqlConnection(connectionString)
Using adapter As New SqlDataAdapter(query, connection)
	' Fill DataSet with sales information
	adapter.Fill(salesData)
End Using
End Using

' Write headers for database columns
workSheet("A1").Value = "Product Name"
workSheet("B1").Value = "Quantity"
workSheet("C1").Value = "Unit Price"
workSheet("D1").Value = "Total Sales"

' Apply header formatting
workSheet("A1:D1").Style.Font.Bold = True
workSheet("A1:D1").Style.SetBackgroundColor("#4472C4")
workSheet("A1:D1").Style.Font.FontColor = "#FFFFFF"

' Populate Excel with database records
Dim salesTable As DataTable = salesData.Tables(0)
For row As Integer = 0 To salesTable.Rows.Count - 1
	Dim excelRow As Integer = row + 2 ' Start from row 2 (after headers)

	workSheet($"A{excelRow}").Value = salesTable.Rows(row)("ProductName").ToString()
	workSheet($"B{excelRow}").Value = Convert.ToInt32(salesTable.Rows(row)("Quantity"))
	workSheet($"C{excelRow}").Value = Convert.ToDecimal(salesTable.Rows(row)("UnitPrice"))
	workSheet($"D{excelRow}").Value = Convert.ToDecimal(salesTable.Rows(row)("TotalSales"))

	' Format currency columns
	workSheet($"C{excelRow}").FormatString = "$#,##0.00"
	workSheet($"D{excelRow}").FormatString = "$#,##0.00"
Next row

' Add summary row with formulas
Dim summaryRow As Integer = salesTable.Rows.Count + 2
workSheet($"A{summaryRow}").Value = "TOTAL"
workSheet($"B{summaryRow}").Formula = $"=SUM(B2:B{summaryRow-1})"
workSheet($"D{summaryRow}").Formula = $"=SUM(D2:D{summaryRow-1})"

// Set header row background to light gray using hex color
workSheet["A1:L1"].Style.SetBackgroundColor("#d3d3d3");

// Apply different colors for data categorization
workSheet["A2:A11"].Style.SetBackgroundColor("#E7F3FF"); // Light blue for January
workSheet["B2:B11"].Style.SetBackgroundColor("#FFF2CC"); // Light yellow for February

// Highlight important cells with bold colors
workSheet["L12"].Style.SetBackgroundColor("#FF0000"); // Red for totals
workSheet["L12"].Style.Font.FontColor = "#FFFFFF"; // White text

// Create alternating row colors for better readability
for (int row = 2; row <= 11; row++)
{
    if (row % 2 == 0)
    {
        workSheet[$"A{row}:L{row}"].Style.SetBackgroundColor("#F2F2F2");
    }
}

' Set header row background to light gray using hex color
workSheet("A1:L1").Style.SetBackgroundColor("#d3d3d3")

' Apply different colors for data categorization
workSheet("A2:A11").Style.SetBackgroundColor("#E7F3FF") ' Light blue for January
workSheet("B2:B11").Style.SetBackgroundColor("#FFF2CC") ' Light yellow for February

' Highlight important cells with bold colors
workSheet("L12").Style.SetBackgroundColor("#FF0000") ' Red for totals
workSheet("L12").Style.Font.FontColor = "#FFFFFF" ' White text

' Create alternating row colors for better readability
For row As Integer = 2 To 11
	If row Mod 2 = 0 Then
		workSheet($"A{row}:L{row}").Style.SetBackgroundColor("#F2F2F2")
	End If
Next row

using IronXL;
using IronXL.Styles;

// Create header border - thick bottom line to separate from data
workSheet["A1:L1"].Style.TopBorder.SetColor("#000000");
workSheet["A1:L1"].Style.TopBorder.Type = BorderType.Thick;
workSheet["A1:L1"].Style.BottomBorder.SetColor("#000000");
workSheet["A1:L1"].Style.BottomBorder.Type = BorderType.Thick;

// Add right border to last column
workSheet["L2:L11"].Style.RightBorder.SetColor("#000000");
workSheet["L2:L11"].Style.RightBorder.Type = BorderType.Medium;

// Create bottom border for data area
workSheet["A11:L11"].Style.BottomBorder.SetColor("#000000");
workSheet["A11:L11"].Style.BottomBorder.Type = BorderType.Medium;

// Apply complete border around summary section
var summaryRange = workSheet["A12:L12"];
summaryRange.Style.TopBorder.Type = BorderType.Double;
summaryRange.Style.BottomBorder.Type = BorderType.Double;
summaryRange.Style.LeftBorder.Type = BorderType.Thin;
summaryRange.Style.RightBorder.Type = BorderType.Thin;
summaryRange.Style.SetBorderColor("#0070C0"); // Blue borders

Imports IronXL
Imports IronXL.Styles

' Create header border - thick bottom line to separate from data
workSheet("A1:L1").Style.TopBorder.SetColor("#000000")
workSheet("A1:L1").Style.TopBorder.Type = BorderType.Thick
workSheet("A1:L1").Style.BottomBorder.SetColor("#000000")
workSheet("A1:L1").Style.BottomBorder.Type = BorderType.Thick

' Add right border to last column
workSheet("L2:L11").Style.RightBorder.SetColor("#000000")
workSheet("L2:L11").Style.RightBorder.Type = BorderType.Medium

' Create bottom border for data area
workSheet("A11:L11").Style.BottomBorder.SetColor("#000000")
workSheet("A11:L11").Style.BottomBorder.Type = BorderType.Medium

' Apply complete border around summary section
Dim summaryRange = workSheet("A12:L12")
summaryRange.Style.TopBorder.Type = BorderType.Double
summaryRange.Style.BottomBorder.Type = BorderType.Double
summaryRange.Style.LeftBorder.Type = BorderType.Thin
summaryRange.Style.RightBorder.Type = BorderType.Thin
summaryRange.Style.SetBorderColor("#0070C0") ' Blue borders

// Protect worksheet with password to prevent unauthorized changes
workSheet.ProtectSheet("SecurePassword123");

// Freeze panes to keep headers visible while scrolling
workSheet.CreateFreezePane(0, 1); // Freeze first row
// workSheet.CreateFreezePane(1, 1); // Freeze first row and column

// Set worksheet visibility options
workSheet.ViewState = WorkSheetViewState.Visible; // or Hidden, VeryHidden

// Configure gridlines and headers
workSheet.ShowGridLines = true;
workSheet.ShowRowColHeaders = true;

// Set zoom level for better viewing
workSheet.Zoom = 85; // 85% zoom

' Protect worksheet with password to prevent unauthorized changes
workSheet.ProtectSheet("SecurePassword123")

' Freeze panes to keep headers visible while scrolling
workSheet.CreateFreezePane(0, 1) ' Freeze first row
' workSheet.CreateFreezePane(1, 1); // Freeze first row and column

' Set worksheet visibility options
workSheet.ViewState = WorkSheetViewState.Visible ' or Hidden, VeryHidden

' Configure gridlines and headers
workSheet.ShowGridLines = True
workSheet.ShowRowColHeaders = True

' Set zoom level for better viewing
workSheet.Zoom = 85 ' 85% zoom

using IronXL.Printing;

// Define print area to exclude empty cells
workSheet.SetPrintArea("A1:L12");

// Configure page orientation for wide data
workSheet.PrintSetup.PrintOrientation = PrintOrientation.Landscape;

// Set paper size for standard printing
workSheet.PrintSetup.PaperSize = PaperSize.A4;

// Adjust margins for better layout (in inches)
workSheet.PrintSetup.LeftMargin = 0.5;
workSheet.PrintSetup.RightMargin = 0.5;
workSheet.PrintSetup.TopMargin = 0.75;
workSheet.PrintSetup.BottomMargin = 0.75;

// Configure header and footer
workSheet.PrintSetup.HeaderMargin = 0.3;
workSheet.PrintSetup.FooterMargin = 0.3;

// Scale to fit on one page
workSheet.PrintSetup.FitToPage = true;
workSheet.PrintSetup.FitToHeight = 1;
workSheet.PrintSetup.FitToWidth = 1;

// Add print headers/footers
workSheet.Header.Center = "Monthly Budget Report";
workSheet.Footer.Left = DateTime.Now.ToShortDateString();
workSheet.Footer.Right = "Page &P of &N"; // Page numbering

Imports IronXL.Printing

' Define print area to exclude empty cells
workSheet.SetPrintArea("A1:L12")

' Configure page orientation for wide data
workSheet.PrintSetup.PrintOrientation = PrintOrientation.Landscape

' Set paper size for standard printing
workSheet.PrintSetup.PaperSize = PaperSize.A4

' Adjust margins for better layout (in inches)
workSheet.PrintSetup.LeftMargin = 0.5
workSheet.PrintSetup.RightMargin = 0.5
workSheet.PrintSetup.TopMargin = 0.75
workSheet.PrintSetup.BottomMargin = 0.75

' Configure header and footer
workSheet.PrintSetup.HeaderMargin = 0.3
workSheet.PrintSetup.FooterMargin = 0.3

' Scale to fit on one page
workSheet.PrintSetup.FitToPage = True
workSheet.PrintSetup.FitToHeight = 1
workSheet.PrintSetup.FitToWidth = 1

' Add print headers/footers
workSheet.Header.Center = "Monthly Budget Report"
workSheet.Footer.Left = DateTime.Now.ToShortDateString()
workSheet.Footer.Right = "Page &P of &N" ' Page numbering