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Back in February I wrote a post on how to export DataTables to XML and Excel and I still get a lot of search engine traffic to that post.

People have been asking me to simplify the example and only concentrate on the Excel export, so that's what I will do now.

All spreadsheet applications (Excel, Calc etc.) understand semicolon separated files natively, so everyone can use this method - you don't even have to use Excel for it to work.

public static void ExportToSpreadsheet(DataTable table, string name)
{
   HttpContext context = HttpContext.Current;
   context.Response.Clear();
   foreach (DataColumn column in table.Columns)
   {
    context.Response.Write(column.ColumnName + ";");
   }
   context.Response.Write(Environment.NewLine);
   foreach (DataRow row in table.Rows)
   {
    for (int i = 0; i < table.Columns.Count; i++)
    {
     context.Response.Write(row[i].ToString().Replace(";", string.Empty) + ";");
    }
    context.Response.Write(Environment.NewLine);
   }
   context.Response.ContentType = "text/csv";
   context.Response.AppendHeader("Content-Disposition", "attachment; filename=" + name + ".csv");
   context.Response.End();
}

Then just call this method and pass the DataTable and the filename as parameters.

ExportToSpreadsheet(table, "products");

The method is static so you can use it anywhere in a web application. Put it on a page, a HTTP Handler, add it to the App_Code folder or stick it in a separate assembly. As long as you call it from a web application it will work.

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Mads Kristensen currently works as a Senior Developer at Traceworks located
in Copenhagen, Denmark. Mads graduated from Copenhagen Technical Academy with a multimedia degree in
2003, but has been a professional developer since 2000. His main focus is on ASP.NET but is responsible for Winforms, Windows- and
web services in his daily work as well. A true .NET developer with great passion for the simple solution.

http://www.madskristensen.dk/