Question

The scenario: we have a web system that automatically generates office 2003 excel files ‘on the fly’ (using the 2003 XML file format, not the binary format.) These files do get kept on the web server for various things.

Now, we’re in a situation where the client would really like us to take the xls files generated by this process and glue them together into a single sheet of one big file. (largely so that they can press ‘print’ only once.)

I assume the .net framework must have some way to do this (and things like this) but I can’t seem to tease what I need out of MSDN.

For the record: .net 2.0, using VB.net and ASP.net. Excel can be installed on the server if needed, but something that opens excel in the background on every web user hit might not scale so well. 😉

Answer 1

Perhaps ADO would suit? Here is a script example.

strXLToOpen = 'C:\Docs\ltd.xls'  strXLToImport = 'C:\Docs\ltd2.xls'  Set cn = CreateObject('ADODB.Connection') ''EDIT I not that MSDASQL is deprecated by Microsoft, so  ''Please see below. With cn     .Provider = 'MSDASQL'     .ConnectionString = 'Driver={Microsoft Excel Driver (*.xls)};' & _ 'DBQ=' & strXLToOpen & '; ReadOnly=False;'     .Open End With  strSQL = 'INSERT INTO [Sheet2$] (H1, H2) ' _ & 'SELECT H1, H2 FROM [Sheet2$] IN '' ' _ & ''Excel 8.0;database=' & strXLToImport & '';'         cn.Execute strSQL 

Further information: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/257819/EN-US/

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/278973

Edit re comment.

Would this suit? It is from: http://www.codemaker.co.uk/it/tips/ado_conn.htm#ODBCDriverForExcel

cn.Open 'Driver={Microsoft Excel Driver (*.xls)};' & _            'DriverId=790;' & _            'DBQ=' & strXLToOpen & '; ReadOnly=False;' & _            'DefaultDir=c:\somepath'  

You can also use Jet drivers with Excel.

EDIT re Comment #2

I have tested this connection string with .Net, and it seems to work:

'Provider=Microsoft.Jet.OLEDB.4.0;' & _ 'Data Source=C:\Docs\Test.xls;' & _ 'Mode=ReadWrite;Extended Properties=''Excel 8.0;HDR=No'''