EasyXLS

How to export DataSet to Excel in custom format in VB.NET

EasyXLS Excel library can be used to export Excel files in VB.NET. The library works with .NET Framework or .NET Core platform.

Step 1: Download EasyXLS Excel Library for .NET

To download the trial version of EasyXLS Excel Library, press the below button:

Download EasyXLS™ Excel Library for VB.NET

If you already own a license key, you may login and download EasyXLS from your account.

Install the downloaded EasyXLS installer for v8.6 or earlier.

Step 2: License file setup

Step required for EasyXLS v9.0 or later.

If you are using a trial, generate a trial license file from EasyXLS trials page. The trial license is valid for 30-days.

If you own a license key, you may login to the account that purchased the license and generate the license file from:
https://www.easyxls.com/my-orders

Setup the license file into your project using these guidelines.

Step 3: Create a VB.NET project

If don't have a project, create one as ASP.NET web application, windows forms app, console application, class library or service.

Step 4: Include EasyXLS library into project

EasyXLS.dll must be added as reference to your project. EasyXLS.dll can be found:
- Inside the downloaded archive at Step 1 for EasyXLS v9.0 or later
- Under installation path for EasyXLS v8.6 or earlier, in "Dot NET version" folder.

Add EasyXLS reference

Step 5: Run VB.NET code that exports DataSet to Excel with formatting

Execute the following VB.NET code that exports DataSet to Excel with formatting.

'-------------------------------------------------------------------------
' Tutorial 02
'
' This code sample shows how to export DataSet to Excel file in VB.NET.
' The DataSet contains data from a SQL database, but it also can contain
' data from other sources like GridView, DataGridView, DataGrid or other.
' The cells are formatted using a user-defined format.
'-------------------------------------------------------------------------

Imports EasyXLS
Imports EasyXLS.Constants
Imports System.IO
Imports System.Data
Imports System.Drawing

Module Tutorial02

    Sub Main()

        Console.WriteLine("Tutorial 02" & vbCrLf & "----------" & vbCrLf)

        ' Create an instance of the class that exports Excel files 
        Dim workbook As New ExcelDocument

        ' Create the database connection
        Dim sConnectionString As String = _
                   "Initial Catalog=Northwind;Data Source=localhost;Integrated Security=SSPI;"
        Dim sqlConnection As System.Data.SqlClient.SqlConnection = _
                   New System.Data.SqlClient.SqlConnection(sConnectionString)
        sqlConnection.Open()

        ' Create the adapter used to fill the dataset
        Dim sQueryString As String = "SELECT TOP 100 CAST(Month(ord.OrderDate) AS varchar) + "
        sQueryString += "'/' + CAST(Day(ord.OrderDate) AS varchar) + "
        sQueryString += "'/' + CAST(year(ord.OrderDate) AS varchar) AS 'Order Date', "
        sQueryString += "P.ProductName AS 'Product Name', O.UnitPrice AS Price, O.Quantity, "
        sQueryString += "O.UnitPrice * O. Quantity AS Value "
        sQueryString += "FROM Orders AS ord, [Order Details] AS O, Products AS P "
        sQueryString += "WHERE O.ProductID = P.ProductID AND O.OrderID = ord.OrderID"
        Dim adp As System.Data.SqlClient.SqlDataAdapter = _
                   New System.Data.SqlClient.SqlDataAdapter(sQueryString, sqlConnection)

        ' Populate the dataset
        Dim dataset As DataSet = New DataSet
        adp.Fill(dataset)

        ' Create an instance of the class used to format the cells in the report
        Dim xlsAutoFormat As ExcelAutoFormat = New ExcelAutoFormat
        
        ' Set the formatting style of the header
        Dim xlsHeaderStyle As ExcelStyle = New ExcelStyle(Color.LightGreen)
        xlsHeaderStyle.setFontSize(12)
        xlsAutoFormat.setHeaderRowStyle(xlsHeaderStyle)

        ' Set the formatting style of the cells (alternating style)
        Dim xlsEvenRowStripesStyle As ExcelStyle = New ExcelStyle(Color.FloralWhite)
        xlsEvenRowStripesStyle.setFormat("$0.00")
        xlsEvenRowStripesStyle.setHorizontalAlignment(Alignment.ALIGNMENT_LEFT)
        xlsAutoFormat.setEvenRowStripesStyle(xlsEvenRowStripesStyle)
        Dim xlsOddRowStripesStyle As ExcelStyle = New ExcelStyle(Color.FromArgb(240, 247, 239))
        xlsOddRowStripesStyle.setFormat("$0.00")
        xlsOddRowStripesStyle.setHorizontalAlignment(Alignment.ALIGNMENT_LEFT)
        xlsAutoFormat.setOddRowStripesStyle(xlsOddRowStripesStyle)
        Dim xlsLeftColumnStyle As ExcelStyle = New ExcelStyle(Color.FloralWhite)
        xlsLeftColumnStyle.setFormat("mm/dd/yyyy")
        xlsLeftColumnStyle.setHorizontalAlignment(Alignment.ALIGNMENT_LEFT)
        xlsAutoFormat.setLeftColumnStyle(xlsLeftColumnStyle)
        
        ' Export the Excel file
        Console.WriteLine("Writing file C:\Samples\Tutorial02 - export DataSet to Excel with formatting.xlsx.")
        workbook.easy_WriteXLSXFile_FromDataSet( _
         "c:\Samples\Tutorial02 - export DataSet to Excel with formatting.xlsx", dataset, xlsAutoFormat, "Sheet1")

        ' Confirm export of Excel file
        Dim sError As String = workbook.easy_getError()
        If (sError.Equals("")) Then
            Console.Write("File successfully created. Press Enter to Exit...")
        Else
            Console.Write("Error encountered: " + sError + "Press Enter to Exit...")
        End If

        ' Close the database connection
        sqlConnection.Close()

        ' Dispose memory
        workbook.Dispose()
        dataset.Dispose()
        sqlConnection.Dispose()
        adp.Dispose()

        Console.ReadLine()

    End Sub

End Module

EasyXLS Excel libraries:

.NET
Excel Library for VB.NET
full .NET version to import, export or convert Excel files
Excel Writer for VB.NET
.NET version to create and export Excel files
Express Excel Writer for VB.NET
limited .NET version to create and export Excel files in predefined formats
Download EasyXLS™ Excel Library for VB.NET

File formats:

Office 365
MS Excel 2021 - 2024
MS Excel 2007 - 2019
MS Excel 97 - 2003
XLSXXLSMXLSBXLS
XMLHTMLCSVTXT