Create, read, and edit Excel files in Azure App Service on Windows

9 Jan 202524 minutes to read

Syncfusion Excel library for ASP.NET Core platform can be used to create, read, edit Excel files in Azure App Service on Windows.

Create a simple Excel report

The below steps illustrates creating a simple Invoice formatted Excel document in Azure App Service Windows.

Step 1: Create a new ASP.NET Core Web Application (Model-View-Controller).

Step 2: Name the project.

Step 3: Select the framework and click Create button.

Step 4: Install the Syncfusion.XlsIO.Net.Core NuGet package as reference to your .NET Standard applications from NuGet.org.

NOTE

Starting with v16.2.0.x, if you reference Syncfusion^® assemblies from trial setup or from the NuGet feed, you also have to add “Syncfusion.Licensing” assembly reference and include a license key in your projects. Please refer to this link to know about registering Syncfusion^® license key in your applications to use our components.

Step 5: Include the following namespaces in HomeController.cs.

C#

using Syncfusion.XlsIO;
   using System.IO;
   using Syncfusion.Drawing;

VB.NET

Imports Syncfusion.XlsIO
   Imports System.IO
   Imports Syncfusion.Drawing

Step 6: Add a new button in the Index.cshtml as shown below.

CSHTML

@{Html.BeginForm("CreateDocument", "Home", FormMethod.Get);
       {
           <div>
               <input type="submit" value="Create Document" style="width:150px;height:27px" />
           </div>
       }
       Html.EndForm();
   }

Step 7: Include the below code snippet in HomeController.cs to create an Excel file and download it.

C#

//Create an instance of ExcelEngine
   using (ExcelEngine excelEngine = new ExcelEngine())
   {
     IApplication application = excelEngine.Excel;  
     application.DefaultVersion = ExcelVersion.Xlsx;
     
     //Create a workbook
     IWorkbook workbook = application.Workbooks.Create(1);
     IWorksheet worksheet = workbook.Worksheets[0];
     
     //Adding a picture
     FileStream imageStream = new FileStream("AdventureCycles-Logo.png", FileMode.Open, FileAccess.Read);
     IPictureShape shape = worksheet.Pictures.AddPicture(1, 1, imageStream, 20, 20);
     
     //Disable gridlines in the worksheet
     worksheet.IsGridLinesVisible = false;
     
     //Enter values to the cells from A3 to A5
     worksheet.Range["A3"].Text = "46036 Michigan Ave";
     worksheet.Range["A4"].Text = "Canton, USA";
     worksheet.Range["A5"].Text = "Phone: [phone]";
     
     //Make the text bold
     worksheet.Range["A3:A5"].CellStyle.Font.Bold = true;
     
     //Merge cells
     worksheet.Range["D1:E1"].Merge();
     
     //Enter text to the cell D1 and apply formatting.
     worksheet.Range["D1"].Text = "INVOICE";
     worksheet.Range["D1"].CellStyle.Font.Bold = true;
     worksheet.Range["D1"].CellStyle.Font.RGBColor = Color.FromArgb(42, 118, 189);
     worksheet.Range["D1"].CellStyle.Font.Size = 35;
     
     //Apply alignment in the cell D1
     worksheet.Range["D1"].CellStyle.HorizontalAlignment = ExcelHAlign.HAlignRight;
     worksheet.Range["D1"].CellStyle.VerticalAlignment = ExcelVAlign.VAlignTop;
     
     //Enter values to the cells from D5 to E8
     worksheet.Range["D5"].Text = "INVOICE#";
     worksheet.Range["E5"].Text = "DATE";
     worksheet.Range["D6"].Number = 1028;
     worksheet.Range["E6"].Value = "12/31/2018";
     worksheet.Range["D7"].Text = "CUSTOMER ID";
     worksheet.Range["E7"].Text = "TERMS";
     worksheet.Range["D8"].Number = 564;
     worksheet.Range["E8"].Text = "Due Upon Receipt";
     
     //Apply RGB backcolor to the cells from D5 to E8
     worksheet.Range["D5:E5"].CellStyle.Color = Color.FromArgb(42, 118, 189);
     worksheet.Range["D7:E7"].CellStyle.Color = Color.FromArgb(42, 118, 189);
     
     //Apply known colors to the text in cells D5 to E8
     worksheet.Range["D5:E5"].CellStyle.Font.Color = ExcelKnownColors.White;
     worksheet.Range["D7:E7"].CellStyle.Font.Color = ExcelKnownColors.White;
     
     //Make the text as bold from D5 to E8
     worksheet.Range["D5:E8"].CellStyle.Font.Bold = true;
     
     //Apply alignment to the cells from D5 to E8
     worksheet.Range["D5:E8"].CellStyle.HorizontalAlignment = ExcelHAlign.HAlignCenter;
     worksheet.Range["D5:E5"].CellStyle.VerticalAlignment = ExcelVAlign.VAlignCenter;
     worksheet.Range["D7:E7"].CellStyle.VerticalAlignment = ExcelVAlign.VAlignCenter;
     worksheet.Range["D6:E6"].CellStyle.VerticalAlignment = ExcelVAlign.VAlignTop;
     
     //Enter value and applying formatting in the cell A7
     worksheet.Range["A7"].Text = "  BILL TO";
     worksheet.Range["A7"].CellStyle.Color = Color.FromArgb(42, 118, 189);
     worksheet.Range["A7"].CellStyle.Font.Bold = true;
     worksheet.Range["A7"].CellStyle.Font.Color = ExcelKnownColors.White;
     
     //Apply alignment
     worksheet.Range["A7"].CellStyle.HorizontalAlignment = ExcelHAlign.HAlignLeft;
     worksheet.Range["A7"].CellStyle.VerticalAlignment = ExcelVAlign.VAlignCenter;
     
     //Enter values in the cells A8 to A12
     worksheet.Range["A8"].Text = "Steyn";
     worksheet.Range["A9"].Text = "Great Lakes Food Market";
     worksheet.Range["A10"].Text = "20 Whitehall Rd";
     worksheet.Range["A11"].Text = "North Muskegon,USA";
     worksheet.Range["A12"].Text = "[phone]";
     
     //Create a Hyperlink for e-mail in the cell A13
     IHyperLink hyperlink = worksheet.HyperLinks.Add(worksheet.Range["A13"]);
     hyperlink.Type = ExcelHyperLinkType.Url;
     hyperlink.Address = "[email protected]";
     hyperlink.ScreenTip = "Send Mail";
     
     //Merge column A and B from row 15 to 22
     worksheet.Range["A15:B15"].Merge();
     worksheet.Range["A16:B16"].Merge();
     worksheet.Range["A17:B17"].Merge();
     worksheet.Range["A18:B18"].Merge();
     worksheet.Range["A19:B19"].Merge();
     worksheet.Range["A20:B20"].Merge();
     worksheet.Range["A21:B21"].Merge();
     worksheet.Range["A22:B22"].Merge();
     
     //Enter details of products and prices
     worksheet.Range["A15"].Text = "  DESCRIPTION";
     worksheet.Range["C15"].Text = "QTY";
     worksheet.Range["D15"].Text = "UNIT PRICE";
     worksheet.Range["E15"].Text = "AMOUNT";
     worksheet.Range["A16"].Text = "Cabrales Cheese";
     worksheet.Range["A17"].Text = "Chocos";
     worksheet.Range["A18"].Text = "Pasta";
     worksheet.Range["A19"].Text = "Cereals";
     worksheet.Range["A20"].Text = "Ice Cream";
     worksheet.Range["C16"].Number = 3;
     worksheet.Range["C17"].Number = 2;
     worksheet.Range["C18"].Number = 1;
     worksheet.Range["C19"].Number = 4;
     worksheet.Range["C20"].Number = 3;
     worksheet.Range["D16"].Number = 21;
     worksheet.Range["D17"].Number = 54;
     worksheet.Range["D18"].Number = 10;
     worksheet.Range["D19"].Number = 20;
     worksheet.Range["D20"].Number = 30;
     worksheet.Range["D23"].Text = "Total";
     
     //Apply number format
     worksheet.Range["D16:E22"].NumberFormat = "$0.00";
     worksheet.Range["E23"].NumberFormat = "$0.00";
     
     //Apply incremental formula for column Amount by multiplying Qty and UnitPrice
     application.EnableIncrementalFormula = true;
     worksheet.Range["E16:E20"].Formula = "=C16*D16";
     
     //Formula for Sum the total
     worksheet.Range["E23"].Formula = "=SUM(E16:E22)";
     
     //Apply borders
     worksheet.Range["A16:E22"].CellStyle.Borders[ExcelBordersIndex.EdgeTop].LineStyle = ExcelLineStyle.Thin;
     worksheet.Range["A16:E22"].CellStyle.Borders[ExcelBordersIndex.EdgeBottom].LineStyle = ExcelLineStyle.Thin;
     worksheet.Range["A16:E22"].CellStyle.Borders[ExcelBordersIndex.EdgeTop].Color = ExcelKnownColors.Grey_25_percent;
     worksheet.Range["A16:E22"].CellStyle.Borders[ExcelBordersIndex.EdgeBottom].Color = ExcelKnownColors.Grey_25_percent;
     worksheet.Range["A23:E23"].CellStyle.Borders[ExcelBordersIndex.EdgeTop].LineStyle = ExcelLineStyle.Thin;
     worksheet.Range["A23:E23"].CellStyle.Borders[ExcelBordersIndex.EdgeBottom].LineStyle = ExcelLineStyle.Thin;
     worksheet.Range["A23:E23"].CellStyle.Borders[ExcelBordersIndex.EdgeTop].Color = ExcelKnownColors.Black;
     worksheet.Range["A23:E23"].CellStyle.Borders[ExcelBordersIndex.EdgeBottom].Color = ExcelKnownColors.Black;
     
     //Apply font setting for cells with product details
     worksheet.Range["A3:E23"].CellStyle.Font.FontName = "Arial";
     worksheet.Range["A3:E23"].CellStyle.Font.Size = 10;
     worksheet.Range["A15:E15"].CellStyle.Font.Color = ExcelKnownColors.White;
     worksheet.Range["A15:E15"].CellStyle.Font.Bold = true;
     worksheet.Range["D23:E23"].CellStyle.Font.Bold = true;
     
     //Apply cell color
     worksheet.Range["A15:E15"].CellStyle.Color = Color.FromArgb(42, 118, 189);
     
     //Apply alignment to cells with product details
     worksheet.Range["A15"].CellStyle.HorizontalAlignment = ExcelHAlign.HAlignLeft;
     worksheet.Range["C15:C22"].CellStyle.HorizontalAlignment = ExcelHAlign.HAlignCenter;
     worksheet.Range["D15:E15"].CellStyle.HorizontalAlignment = ExcelHAlign.HAlignCenter;
     
     //Apply row height and column width to look good
     worksheet.Range["A1"].ColumnWidth = 36;
     worksheet.Range["B1"].ColumnWidth = 11;
     worksheet.Range["C1"].ColumnWidth = 8;
     worksheet.Range["D1:E1"].ColumnWidth = 18;
     worksheet.Range["A1"].RowHeight = 47;
     worksheet.Range["A2"].RowHeight = 15;
     worksheet.Range["A3:A4"].RowHeight = 15;
     worksheet.Range["A5"].RowHeight = 18;
     worksheet.Range["A6"].RowHeight = 29;
     worksheet.Range["A7"].RowHeight = 18;
     worksheet.Range["A8"].RowHeight = 15;
     worksheet.Range["A9:A14"].RowHeight = 15;
     worksheet.Range["A15:A23"].RowHeight = 18;  
     
     //Saving the Excel to the MemoryStream 
     MemoryStream stream = new MemoryStream();  
     workbook.SaveAs(stream);
     
     //Set the position as '0'.
     stream.Position = 0;
     
     //Download the Excel file in the browser
     FileStreamResult fileStreamResult = new FileStreamResult(stream, "application/excel");  
     fileStreamResult.FileDownloadName = "Output.xlsx";  
     return fileStreamResult;
   }

VB.NET

'Create an instance of ExcelEngine
   Using excelEngine As ExcelEngine = New ExcelEngine()
   
     Dim application As IApplication = excelEngine.Excel  
     application.DefaultVersion = ExcelVersion.Xlsx
     
     'Create a workbook
     Dim workbook As IWorkbook = application.Workbooks.Create(1)
     Dim worksheet As IWorksheet = workbook.Worksheets(0)
     
     'Adding a picture
     Dim imageStream As FileStream = New FileStream("AdventureCycles-Logo.png", FileMode.Open, FileAccess.Read)
     Dim shape As IPictureShape = worksheet.Pictures.AddPicture(1, 1, imageStream, 20, 20)
     
     'Disable gridlines in the worksheet
     worksheet.IsGridLinesVisible = False
     
     'Enter values to the cells from A3 to A5
     worksheet.Range("A3").Text = "46036 Michigan Ave"
     worksheet.Range("A4").Text = "Canton, USA"
     worksheet.Range("A5").Text = "Phone: [phone]"
     
     'Make the text bold
     worksheet.Range("A3:A5").CellStyle.Font.Bold = True
     
     'Merge cells
     worksheet.Range("D1:E1").Merge()
     
     'Enter text to the cell D1 and apply formatting.
     worksheet.Range("D1").Text = "INVOICE"
     worksheet.Range("D1").CellStyle.Font.Bold = True
     worksheet.Range("D1").CellStyle.Font.RGBColor = Color.FromArgb(42, 118, 189)
     worksheet.Range("D1").CellStyle.Font.Size = 35
     
     'Apply alignment in the cell D1
     worksheet.Range("D1").CellStyle.HorizontalAlignment = ExcelHAlign.HAlignRight
     worksheet.Range("D1").CellStyle.VerticalAlignment = ExcelVAlign.VAlignTop
     
     'Enter values to the cells from D5 to E8
     worksheet.Range("D5").Text = "INVOICE#"
     worksheet.Range("E5").Text = "DATE"
     worksheet.Range("D6").Number = 1028
     worksheet.Range("E6").Value = "12/31/2018"
     worksheet.Range("D7").Text = "CUSTOMER ID"
     worksheet.Range("E7").Text = "TERMS"
     worksheet.Range("D8").Number = 564
     worksheet.Range("E8").Text = "Due Upon Receipt"
     
     'Apply RGB back color to the cells from D5 to E8
     worksheet.Range("D5:E5").CellStyle.Color = Color.FromArgb(42, 118, 189)
     worksheet.Range("D7:E7").CellStyle.Color = Color.FromArgb(42, 118, 189)
     
     'Apply known colors to the text in cells D5 to E8
     worksheet.Range("D5:E5").CellStyle.Font.Color = ExcelKnownColors.White
     worksheet.Range("D7:E7").CellStyle.Font.Color = ExcelKnownColors.White
     
     'Make the text as bold from D5 to E8
     worksheet.Range("D5:E8").CellStyle.Font.Bold = True
     
     'Apply alignment to the cells from D5 to E8
     worksheet.Range("D5:E8").CellStyle.HorizontalAlignment = ExcelHAlign.HAlignCenter
     worksheet.Range("D5:E5").CellStyle.VerticalAlignment = ExcelVAlign.VAlignCenter
     worksheet.Range("D7:E7").CellStyle.VerticalAlignment = ExcelVAlign.VAlignCenter
     worksheet.Range("D6:E6").CellStyle.VerticalAlignment = ExcelVAlign.VAlignTop
     
     'Enter value and applying formatting in the cell A7
     worksheet.Range("A7").Text = "  BILL TO"
     worksheet.Range("A7").CellStyle.Color = Color.FromArgb(42, 118, 189)
     worksheet.Range("A7").CellStyle.Font.Bold = True
     worksheet.Range("A7").CellStyle.Font.Color = ExcelKnownColors.White
     
     'Apply alignment
     worksheet.Range("A7").CellStyle.HorizontalAlignment = ExcelHAlign.HAlignLeft
     worksheet.Range("A7").CellStyle.VerticalAlignment = ExcelVAlign.VAlignCenter
     
     'Enter values in the cells A8 to A12
     worksheet.Range("A8").Text = "Steyn"
     worksheet.Range("A9").Text = "Great Lakes Food Market"
     worksheet.Range("A10").Text = "20 Whitehall Rd"
     worksheet.Range("A11").Text = "North Muskegon,USA"
     worksheet.Range("A12").Text = "[phone]"
     
     'Create a Hyperlink for e-mail in the cell A13
     Dim hyperlink As IHyperLink = worksheet.HyperLinks.Add(worksheet.Range("A13"))
     hyperlink.Type = ExcelHyperLinkType.Url
     hyperlink.Address = "[email protected]"
     hyperlink.ScreenTip = "Send Mail"
     
     'Merge column A and B from row 15 to 22
     worksheet.Range("A15:B15").Merge()
     worksheet.Range("A16:B16").Merge()
     worksheet.Range("A17:B17").Merge()
     worksheet.Range("A18:B18").Merge()
     worksheet.Range("A19:B19").Merge()
     worksheet.Range("A20:B20").Merge()
     worksheet.Range("A21:B21").Merge()
     worksheet.Range("A22:B22").Merge()
     
     'Enter details of products and prices
     worksheet.Range("A15").Text = "  DESCRIPTION"
     worksheet.Range("C15").Text = "QTY"
     worksheet.Range("D15").Text = "UNIT PRICE"
     worksheet.Range("E15").Text = "AMOUNT"
     worksheet.Range("A16").Text = "Cabrales Cheese"
     worksheet.Range("A17").Text = "Chocos"
     worksheet.Range("A18").Text = "Pasta"
     worksheet.Range("A19").Text = "Cereals"
     worksheet.Range("A20").Text = "Ice Cream"
     worksheet.Range("C16").Number = 3
     worksheet.Range("C17").Number = 2
     worksheet.Range("C18").Number = 1
     worksheet.Range("C19").Number = 4
     worksheet.Range("C20").Number = 3
     worksheet.Range("D16").Number = 21
     worksheet.Range("D17").Number = 54
     worksheet.Range("D18").Number = 10
     worksheet.Range("D19").Number = 20
     worksheet.Range("D20").Number = 30
     worksheet.Range("D23").Text = "Total"
     
     'Apply number format
     worksheet.Range("D16:E22").NumberFormat = "$0.00"
     worksheet.Range("E23").NumberFormat = "$0.00"
     
     'Apply incremental formula for column Amount by multiplying Qty and UnitPrice
     application.EnableIncrementalFormula = True
     worksheet.Range("E16:E20").Formula = "=C16*D16"
     
     'Formula for Sum the total
     worksheet.Range("E23").Formula = "=SUM(E16:E22)"
     
     'Apply borders
     worksheet.Range("A16:E22").CellStyle.Borders(ExcelBordersIndex.EdgeTop).LineStyle = ExcelLineStyle.Thin
     worksheet.Range("A16:E22").CellStyle.Borders(ExcelBordersIndex.EdgeBottom).LineStyle = ExcelLineStyle.Thin
     worksheet.Range("A16:E22").CellStyle.Borders(ExcelBordersIndex.EdgeTop).Color = ExcelKnownColors.Grey_25_percent
     worksheet.Range("A16:E22").CellStyle.Borders(ExcelBordersIndex.EdgeBottom).Color = ExcelKnownColors.Grey_25_percent
     worksheet.Range("A23:E23").CellStyle.Borders(ExcelBordersIndex.EdgeTop).LineStyle = ExcelLineStyle.Thin
     worksheet.Range("A23:E23").CellStyle.Borders(ExcelBordersIndex.EdgeBottom).LineStyle = ExcelLineStyle.Thin
     worksheet.Range("A23:E23").CellStyle.Borders(ExcelBordersIndex.EdgeTop).Color = ExcelKnownColors.Black
     worksheet.Range("A23:E23").CellStyle.Borders(ExcelBordersIndex.EdgeBottom).Color = ExcelKnownColors.Black
     
     'Apply font setting for cells with product details
     worksheet.Range("A3:E23").CellStyle.Font.FontName = "Arial"
     worksheet.Range("A3:E23").CellStyle.Font.Size = 10
     worksheet.Range("A15:E15").CellStyle.Font.Color = ExcelKnownColors.White
     worksheet.Range("A15:E15").CellStyle.Font.Bold = True
     worksheet.Range("D23:E23").CellStyle.Font.Bold = True
     
     'Apply cell color
     worksheet.Range("A15:E15").CellStyle.Color = Color.FromArgb(42, 118, 189)
     
     'Apply alignment to cells with product details
     worksheet.Range("A15").CellStyle.HorizontalAlignment = ExcelHAlign.HAlignLeft
     worksheet.Range("C15:C22").CellStyle.HorizontalAlignment = ExcelHAlign.HAlignCenter
     worksheet.Range("D15:E15").CellStyle.HorizontalAlignment = ExcelHAlign.HAlignCenter
     
     'Apply row height and column width to look good
     worksheet.Range("A1").ColumnWidth = 36
     worksheet.Range("B1").ColumnWidth = 11
     worksheet.Range("C1").ColumnWidth = 8
     worksheet.Range("D1:E1").ColumnWidth = 18
     worksheet.Range("A1").RowHeight = 47
     worksheet.Range("A2").RowHeight = 15
     worksheet.Range("A3:A4").RowHeight = 15
     worksheet.Range("A5").RowHeight = 18
     worksheet.Range("A6").RowHeight = 29
     worksheet.Range("A7").RowHeight = 18
     worksheet.Range("A8").RowHeight = 15
     worksheet.Range("A9:A14").RowHeight = 15
     worksheet.Range("A15:A23").RowHeight = 18
     
     'Saving the Excel to the MemoryStream 			
     Dim stream As MemoryStream = New MemoryStream()
     workbook.SaveAs(stream)
     
     'Set the position as '0'.
     stream.Position = 0
     
     'Download the Excel file in the browser
     Dim fileStreamResult As FileStreamResult = New FileStreamResult(stream, "application/excel")
     fileStreamResult.FileDownloadName = "Output.xlsx"
     Return fileStreamResult
   End Using

Steps to publish as Azure App Service on Windows

Step 1: Right-click the project and select Publish option.

Step 2: Select the publish target as Azure.

Step 3: Select the Specific target as Azure App Service (Windows).

Step 4: To create a new app service, click Create new option.

Step 5: Click the Create button to proceed with App Service creation.

Step 6: Click the Finish button to finalize the App Service creation.

Step 7: Click Close button.

Step 8: Click the Publish button.

Step 9: Now, Publish has been succeeded.

Step 10: Now, the published webpage will open in the browser.

Step 11: Click Create Document to create a simple Excel document. You will get the output Excel document as follows.

A complete working example of how to create an Excel file in Azure App Service on Windows in C# is present on this GitHub page.

Read and Edit Excel file

The below code snippet illustrates how to read and edit an Excel file in Azure App Service on Windows.

C#

//New instance of ExcelEngine is created 
//Equivalent to launching Microsoft Excel with no workbooks open
//Instantiate the spreadsheet creation engine
ExcelEngine excelEngine = new ExcelEngine();

//Instantiate the Excel application object
IApplication application = excelEngine.Excel;

//Assigns default application version
application.DefaultVersion = ExcelVersion.Xlsx;

//A existing workbook is opened.             
FileStream sampleFile = new FileStream("Sample.xlsx", FileMode.Open);
IWorkbook workbook = application.Workbooks.Open(sampleFile);

//Access first worksheet from the workbook.
IWorksheet worksheet = workbook.Worksheets[0];

//Set Text in cell A3.
worksheet.Range["A3"].Text ="Hello World";

//Access a cell value from Excel
var value = worksheet.Range["A1"].Value;

//Defining the ContentType for excel file.
string ContentType = "Application/msexcel";

//Define the file name.
string fileName = "Output.xlsx";

//Creating stream object.
MemoryStream stream = new MemoryStream();

//Saving the workbook to stream in XLSX format
workbook.SaveAs(stream);

stream.Position = 0;

//Closing the workbook.
workbook.Close();

//Dispose the Excel engine
excelEngine.Dispose();

//Creates a FileContentResult object by using the file contents, content type, and file name.
return File(stream, ContentType, fileName);

A complete working example of how to read and edit an Excel file in Azure App Service on Windows in C# is present on this GitHub page.

Click here to explore the rich set of Syncfusion^® Excel library (XlsIO) features.

An online sample link to create an Excel document in ASP.NET Core.