Create, read, and edit Excel files in WinUI

13 Jun 202420 minutes to read

Syncfusion Excel library for WinUI platform can be used to create, read, edit Excel files. This also convert Excel files to PDF.

Create a simple Excel report

The below steps illustrates creating a simple Invoice formatted Excel document in WinUI.

Step 1: Create a new C# WinUI Desktop app. Select Blank App, Packaged with WAP (WinUI 3 in Desktop) from the template and click the Next button.

Create WinUI application in Visual Studio

Step 2: Enter the project name and click Create.

Name the project

Step 3: Select the target and minimum platform versions.

Choose the target and platform

Step 4: Install the Syncfusion.XlsIO.NET NuGet package as reference to your WinUI application from NuGet.org.

Install Syncfusion.XlsIO.NET Nuget Package

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: Add a new button to the MainWindow.xaml as shown below.

<Window
       x:Class="WinUISample.MainWindow"
       xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/winfx/2006/xaml/presentation"
       xmlns:x="http://schemas.microsoft.com/winfx/2006/xaml"
       xmlns:local="using:WinUISample"
       xmlns:d="http://schemas.microsoft.com/expression/blend/2008"
       xmlns:mc="http://schemas.openxmlformats.org/markup-compatibility/2006"
       mc:Ignorable="d">
   
       <StackPanel Orientation="Horizontal" HorizontalAlignment="Center" VerticalAlignment="Center">
           <Button x:Name="button" Click="CreateDocument">Create Excel</Button>
       </StackPanel>
   </Window>

Step 6: Include the following namespaces in MainPage.xaml.cs file.

using Windows.Storage;
   using Windows.Storage.Pickers;
   using Windows.Storage.Streams;
   using System.Reflection;
   using Syncfusion.XlsIO;
   using System.IO;

Step 7: Include the below code snippet in button click event to create an Excel file and download it.

//Create an instance of ExcelEngine.
   using (ExcelEngine excelEngine = new ExcelEngine())
   {
     IApplication application = excelEngine.Excel;
     application.DefaultVersion = ExcelVersion.Xlsx;
   
     //Create a workbook with a worksheet
     IWorkbook workbook = application.Workbooks.Create(1);
   
     //Access first worksheet from the workbook instance.
     IWorksheet worksheet = workbook.Worksheets[0];
   
     Assembly executingAssembly = typeof(App).GetTypeInfo().Assembly;
     Stream inputStream = executingAssembly.GetManifestResourceStream("WinUISample.AdventureCycles-Logo.png");
   
     //Add a picture
     IPictureShape shape = worksheet.Pictures.AddPicture(1, 1, inputStream, 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: +1 231-231-2310";
   
     //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 = Syncfusion.Drawing.Color.FromArgb(0, 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 = Syncfusion.Drawing.Color.FromArgb(0, 42, 118, 189);
     worksheet.Range["D7:E7"].CellStyle.Color = Syncfusion.Drawing.Color.FromArgb(0, 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 = Syncfusion.Drawing.Color.FromArgb(0, 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 = "+1 231-654-0000";
   
     //Create a Hyperlink for e-mail in the cell A13
     IHyperLink hyperlink = worksheet.HyperLinks.Add(worksheet.Range["A13"]);
     hyperlink.Type = ExcelHyperLinkType.Url;
     hyperlink.Address = "Steyn@greatlakes.com";
     hyperlink.ScreenTip = "Send Mail";
   
     //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";
   
     //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();
   
     //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 = Syncfusion.Drawing.Color.FromArgb(0, 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;
   
     MemoryStream stream = new MemoryStream();
     workbook.SaveAs(stream);
     Save(stream, "Output");
   }

Step 8: Include this below helper Save method in MainPage.xaml.cs file.

async void Save(MemoryStream stream, string filename)
   {
     StorageFile stFile;
     if (!(Windows.Foundation.Metadata.ApiInformation.IsTypePresent("Windows.Phone.UI.Input.HardwareButtons")))
     {
       FileSavePicker savePicker = new FileSavePicker();
       savePicker.DefaultFileExtension = ".xlsx";
       savePicker.SuggestedFileName = filename;
       savePicker.FileTypeChoices.Add("Excel Documents", new List<string>() { ".xlsx" });
       var hwnd = System.Diagnostics.Process.GetCurrentProcess().MainWindowHandle;
       WinRT.Interop.InitializeWithWindow.Initialize(savePicker, hwnd);
       stFile = await savePicker.PickSaveFileAsync();
     }
     else
     {
       StorageFolder local = Windows.Storage.ApplicationData.Current.LocalFolder;
       stFile = await local.CreateFileAsync(filename, CreationCollisionOption.ReplaceExisting);
     }
     if (stFile != null)
     {
       using (IRandomAccessStream zipStream = await stFile.OpenAsync(FileAccessMode.ReadWrite))
       {
         //Write compressed data from memory to file
         using (Stream outstream = zipStream.AsStreamForWrite())
         {
           byte[] buffer = stream.ToArray();
           outstream.Write(buffer, 0, buffer.Length);
           outstream.Flush();
         }
       }
     }
     //Launch the saved Excel file
     await Windows.System.Launcher.LaunchFileAsync(stFile);
   }

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

By executing the program, you will get the Excel file as below.
Output File

Read and Edit Excel file

The below code snippet illustrates how to read and edit an Excel file in WinUI.

//Create an instance of ExcelEngine.
using (ExcelEngine excelEngine = new ExcelEngine())
{
  IApplication application = excelEngine.Excel;
  application.DefaultVersion = ExcelVersion.Xlsx;

  Assembly executingAssembly = typeof(App).GetTypeInfo().Assembly;
  Stream inputStream = executingAssembly.GetManifestResourceStream("WinUISample.Sample.xlsx");

  //Create a workbook with a worksheet
  IWorkbook workbook = application.Workbooks.Open(inputStream);

  //Access first worksheet from the workbook instance.
  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;

  MemoryStream stream = new MemoryStream();
  workbook.SaveAs(stream);
  Save(stream, "Output");
}

A complete working example of how to read and edit an Excel file in WinUI 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.