Create, read, and edit Excel files in WPF

5 Nov 201924 minutes to read

Syncfusion Excel library for WPF 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 WPF.

1.Create a new C# WPF Application project.

Create WPF application in Visual Studio

2.Install the Syncfusion.XlsIO.Wpf NuGet package as reference to your .NET Framework applications from NuGet.org.

Add XlsIO reference to the project

3.Include the following code snippet in Add a new button in MainWindow.xaml file to add a button for the creation of Excel document.

<Grid>
    <Button Content="Create Excel" HorizontalAlignment="Left" Margin="309,172,0,0" VerticalAlignment="Top" Width="124" Height="46" Click="Button_Click"/>
</Grid>

4.Include the following namespaces in MainWindow.xaml.cs file.

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

5.Include the following code snippet in btnCreate_Click, the click event of the button to create the Excel document.

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

    application.DefaultVersion = ExcelVersion.Excel2016;

    //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: +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 = 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 = "+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";

    //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 = "$.00";
    worksheet.Range["E23"].NumberFormat = "$.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;

    //Save the Excel document
    workbook.SaveAs("Output.xlsx");
}
'Create an instance of ExcelEngine
Using excelEngine As ExcelEngine = New ExcelEngine()

    Dim application As IApplication = excelEngine.Excel

    application.DefaultVersion = ExcelVersion.Excel2016

    '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: +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 = 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 = "+1 231-654-0000"

    '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 = "Steyn@greatlakes.com"
    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 = "$.00"
    worksheet.Range("E23").NumberFormat = "$.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

    'Save the Excel document
    workbook.SaveAs("Output.xlsx")
End Using

A complete working example to create an Excel file in WPF can be downloaded from Create-Excel-file.zip.

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 WPF.

//Create an instance of ExcelEngine
using (ExcelEngine excelEngine = new ExcelEngine())
{
    //Instantiate the Excel application object
    IApplication application = excelEngine.Excel;

    //Set the default application version
    application.DefaultVersion = ExcelVersion.Excel2016;

    //Load the existing Excel workbook into IWorkbook
    IWorkbook workbook = application.Workbooks.Open("Sample.xlsx");

    //Get the first worksheet in the workbook into IWorksheet
    IWorksheet worksheet = workbook.Worksheets[0];

    //Assign some text in a cell
    worksheet.Range["A3"].Text = "Hello World";

    //Save the Excel document
    workbook.SaveAs("Output.xlsx");
}
'Create an instance of ExcelEngine
Using excelEngine As ExcelEngine = New ExcelEngine()

    'Instantiate the excel application object
    Dim application As IApplication = excelEngine.Excel

    'Set the default application version
    application.DefaultVersion = ExcelVersion.Excel2016

    'Load the existing Excel workbook into IWorkbook
    Dim workbook As IWorkbook = application.Workbooks.Open("Sample.xlsx")

    'Get the first worksheet in the workbook into IWorksheet
    Dim worksheet As IWorksheet = workbook.Worksheets(0)

    'Assign some text in a cell
    worksheet.Range("A3").Text = "Hello World"

    'Save the Excel document
    workbook.SaveAs("Output.xlsx")
End Using

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.