Export query from sql to excel

For anyone coming here looking for how to do this in C#, I have tried the following method and had success in dotnet core 2.0.3 and entity framework core 2.0.3

First create your model class.

public class User
{  
    public string Name { get; set; }  
    public int Address { get; set; }  
    public int ZIP { get; set; }  
    public string Gender { get; set; }  
} 

Then install EPPlus Nuget package. (I used version 4.0.5, probably will work for other versions as well.)

Install-Package EPPlus -Version 4.0.5

The create ExcelExportHelper class, which will contain the logic to convert dataset to Excel rows. This class do not have dependencies with your model class or dataset.

public class ExcelExportHelper
    {
        public static string ExcelContentType
        {
            get
            { return "application/vnd.openxmlformats-officedocument.spreadsheetml.sheet"; }
        }

        public static DataTable ListToDataTable<T>(List<T> data)
        {
            PropertyDescriptorCollection properties = TypeDescriptor.GetProperties(typeof(T));
            DataTable dataTable = new DataTable();

            for (int i = 0; i < properties.Count; i++)
            {
                PropertyDescriptor property = properties[i];
                dataTable.Columns.Add(property.Name, Nullable.GetUnderlyingType(property.PropertyType) ?? property.PropertyType);
            }

            object[] values = new object[properties.Count];
            foreach (T item in data)
            {
                for (int i = 0; i < values.Length; i++)
                {
                    values[i] = properties[i].GetValue(item);
                }

                dataTable.Rows.Add(values);
            }
            return dataTable;
        }

        public static byte[] ExportExcel(DataTable dataTable, string heading = "", bool showSrNo = false, params string[] columnsToTake)
        {

            byte[] result = null;
            using (ExcelPackage package = new ExcelPackage())
            {
                ExcelWorksheet workSheet = package.Workbook.Worksheets.Add(String.Format("{0} Data", heading));
                int startRowFrom = String.IsNullOrEmpty(heading) ? 1 : 3;

                if (showSrNo)
                {
                    DataColumn dataColumn = dataTable.Columns.Add("#", typeof(int));
                    dataColumn.SetOrdinal(0);
                    int index = 1;
                    foreach (DataRow item in dataTable.Rows)
                    {
                        item[0] = index;
                        index++;
                    }
                }


                // add the content into the Excel file  
                workSheet.Cells["A" + startRowFrom].LoadFromDataTable(dataTable, true);

                // autofit width of cells with small content  
                int columnIndex = 1;
                foreach (DataColumn column in dataTable.Columns)
                {
                    int maxLength;
                    ExcelRange columnCells = workSheet.Cells[workSheet.Dimension.Start.Row, columnIndex, workSheet.Dimension.End.Row, columnIndex];
                    try
                    {
                        maxLength = columnCells.Max(cell => cell.Value.ToString().Count());
                    }
                    catch (Exception) //nishanc
                    {
                        maxLength = columnCells.Max(cell => (cell.Value +"").ToString().Length);
                    }

                    //workSheet.Column(columnIndex).AutoFit();
                    if (maxLength < 150)
                    {
                        //workSheet.Column(columnIndex).AutoFit();
                    }


                    columnIndex++;
                }

                // format header - bold, yellow on black  
                using (ExcelRange r = workSheet.Cells[startRowFrom, 1, startRowFrom, dataTable.Columns.Count])
                {
                    r.Style.Font.Color.SetColor(System.Drawing.Color.White);
                    r.Style.Font.Bold = true;
                    r.Style.Fill.PatternType = OfficeOpenXml.Style.ExcelFillStyle.Solid;
                    r.Style.Fill.BackgroundColor.SetColor(Color.Brown);
                }

                // format cells - add borders  
                using (ExcelRange r = workSheet.Cells[startRowFrom + 1, 1, startRowFrom + dataTable.Rows.Count, dataTable.Columns.Count])
                {
                    r.Style.Border.Top.Style = ExcelBorderStyle.Thin;
                    r.Style.Border.Bottom.Style = ExcelBorderStyle.Thin;
                    r.Style.Border.Left.Style = ExcelBorderStyle.Thin;
                    r.Style.Border.Right.Style = ExcelBorderStyle.Thin;

                    r.Style.Border.Top.Color.SetColor(System.Drawing.Color.Black);
                    r.Style.Border.Bottom.Color.SetColor(System.Drawing.Color.Black);
                    r.Style.Border.Left.Color.SetColor(System.Drawing.Color.Black);
                    r.Style.Border.Right.Color.SetColor(System.Drawing.Color.Black);
                }

                // removed ignored columns  
                for (int i = dataTable.Columns.Count - 1; i >= 0; i--)
                {
                    if (i == 0 && showSrNo)
                    {
                        continue;
                    }
                    if (!columnsToTake.Contains(dataTable.Columns[i].ColumnName))
                    {
                        workSheet.DeleteColumn(i + 1);
                    }
                }

                if (!String.IsNullOrEmpty(heading))
                {
                    workSheet.Cells["A1"].Value = heading;
                   // workSheet.Cells["A1"].Style.Font.Size = 20;

                    workSheet.InsertColumn(1, 1);
                    workSheet.InsertRow(1, 1);
                    workSheet.Column(1).Width = 10;
                }

                result = package.GetAsByteArray();
            }

            return result;
        }

        public static byte[] ExportExcel<T>(List<T> data, string Heading = "", bool showSlno = false, params string[] ColumnsToTake)
        {
            return ExportExcel(ListToDataTable<T>(data), Heading, showSlno, ColumnsToTake);
        }
    }

Now add this method where you want to generate the excel file, probably for a method in the controller. You can pass parameters for your stored procedure as well. Note that the return type of the method is FileContentResult. Whatever query you execute, important thing is you must have the results in a List.

[HttpPost]
public async Task<FileContentResult> Create([Bind("Id,StartDate,EndDate")] GetReport getReport)
{
    DateTime startDate = getReport.StartDate;
    DateTime endDate = getReport.EndDate;

    // call the stored procedure and store dataset in a List.
    List<User> users = _context.Reports.FromSql("exec dbo.SP_GetEmpReport @start={0}, @end={1}", startDate, endDate).ToList();
    //set custome column names
    string[] columns = { "Name", "Address", "ZIP", "Gender"};
    byte[] filecontent = ExcelExportHelper.ExportExcel(users, "Users", true, columns);
    // set file name.
    return File(filecontent, ExcelExportHelper.ExcelContentType, "Report.xlsx"); 
}

More details can be found here

Export SQL Data to Excel from Microsoft SQL Server

Let’s go over three ways to export an SQL Query to an Excel File Using MSSQL 

Despite the pushback from Database aficionados, sometimes it makes sense to export data from SQL to an Excel file. It really depends on who is the audience of the information. Not everyone is great with SQL Analysis. Few people require access to the database.

And lots of times the boss just needs to see the information in Excel.

So, if Excel is the Output required this article is here to help you Export SQL Queries to Excel. 

Here are three ways to Export a SQL query to Excel format. The last one can be kind of tricky. I’ll provide a condensed version followed by a detailed version with screenshots.

Three quick ways to Export SQL Data to Excel:

Choose the Summarized Version and then scroll to further down to use the SQL Export Version to Excel that works best for you. 

Method Number 1 – Copy Grid results and Paste into Excel

Under Query, Make sure results to Grid are selected.
After Running your query, right-click the top right corner of the grid.
Copy With Headers.
Paste into an Excel File

Possible Issues:
I’ve seen formatting issues with this strategy. For Example, there are situations where the spreadsheet drops preceding zeroes after the copy-paste.

I’ve also noticed lengthy fields, (think of a really long free text field) end up running into the next line.

For the reasons above, I prefer this next method for a clean Excel file.

Method Number 2: Export the Query Results as a Task

In the object explorer window, find the database you want to export from.
Right Click the Database, Click Tasks, and Export Data
The Wizard walks you through the rest of the steps but I have included screenshots below.

Method Number 3 – Use Good Old fashioned TSQL to send the data to an excel file

For those who value speed above all use the following script format.

Possible Issues – Configuring this might not be your type of fun and getting this straight deserves its own article.

Step by Step instructions with screenshots

Method Number 1 – Copy Grid results and paste into Excel

After ensuring results to grid turned on, Execute your query, right-click the top left-hand corner of the results grid.

Choose Copy with Headers and then you are ready to paste in Excel with Ctrl + C

Method 2 – Export Via the Export Wizard

Right-click on the database you want to export from. Then Select tasks and “Export Data”.

The SQL Server Wizard will startup. Click Next through the prompts.

Select the appropriate Native client, your server name, and database and choose “Next”.

Next, Select Microsoft Excel and the file path where you want to import the data. The .xls file that you name will be created by this process.

Now you can choose to export a whole table or a query. For the purpose of this exercise, we are creating a query.

Paste the query into the SQL Statement field. Make sure every output field has a unique name.

Click Next on the “Select Source Tables and Views” screen.

I use the default settings on the “conversion issues and data type mapping screen”

Now you can choose to Run immediately or Save an SSIS Package for later reuse.

Double Check your settings and click finish.

Make sure there were no errors in the Export.

Now Go to the directory you choose earlier and make sure you have a sweet-looking Excel File at that location!

Method Number 3 – Use TSQL to send the data to an excel file

This method is the quickest once you get it set up but the configuration is the tricky part. Permissions can be a limiting factor.

Also with the script below, you have to make sure the file exists before you run the query for it to import properly.

First, create a blank excel file at the directory of your choosing.

C:SQL2019ReportsUsernames.xlsx

Then run this script below.

INSERT INTO OPENROWSET(‘Microsoft.ACE.OLEDB.12.0’,’Excel 12.0;
Database=C:SQL2019ReportsUsernames.xlsx;’,’SELECT * FROM [Sheet1$]’)
SELECT DisplayName FROM dbo.Users Where Reputation > 2000

Configuring this can be tricky and dependent on your level of permissions. Make sure you have the correct Linked Server/Provider installed (‘Microsoft.ACE.OLEDB.12.0’) And check your Database user settings to this server .

Read time 8 minutes

SQL Server Management Studio (SSMS) is an excellent utility to configure, manage, and administer all Microsoft SQL Server components. There are many advantages of having SQL data in spreadsheet programs like Excel. Spreadsheets are easy to use and flexible compared to SQL. The novice users have a similar query on how they can export the SQL Database to an Excel file. Here is an example-

“I am new to SQL server database and looking for ways to export the database output to excel. I have a few database files that I urgently want to save to .xlsx or .csv. Can anyone with expertise please guide me on how to automate this process?”

Benefits of saving SQL database in an excel file

Although, the Excel file does not have the same protection level as the SQL Server, it has the essential advantages of a backup file. It can help you in the following situations-

• If the user drops a column in a table by mistake, it can be recovered from the excel file.
• You can overcome the hardware or media failure situations.
• It can be used as a secondary backup file useful in several routine administrative needs and valuable when a natural disaster hits the on-premises location.

Now, we are going to discuss ways to export the SQL Server data to Excel. Two manual methods can be employed to achieve this task, which is described below:

Method #1 Export from SQL Table to Excel Using the SQL Server Import and Export Wizard

There exists an inbuilt feature in SQL Server Management Studio (SSMS) to export data to Excel. The detailed steps are described below:

1. Right-click on the database table that you would like to export. Under the Tasks, click on Export Data.
   
2. In SQL Server Import and Export Wizard, click Next. This will open up a new dialog window- Choose a Data Source. From the drop-down menu in Data sources, select SQL Server Native Client 11.0, then click Next.
   
3. In the Destination field, choose Microsoft Excel. Next, in the Excel file path field, provide the location and filename by clicking on the Browse button. Click Next to proceed.
   
4. At this point, you might encounter an error.
   
5. To solve this issue in the search field, search for the 64-bit version of SQL Server Import and Export Data.
   
6. Next, repeat steps 1-3. In the Specify Table Copy or Query window, select Copy data from one or more tables or views, and hit Next.
   
7. Next, select the source tables that you would like to export.
   
8. Click on the table and click on the Preview tab to view the table content. Click OK to exit.
   
9. In the Save and Run package window, make sure Run immediately is checked and then click Next.
10. In Complete the Wizard window, click Finish.
11. In the end, you will get a message of successful completion, as shown below:
    
12. Next, go to the location where you have exported the SQL database table as an Excel file and open the Excel file.
    

Method #2 Import from SQL Table to Excel Using Data Connection Wizard Dialog

Another easy way to export the SQL table to Excel is by exploiting the inbuilt Excel feature that enables us to import any SQL table. The detailed steps to do so are outlined below:

1. Create a Blank worksheet and open it.
2. On the Data tab, click the Get Data icon, select From Database > From SQL Server Database.
   
3. Enter the name of your SQL Server in the text field and click OK.
   
4. Select the appropriate option and click Connect.
   
5. Click OK to proceed.
   
6. In the Navigator window, select the database and then the table that you would like to import in Excel and click on Load.
   
7. Next, click on Close & Load icon.
   
8. Congratulations! You have successfully imported the SQL table into Excel.
   

Kernel for SQL Database Recovery

Just like any other database file, SQL database files are also prone to database corruption. In gruesome scenarios like these, one should rely only on professional tools such as Kernel for SQL Database Recovery. It is a feature-rich tool that can quite quickly repair your earlier corrupt/inaccessible database files, irrespective of the server version. It is also possible to create a backup of the restored databases in script form.

Conclusion

Many a time, it is easier to work with spreadsheets in comparison to SQL database tables. Therefore, it becomes necessary to export these SQL tables to Excel. In this post, we have explored two manual ways to achieve this task quickly. A damaged/ corrupted database file can hinder you from exporting from SQL to Excel; hence we recommend the user to rely on advanced tools to repair corrupt SQL databases with ease.