Do we need to install Microsoft office in server for Excel import in Asp.net?

Question

do we need to install Microsoft office in server to run a application to import data from excel file to mssql database ?

any suggestions or ideas ?

the code

Answer 1

As @Romil said you can use the .NET framework for that:

string ConnectionString = string.Format(@"Provider=Microsoft.Jet.OLEDB.4.0; Data Source={0}; Extended Properties=""Excel 8.0;HDR=Yes"";", fileName);

using (OleDbConnection conn = new OleDbConnection(ConnectionString))
{
     conn.Open();
     DataTable schemaTable = conn.GetOleDbSchemaTable(OleDbSchemaGuid.Tables, new object[] { null, null, null, "TABLE" });

     foreach (DataRow schemaRow in schemaTable.Rows)
     {
          string sheet = schemaRow["TABLE_NAME"].ToString();
          using (OleDbCommand cmd = new OleDbCommand("SELECT * FROM [" + sheet + "]", conn))
          {
               cmd.CommandType = CommandType.Text;
               DataTable outputTable = new DataTable(sheet);
               output.Tables.Add(outputTable);
               new OleDbDataAdapter(cmd).Fill(outputTable);
          }
     }
                conn.Close();
}

Answer 2

The problem with jet, is you still have to install the data provider for it (though this is also free) or have office installed for it to work. If you simply need to read an excel file there are plenty of fully managed libs out there that will do the track just fine without the need to install anything.

I've listed a few here. I have used excelreader plenty with good results.

http://excelreader.codeplex.com/
http://epplus.codeplex.com/

Excel reader seem to be light on the documentation side of things. so here is an example of how to use it

IExcelDataReader reader = null;
try
{
    using (FileStream stream = new FileStream(ofd.FileName, FileMode.Open))
    {
        string ext = System.IO.Path.GetExtension(ofd.FileName).Replace(".", "").ToUpper();
        if (ext == "XLS")
            reader = ExcelReaderFactory.CreateBinaryReader(stream);
        else
            reader = ExcelReaderFactory.CreateOpenXmlReader(stream);

        reader.IsFirstRowAsColumnNames = true;
        using (DataSet ds = reader.AsDataSet())
        {
            foreach (DataRow dr in ds.Tables[0].Rows)
            {
                ImportData toAdd = new ImportData()
                    {
                        Format = dr[0].ToString(),
                    };

                Database.Datastore.InsertObject(toAdd);
            }
        }
    }
}

Answer 3

If you are reading only xls files then use Microsoft.Jet.OLEDB.4.0 that is inbuilt with your .net framework.

If you are reading xlsx files then use Microsoft.ACE.OLEDB.12.0. The drivers for this can be download freely from Microsoft site. You don't need to install Microsoft officer for interoping.

Use following connection string

    string excelConnectionString = @"Provider=Microsoft.ACE.OLEDB.12.0;  
Data Source=" + path + ";Extended Properties=Excel 12.0;HDR=YES";

Download drivers from here

Refer this for running example