Excel To XML Using LINQ

In this article we will show you the easiest way to convert Excel data into Xml files. First getting Data from the Excel file and by using OLEDB in Data Table then Exporting this data table into XML, here you will learn the XML Conecepts like writing the xml document using XmlTextWriter.

Targeted Audiences

People with basic knowledge of C#.

Explanation

Things to do,

Make a C# WinForm application.
Create Excel File / can use Exists file.
Create UI
Code

There is a certain way to convert Excel file to Xml... For example using Excel Library (Com Component)

using Microsoft.Office.Interop.Excel

But in my opinion there might be some problem as it used the Excel application in a background process and it creates complications in coding.

Step 1

Open a new Project

LINQ

Step 2

Rename the form Name ‘ConvertXmlFrom’

Step 3

Add Controls as below,

LINQ

Use Namespace on top

using System.Windows.Forms;
using System.IO;

On File Browse Click

private void btnBrowseFolder_Click(object sender, EventArgs e)
{
DialogResult drResult = FBD.ShowDialog();
if (drResult == System.Windows.Forms.DialogResult.OK)
txtXlFilePath.Text = FBD.SelectedPath;
}

On Convert Button Click

private void btnConvert_Click(object sender, EventArgs e)
{
if (chkCustomeName.Checked && txtCustomeFileName.Text != "" && txtXlFilePath.Text!="" && txtNodeName.Text!="") // using Custome Xml File Name
{
if (File.Exists(txtXlFilePath.Text))
{
string CustXmlFilePath = Path.Combine(new FileInfo(txtXlFilePath.Text).DirectoryName, txtCustomeFileName.Text); // Ceating Path for Xml File
ConvertXml _Convert = new ConvertXml();
_Convert.CreateXltoXML(CustXmlFilePath, txtXlFilePath.Text, txtNodeName.Text); // Xml File, EXcel File, Row Name
MessageBox.Show("Conversion Completed!!");
}
}
else if (txtXlFilePath.Text != "" && txtNodeName.Text != "") // Using Default Xml File Name
{
if (File.Exists(txtXlFilePath.Text))
{
ConvertXml _Convert = new ConvertXml();
_Convert.CreateXltoXML(txtXlFilePath.Text, txtNodeName.Text);
MessageBox.Show("Conversion Completed!!");
}
}
else
{
MessageBox.Show("Please Fill Required Feilds!!");
}
}

Step 4

Add New Class with Name ‘ConvertXml.cs’

Use Namespace on top :
using System.Xml;
using System.Xml.Linq;
using System.IO;
using System.Data;
using System.Data.OleDb;
using System.Linq;
class ConvertXml
{

Here is an example of method Overloading. In the first method we are passing custom Xml file Name.

In the other method it will use default file name which it is getting from the Excel file.

// Creating Xml File With Custome FileName
public bool CreateXltoXML(string XmlFile, string XlFile, string RowName)
{
bool IsCreated = false;
try
{
DataTable dt = GetTableDataXl(XlFile);
XmlTextWriter writer = new XmlTextWriter(XmlFile, System.Text.Encoding.UTF8);
writer.WriteStartDocument(true);
writer.Formatting = Formatting.Indented;
writer.Indentation = 2;
writer.WriteStartElement("tbl_" + RowName);
List<string> ColumnNames = dt.Columns.Cast<DataColumn>().ToList().Select(x => x.ColumnName).ToList(); // Column Names List
List<DataRow> RowList = dt.Rows.Cast<DataRow>().ToList();
foreach (DataRow dr in RowList)
{
writer.WriteStartElement(RowName);
for (int i = 0; i < ColumnNames.Count; i++) // Getting Node Names from DataTable Column Names
{
writer.WriteStartElement(ColumnNames[i]);
writer.WriteString(dr.ItemArray[i].ToString());
writer.WriteEndElement();
}
writer.WriteEndElement();
}
writer.WriteEndElement();
writer.WriteEndDocument();
writer.Close();
if (File.Exists(XmlFile))
IsCreated = true;
}
catch (Exception ex)
{
}
return IsCreated;
}
// Creating Xml File With Default FileName
public bool CreateXltoXML(string XlFile, string RowName)
{
bool IsCreated = false;
try
{
string XmlFile = XlFile.Replace(Path.GetExtension(XlFile), "") + ".xml"; // Getting XMl file Name as Excel File Name
DataTable dt = GetTableDataXl(XlFile);
XmlTextWriter writer = new XmlTextWriter(XmlFile, System.Text.Encoding.UTF8);
writer.WriteStartDocument(true);
writer.Formatting = Formatting.Indented;
writer.Indentation = 2;
writer.WriteStartElement("tbl_" + RowName);
List<string> ColumnNames = dt.Columns.Cast<DataColumn>().ToList().Select(x => x.ColumnName).ToList(); // Column Names List
List<DataRow> RowList = dt.Rows.Cast<DataRow>().ToList();
foreach (DataRow dr in RowList)
{
writer.WriteStartElement(RowName);
for (int i = 0; i < ColumnNames.Count; i++) // Getting Node Names from DataTable Column Names
{
writer.WriteStartElement(ColumnNames[i]);
writer.WriteString(dr.ItemArray[i].ToString());
writer.WriteEndElement();
}
writer.WriteEndElement();
}
writer.WriteEndElement();
writer.WriteEndDocument();
writer.Close();
if (File.Exists(XmlFile))
IsCreated = true;
}
catch (Exception ex)
{
}
return IsCreated;
}

Here we are creating Datatable from Excel Data; it’s by default using the First Sheet.

private DataTable GetTableDataXl(string XlFile)
{
DataTable dt = new DataTable();
try
{
string Ext = Path.GetExtension(XlFile);
string connectionString = "";
if (Ext == ".xls")
{ //For Excel 97-03
connectionString = "Provider=Microsoft.Jet.OLEDB.4.0; Data Source =" + XlFile + "; Extended Properties = 'Excel 8.0;HDR=YES'";
}
else if (Ext == ".xlsx")
{ //For Excel 07 and greater
connectionString = "Provider=Microsoft.ACE.OLEDB.12.0; Data Source =" + XlFile + "; Extended Properties = 'Excel 8.0;HDR=YES'";
}
OleDbConnection conn = new OleDbConnection(connectionString);
OleDbCommand cmd = new OleDbCommand();
OleDbDataAdapter dataAdapter = new OleDbDataAdapter();
cmd.Connection = conn;
//Fetch Fisrt Sheet Name
conn.Open();
DataTable dtSchema;
dtSchema = conn.GetOleDbSchemaTable(OleDbSchemaGuid.Tables, null);
string ExcelSheetName = dtSchema.Rows[0]["TABLE_NAME"].ToString();
conn.Close();
//Read all data from the Sheet to a Data Table
conn.Open();
cmd.CommandText = "SELECT * From [" + ExcelSheetName + "]";
dataAdapter.SelectCommand = cmd;
dataAdapter.Fill(dt); // Fill Sheet Data to Datatable
conn.Close();
}
catch (Exception ex)
{ }
return dt;
}
}

I hope this will help you. Please give your valuable feedback in the comments section.

1 Comment

Join the conversation! Your thoughts help the community grow.

TJ R5y ago
For the most, it works beautifully. However, when the column has mixed data (sometimes int, sometimes very big int and other times varchar, it doesn't. It has the same problem that MS SQL Server has performing an excel import for that data. Most people would suggest putting the data in different columns, problem is this is the ID given to it.