How to export html table to excel or pdf in php

In my php page i have a table and if the user requires he has to export that table to excel sheet..

The code for displaying the table is:

$sql=mysql_query("SELECT * FROM attendance WHERE (year = '" . 
mysql_real_escape_string($_SESSION['year']) . "') and ( branch= '" . 
mysql_real_escape_string(($_SESSION['branch'])). "') and ( sem= '" . 
mysql_real_escape_string(($_SESSION['sem'])). "') and (sec= '" . 
mysql_real_escape_string(($_SESSION['sec'])). "')"); print "<body 
background='bg.jpg'>";                                                  
Print "<br><br><BR><center><table border 
cellpadding=3><tr><th>idno</th><th>name</th><th>subject</th><th>Held 
Classes</th><th>Attended Classes</th></tr>";   
while($data=mysql_fetch_array( 
$sql ))   { 

echo "<tr><td>".$data['idno']." </td><td>".$data['name'] . " 
<td>".$data['subject']." </td><td>".$data['heldcls'] . " 
<td>".$data['attendcls']." </td>"; } 
Print "</table><br><br><form action = excel.php method = POST><input type = 
'submit' name = 'submit' Value = 'Export to excel'></form></center>";

how do i export this table to excel sheet. And what should b the code in excel.php. Please help me.. thank you in advance..


Solution 1:

Either you can use CSV functions or PHPExcel

or you can try like below

<?php
$file="demo.xls";
$test="<table  ><tr><td>Cell 1</td><td>Cell 2</td></tr></table>";
header("Content-type: application/vnd.ms-excel");
header("Content-Disposition: attachment; filename=$file");
echo $test;
?>

The header for .xlsx files is Content-type: application/vnd.openxmlformats-officedocument.spreadsheetml.sheet

Solution 2:

If all you want is a simple excel worksheet try this:

header('Content-type: application/excel');
$filename = 'filename.xls';
header('Content-Disposition: attachment; filename='.$filename);

$data = '<html xmlns:x="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:excel">
<head>
    <!--[if gte mso 9]>
    <xml>
        <x:ExcelWorkbook>
            <x:ExcelWorksheets>
                <x:ExcelWorksheet>
                    <x:Name>Sheet 1</x:Name>
                    <x:WorksheetOptions>
                        <x:Print>
                            <x:ValidPrinterInfo/>
                        </x:Print>
                    </x:WorksheetOptions>
                </x:ExcelWorksheet>
            </x:ExcelWorksheets>
        </x:ExcelWorkbook>
    </xml>
    <![endif]-->
</head>

<body>
   <table><tr><td>Cell 1</td><td>Cell 2</td></tr></table>
</body></html>';

echo $data;

The key here is the xml data. This will keep excel from complaining about the file.

Solution 3:

Use a PHP Excel for generatingExcel file. You can find a good one called PHPExcel here: https://github.com/PHPOffice/PHPExcel

And for PDF generation use http://princexml.com/