How to export DataTable to Excel

How can I export a DataTable to Excel in C#? I am using Windows Forms. The DataTable is associated with a DataGridView control. I have to export records of DataTable to Excel.

I would recommend ClosedXML -

You can turn a DataTable into an Excel worksheet with some very readable code:

XLWorkbook wb = new XLWorkbook();
DataTable dt = GetDataTableOrWhatever();
wb.Worksheets.Add(dt,"WorksheetName");

The developer is responsive and helpful. The project is actively developed, and the documentation is superb.

Try simple code, to convert DataTable to excel file as csv:

var lines = new List<string>();

string[] columnNames = dataTable.Columns
    .Cast<DataColumn>()
    .Select(column => column.ColumnName)
    .ToArray();

var header = string.Join(",", columnNames.Select(name => $"\"{name}\""));
lines.Add(header);

var valueLines = dataTable.AsEnumerable()
    .Select(row => string.Join(",", row.ItemArray.Select(val => $"\"{val}\"")));

lines.AddRange(valueLines);

File.WriteAllLines("excel.csv", lines);

This will write a new file excel.csv into the current working directory which is generally either where the .exe is or where you launch it from.

An elegant option is writing an extension method (see below) for the DataTable class of .net framework.

This extention method can be called as follows:

using System;
using System.Collections.Generic;
using System.Linq;
using Excel = Microsoft.Office.Interop.Excel;
using System.Data;
using System.Data.OleDb;

DataTable dt;
// fill table data in dt here 
...

// export DataTable to excel
// save excel file without ever making it visible if filepath is given
// don't save excel file, just make it visible if no filepath is given
dt.ExportToExcel(ExcelFilePath);

Extension method for DataTable class:

public static class My_DataTable_Extensions
{

    // Export DataTable into an excel file with field names in the header line
    // - Save excel file without ever making it visible if filepath is given
    // - Don't save excel file, just make it visible if no filepath is given
    public static void ExportToExcel(this DataTable tbl, string excelFilePath = null) {
        try {
            if (tbl == null || tbl.Columns.Count == 0)
                throw new Exception("ExportToExcel: Null or empty input table!\n");

            // load excel, and create a new workbook
            var excelApp = new Excel.Application();
            excelApp.Workbooks.Add();

            // single worksheet
            Excel._Worksheet workSheet = excelApp.ActiveSheet;

            // column headings
            for (var i = 0; i < tbl.Columns.Count; i++) {
                workSheet.Cells[1, i + 1] = tbl.Columns[i].ColumnName;
            }

            // rows
            for (var i = 0; i < tbl.Rows.Count; i++) {
                // to do: format datetime values before printing
                for (var j = 0; j < tbl.Columns.Count; j++) {
                    workSheet.Cells[i + 2, j + 1] = tbl.Rows[i][j];
                }
            }

            // check file path
            if (!string.IsNullOrEmpty(excelFilePath)) {
                try {
                    workSheet.SaveAs(excelFilePath);
                    excelApp.Quit();
                    MessageBox.Show("Excel file saved!");
                }
                catch (Exception ex) {
                    throw new Exception("ExportToExcel: Excel file could not be saved! Check filepath.\n"
                                        + ex.Message);
                }
            } else { // no file path is given
                excelApp.Visible = true;
            }
        }
        catch (Exception ex) {
            throw new Exception("ExportToExcel: \n" + ex.Message);
        }
    }
}

Solution based on tuncalik (thanks for idea) article, but in case of big tables is working much more faster (and is a little less clear).

public static class My_DataTable_Extensions
{
    /// <summary>
    /// Export DataTable to Excel file
    /// </summary>
    /// <param name="DataTable">Source DataTable</param>
    /// <param name="ExcelFilePath">Path to result file name</param>
    public static void ExportToExcel(this System.Data.DataTable DataTable, string ExcelFilePath = null)
    {
        try
        {
            int ColumnsCount;

            if (DataTable == null || (ColumnsCount = DataTable.Columns.Count) == 0)
                throw new Exception("ExportToExcel: Null or empty input table!\n");

            // load excel, and create a new workbook
            Microsoft.Office.Interop.Excel.Application Excel = new Microsoft.Office.Interop.Excel.Application();
            Excel.Workbooks.Add();

            // single worksheet
            Microsoft.Office.Interop.Excel._Worksheet Worksheet = Excel.ActiveSheet;

            object[] Header = new object[ColumnsCount];

            // column headings               
            for (int i = 0; i < ColumnsCount; i++)
                Header[i] = DataTable.Columns[i].ColumnName;

            Microsoft.Office.Interop.Excel.Range HeaderRange = Worksheet.get_Range((Microsoft.Office.Interop.Excel.Range)(Worksheet.Cells[1, 1]), (Microsoft.Office.Interop.Excel.Range)(Worksheet.Cells[1, ColumnsCount]));
            HeaderRange.Value = Header;
            HeaderRange.Interior.Color = System.Drawing.ColorTranslator.ToOle(System.Drawing.Color.LightGray);
            HeaderRange.Font.Bold = true;

            // DataCells
            int RowsCount = DataTable.Rows.Count;
            object[,] Cells = new object[RowsCount, ColumnsCount];

            for (int j = 0; j < RowsCount; j++)
                for (int i = 0; i < ColumnsCount; i++)
                    Cells[j, i] = DataTable.Rows[j][i];

            Worksheet.get_Range((Microsoft.Office.Interop.Excel.Range)(Worksheet.Cells[2, 1]), (Microsoft.Office.Interop.Excel.Range)(Worksheet.Cells[RowsCount + 1, ColumnsCount])).Value = Cells;

            // check fielpath
            if (ExcelFilePath != null && ExcelFilePath != "")
            {
                try
                {
                    Worksheet.SaveAs(ExcelFilePath);
                    Excel.Quit();
                    System.Windows.MessageBox.Show("Excel file saved!");
                }
                catch (Exception ex)
                {
                    throw new Exception("ExportToExcel: Excel file could not be saved! Check filepath.\n"
                        + ex.Message);
                }
            }
            else    // no filepath is given
            {
                Excel.Visible = true;
            }
        }
        catch (Exception ex)
        {
            throw new Exception("ExportToExcel: \n" + ex.Message);
        }
    }
}