Generate Excel files on server
 

Hello,
I want to create a C# application running on a Windows 2003 server. This application retrieves data from a database, performs some modifications then creates an Excel file on a shared folder on the server. Then at any time, users on the network can get the file to see the formatted data.

There is no web involved. It is a service running on the server that creates periodically the Excel file.

Is there a way to do that without having Excel installed on the server?

Thanks,
David.

Generate Excel files on server
 

How complex is the content? Are there multiple sheets, formulae etc ?
If you can get a handle on the format then you can write out the
content as xml and XL 2K(?)+ should be able to open it.

If it's just a straight tabular format on one sheet then you could try
writing it out an an HTML table and giving it an xls extension.

Otherwise look at a component to do the creation:
http://officewriter.softartisans.com...writer-37.aspx
is a good one I think (but haven't used it myself)

Tim


"David" wrote in message
...
Hello,
I want to create a C# application running on a Windows 2003 server.
This application retrieves data from a database, performs some
modifications then creates an Excel file on a shared folder on the
server. Then at any time, users on the network can get the file to see
the formatted data.

There is no web involved. It is a service running on the server that
creates periodically the Excel file.

Is there a way to do that without having Excel installed on the
server?

Thanks,
David.

Generate Excel files on server
 

Hi Tim,
it is quite simple content. A single sheet, no formula. Actually, it reports data on a formated way. i.e. Column Headers (font, color, etc), Date formats, number formats, etc.

I would really like the xml approach but how can I format the worksheet? I don't want to add VBA code in the Excel sheet?

OfficeWriter looks interesting but a bit pricey...

Thanks,
David.

"Tim Williams" wrote:

How complex is the content? Are there multiple sheets, formulae etc ?
If you can get a handle on the format then you can write out the
content as xml and XL 2K(?)+ should be able to open it.

If it's just a straight tabular format on one sheet then you could try
writing it out an an HTML table and giving it an xls extension.

Otherwise look at a component to do the creation:
http://officewriter.softartisans.com...writer-37.aspx
is a good one I think (but haven't used it myself)

Tim


"David" wrote in message
...
Hello,
I want to create a C# application running on a Windows 2003 server.
This application retrieves data from a database, performs some
modifications then creates an Excel file on a shared folder on the
server. Then at any time, users on the network can get the file to see
the formatted data.

There is no web involved. It is a service running on the server that
creates periodically the Excel file.

Is there a way to do that without having Excel installed on the
server?

Thanks,
David.

Generate Excel files on server
 

A single HTML table should be fine: XL will render a lot of the same
style information (font size, color, bgcolor etc) used to format HTML
documents.

Even formulas are supported. Check the link below:
http://msdn.microsoft.com/library/de...ml/ofxml2k.asp


Tim.


"David" wrote in message
...
Hi Tim,
it is quite simple content. A single sheet, no formula. Actually, it
reports data on a formated way. i.e. Column Headers (font, color,
etc), Date formats, number formats, etc.

I would really like the xml approach but how can I format the
worksheet? I don't want to add VBA code in the Excel sheet?

OfficeWriter looks interesting but a bit pricey...

Thanks,
David.

"Tim Williams" wrote:

How complex is the content? Are there multiple sheets, formulae
etc ?
If you can get a handle on the format then you can write out the
content as xml and XL 2K(?)+ should be able to open it.

If it's just a straight tabular format on one sheet then you could
try
writing it out an an HTML table and giving it an xls extension.

Otherwise look at a component to do the creation:
http://officewriter.softartisans.com...writer-37.aspx
is a good one I think (but haven't used it myself)

Tim


"David" wrote in message
...
Hello,
I want to create a C# application running on a Windows 2003
server.
This application retrieves data from a database, performs some
modifications then creates an Excel file on a shared folder on the
server. Then at any time, users on the network can get the file to
see
the formatted data.

There is no web involved. It is a service running on the server
that
creates periodically the Excel file.

Is there a way to do that without having Excel installed on the
server?

Thanks,
David.

Generate Excel files on server
 

Is this also supported in Office XP and 2003?

"Tim Williams" wrote:

A single HTML table should be fine: XL will render a lot of the same
style information (font size, color, bgcolor etc) used to format HTML
documents.

Even formulas are supported. Check the link below:
http://msdn.microsoft.com/library/de...ml/ofxml2k.asp


Tim.


"David" wrote in message
...
Hi Tim,
it is quite simple content. A single sheet, no formula. Actually, it
reports data on a formated way. i.e. Column Headers (font, color,
etc), Date formats, number formats, etc.

I would really like the xml approach but how can I format the
worksheet? I don't want to add VBA code in the Excel sheet?

OfficeWriter looks interesting but a bit pricey...

Thanks,
David.

"Tim Williams" wrote:

How complex is the content? Are there multiple sheets, formulae
etc ?
If you can get a handle on the format then you can write out the
content as xml and XL 2K(?)+ should be able to open it.

If it's just a straight tabular format on one sheet then you could
try
writing it out an an HTML table and giving it an xls extension.

Otherwise look at a component to do the creation:
http://officewriter.softartisans.com...writer-37.aspx
is a good one I think (but haven't used it myself)

Tim


"David" wrote in message
...
Hello,
I want to create a C# application running on a Windows 2003
server.
This application retrieves data from a database, performs some
modifications then creates an Excel file on a shared folder on the
server. Then at any time, users on the network can get the file to
see
the formatted data.

There is no web involved. It is a service running on the server
that
creates periodically the Excel file.

Is there a way to do that without having Excel installed on the
server?

Thanks,
David.

Generate Excel files on server
 

Is this also fully supported in Office XP and Office 2003?

"Tim Williams" wrote:

A single HTML table should be fine: XL will render a lot of the same
style information (font size, color, bgcolor etc) used to format HTML
documents.

Even formulas are supported. Check the link below:
http://msdn.microsoft.com/library/de...ml/ofxml2k.asp


Tim.


"David" wrote in message
...
Hi Tim,
it is quite simple content. A single sheet, no formula. Actually, it
reports data on a formated way. i.e. Column Headers (font, color,
etc), Date formats, number formats, etc.

I would really like the xml approach but how can I format the
worksheet? I don't want to add VBA code in the Excel sheet?

OfficeWriter looks interesting but a bit pricey...

Thanks,
David.

"Tim Williams" wrote:

How complex is the content? Are there multiple sheets, formulae
etc ?
If you can get a handle on the format then you can write out the
content as xml and XL 2K(?)+ should be able to open it.

If it's just a straight tabular format on one sheet then you could
try
writing it out an an HTML table and giving it an xls extension.

Otherwise look at a component to do the creation:
http://officewriter.softartisans.com...writer-37.aspx
is a good one I think (but haven't used it myself)

Tim


"David" wrote in message
...
Hello,
I want to create a C# application running on a Windows 2003
server.
This application retrieves data from a database, performs some
modifications then creates an Excel file on a shared folder on the
server. Then at any time, users on the network can get the file to
see
the formatted data.

There is no web involved. It is a service running on the server
that
creates periodically the Excel file.

Is there a way to do that without having Excel installed on the
server?

Thanks,
David.

Generate Excel files on server
 

Is this also supported in Office XP and 2003?

"Tim Williams" wrote:

A single HTML table should be fine: XL will render a lot of the same
style information (font size, color, bgcolor etc) used to format HTML
documents.

Even formulas are supported. Check the link below:
http://msdn.microsoft.com/library/de...ml/ofxml2k.asp


Tim.


"David" wrote in message
...
Hi Tim,
it is quite simple content. A single sheet, no formula. Actually, it
reports data on a formated way. i.e. Column Headers (font, color,
etc), Date formats, number formats, etc.

I would really like the xml approach but how can I format the
worksheet? I don't want to add VBA code in the Excel sheet?

OfficeWriter looks interesting but a bit pricey...

Thanks,
David.

"Tim Williams" wrote:

How complex is the content? Are there multiple sheets, formulae
etc ?
If you can get a handle on the format then you can write out the
content as xml and XL 2K(?)+ should be able to open it.

If it's just a straight tabular format on one sheet then you could
try
writing it out an an HTML table and giving it an xls extension.

Otherwise look at a component to do the creation:
http://officewriter.softartisans.com...writer-37.aspx
is a good one I think (but haven't used it myself)

Tim


"David" wrote in message
...
Hello,
I want to create a C# application running on a Windows 2003
server.
This application retrieves data from a database, performs some
modifications then creates an Excel file on a shared folder on the
server. Then at any time, users on the network can get the file to
see
the formatted data.

There is no web involved. It is a service running on the server
that
creates periodically the Excel file.

Is there a way to do that without having Excel installed on the
server?

Thanks,
David.

Generate Excel files on server
 

I know it's fine in XP: can't say for 2003 but I would suspect that is
also OK. It's easy enough to test.

Tim


"David" wrote in message
...
Is this also supported in Office XP and 2003?

"Tim Williams" wrote:

A single HTML table should be fine: XL will render a lot of the
same
style information (font size, color, bgcolor etc) used to format
HTML
documents.

Even formulas are supported. Check the link below:

http://msdn.microsoft.com/library/de...ml/ofxml2k.asp


Tim.


"David" wrote in message
...
Hi Tim,
it is quite simple content. A single sheet, no formula.
Actually, it
reports data on a formated way. i.e. Column Headers (font, color,
etc), Date formats, number formats, etc.

I would really like the xml approach but how can I format the
worksheet? I don't want to add VBA code in the Excel sheet?

OfficeWriter looks interesting but a bit pricey...

Thanks,
David.

"Tim Williams" wrote:

How complex is the content? Are there multiple sheets,
formulae
etc ?
If you can get a handle on the format then you can write out
the
content as xml and XL 2K(?)+ should be able to open it.

If it's just a straight tabular format on one sheet then you
could
try
writing it out an an HTML table and giving it an xls
extension.

Otherwise look at a component to do the creation:
http://officewriter.softartisans.com...writer-37.aspx
is a good one I think (but haven't used it myself)

Tim


"David" wrote in message
...
Hello,
I want to create a C# application running on a Windows 2003
server.
This application retrieves data from a database, performs some
modifications then creates an Excel file on a shared folder on
the
server. Then at any time, users on the network can get the
file to
see
the formatted data.

There is no web involved. It is a service running on the
server
that
creates periodically the Excel file.

Is there a way to do that without having Excel installed on
the
server?

Thanks,
David.