Excel automation or ADO.NET for handling with excel files?

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I know that except third-party and open sources for handling with Excel files, we have 2 standard methods to do, Excel automation (Microsoft.Office.Interop.Excel.dll) or ADO.NET with OLE DB database provider. However I don't know when to use this or that, I think using automation always brings me more controls over the excel files handling, but in some case automation is not necessary while ADO.NET can help.

I don't know what ADO.NET can do for me with handling with Excel files. If possible could you give me some idea on this problem. Examples and external links can help. Also an abbreviated comparison between two of these is OK.

Thanks.

Posted 8-Apr-13 21:20pm

supernorb

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Maciej Los 9-Apr-13 3:25am

Do you need examples of ADO.NET and Excel?

supernorb 9-Apr-13 3:31am

Examples of both are fine, thanks.

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**Zoltán Zörgő** · Accepted Answer · 2013-04-08T21:29:00

Solution 1

It depends on what you need. But here is a really minimalistic comparison:
- ADO will treat an Excel file as data source (no formatting available), but it is not resource saving
- with interop you get full control, but you will have running Excel instances in the background, thus it is resource expensive; and it is merely usable in single-access situations (can't really use it in an asp.net application)

Posted 8-Apr-13 21:29pm

Zoltán Zörgő

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supernorb 9-Apr-13 3:33am

Thank you, that's great. Look like that I can't use ADO.NET for my case, because the exported excel files have some formated text (bold, colored)...

Zoltán Zörgő 9-Apr-13 3:37am

Than look for third-party libraries that will allow you to make excel files without interop. There are many good ones out there, some are free, as you mentioned.

Maciej Los 9-Apr-13 3:34am

+5!

Zoltán Zörgő 9-Apr-13 3:35am

Thank you.

LaxmikantYadav · Accepted Answer · 2013-04-08T21:38:00

Solution 2

This might help you -> http://bytes.com/topic/c-sharp/answers/254784-excel-automation-vs-ado-net[^]

Posted 8-Apr-13 21:38pm

LaxmikantYadav

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supernorb 9-Apr-13 3:48am

Thanks, what they said in that thread is almost the same to what Zoltán Zörgő answered.

LaxmikantYadav 9-Apr-13 4:34am

WC :)

Maciej Los · Accepted Answer · 2013-04-08T21:40:00

In case you'll ever want to use ADO.NET with Excel, follow below links:
How To Use ADO.NET to Retrieve and Modify Records in an Excel Workbook With Visual Basic .NET[^] - know, its VB.NET, but contains many useful information.
Using ADO.NET to work with Excel files[^]
Import/export Excel worksheet in ASP.NET (CSASPNETExcelImportExport)[^]

Interop:
How to: Use COM Interop to Create an Excel Spreadsheet (C# Programming Guide)[^]
Excel Object Model Overview[^]

Excel automation or ADO.NET for handling with excel files?

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