Embedding Excel Spreadsheet (.xls files) and Data Tables

Question

In Visual Studio 2008, how do you access an embedded spreadsheet (.xls) file? I'm reading in two .xls files to create two data tables (OleDB), and I'd like a way to "hard code" the file into the project for internal referencing (instead of having to reference a path/directory).

Any help would be great. Thanks in advance!

Answer 1

What do you mean you would like a way to hard code the file.

Are these excel files static data, or are they changed over time? have you considered using sql server express rather than excel for your data store? Or perhaps some other database.

Answer 2

Here's the situation:

This is part of a group project in which we are limited to only using C# library components (so the SQL database is out). As of right now, we have information in 2 Excel files that is read in to generate 2 Data Table objects. This is done first thing in our program.

As of right now, the Excel files have path locations explicitly defined in our code. We're now trying embed the resources into our project (which I believe we've done successfully via drag and drop), but we can't figure out how to actually access the excel files. Essentially we'd just like the Excel files to be integrated resources making for easy program installation/migration (don't want the users/clients to be required to download the excel files separately and place them in a set location).

Hopefully that clarifies a little bit...

Answer 3

<<In Visual Studio 2008, how do you access an embedded spreadsheet (.xls) file? >>

It seems that this issue is little related to VSTO technology, VSTO is a technology for extending the UI of Office 2003 and 2007 applications in the forum of Add-ins and document-level customizations. As you mentioned, it seems to be little related to VSTO technology. The forum's PLEASE READ FIRST explains what VSTO forum is for. I also recommend you post this issue to officedev newsgroup or excel.worksheet.functions newsgroup, where there are more specialists about excel, and you would probably get more help.

Here are the links: http://www.microsoft.com/office/community/en-us/default.mspx?dg=microsoft.public.office.developer.officedev.other&lang=en&cr=US and http://www.microsoft.com/office/community/en-us/default.mspx?dg=microsoft.public.excel.worksheet.functions&lang=en&cr=US

If I have misunderstood this scenario, please let me know.Best regards,
Bessie

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