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Introduction

MiniExcel is simple and efficient to avoid OOM's .NET processing Excel tool.

At present, most popular frameworks need to load all the data into the memory to facilitate operation, but it will cause memory consumption problems. MiniExcel tries to use algorithm from a stream to reduce the original 1000 MB occupation to a few MB to avoid OOM(out of memory).

Features

• Low memory consumption, avoid OOM (out of memory) and full GC
• Support real-time operation of each row of data
• Support LINQ deferred execution, it can do low-consumption, fast paging and other complex queries
• Lightweight, without Microsoft Office installed, no COM+, third-party dependencies, DLL size is less than 100KB
• Easy API style to read/write/fill excel

Get Started

• Excel Query

• Create Excel

• Fill Data To Excel Template

• Excel Column Name/Index/Ignore Attribute

• Examples

Installation

You can install the package from NuGet

Release Notes

Please Check Release Notes

TODO

Please Check TODO

Performance

Test1,000,000x10.xlsx as performance test basic file,A total of 10,000,000 "HelloWorld" with a file size of 23 MB

Benchmarks logic can be found in MiniExcel.Benchmarks , and test cli

dotnet run -p .\benchmarks\MiniExcel.Benchmarks\ -c Release -f netcoreapp3.1 -- -f * --join

Output from the latest run is :

BenchmarkDotNet=v0.12.1, OS=Windows 10.0.19042
Intel Core i7-7700 CPU 3.60GHz (Kaby Lake), 1 CPU, 8 logical and 4 physical cores
  [Host]     : .NET Framework 4.8 (4.8.4341.0), X64 RyuJIT
  Job-ZYYABG : .NET Framework 4.8 (4.8.4341.0), X64 RyuJIT
IterationCount=3  LaunchCount=3  WarmupCount=3  

Method	Max Memory Usage	Mean	Gen 0	Gen 1	Gen 2
'MiniExcel QueryFirst'	0.109 MB	726.4 us	-	-	-
'ExcelDataReader QueryFirst'	15.24 MB	10,664,238.2 us	566000.0000	1000.0000	-
'MiniExcel Query'	17.3 MB	14,179,334.8 us	367000.0000	96000.0000	7000.0000
'ExcelDataReader Query'	17.3 MB	22,565,088.7 us	1210000.0000	2000.0000	-
'Epplus QueryFirst'	1,452 MB	18,198,015.4 us	535000.0000	132000.0000	9000.0000
'Epplus Query'	1,451 MB	23,647,471.1 us	1451000.0000	133000.0000	9000.0000
'OpenXmlSDK Query'	1,412 MB	52,003,270.1 us	978000.0000	353000.0000	11000.0000
'OpenXmlSDK QueryFirst'	1,413 MB	52,348,659.1 us	978000.0000	353000.0000	11000.0000
'ClosedXml QueryFirst'	2,158 MB	66,188,979.6 us	2156000.0000	575000.0000	9000.0000
'ClosedXml Query'	2,184 MB	191,434,126.6 us	2165000.0000	577000.0000	10000.0000

Method	Max Memory Usage	Mean	Gen 0	Gen 1	Gen 2
'MiniExcel Create Xlsx'	15 MB	11,531,819.8 us	1020000.0000	-	-
'Epplus Create Xlsx'	1,204 MB	22,509,717.7 us	1370000.0000	60000.0000	30000.0000
'OpenXmlSdk Create Xlsx'	2,621 MB	42,473,998.9 us	1370000.0000	460000.0000	50000.0000
'ClosedXml Create Xlsx'	7,141 MB	140,939,928.6 us	5520000.0000	1500000.0000	80000.0000

Excel Query

1. Execute a query and map the results to a strongly typed IEnumerable [Try it]

Recommand to use Stream.Query because of better efficiency.

public class UserAccount
{
    public Guid ID { get; set; }
    public string Name { get; set; }
    public DateTime BoD { get; set; }
    public int Age { get; set; }
    public bool VIP { get; set; }
    public decimal Points { get; set; }
}

var rows = MiniExcel.Query<UserAccount>(path);

// or

using (var stream = File.OpenRead(path))
    var rows = stream.Query<UserAccount>();

2. Execute a query and map it to a list of dynamic objects without using head [Try it]

• dynamic key is A.B.C.D..

MiniExcel	1
Github	2

var rows = MiniExcel.Query(path).ToList();

// or 
using (var stream = File.OpenRead(path))
{
    var rows = stream.Query().ToList();
                
    Assert.Equal("MiniExcel", rows[0].A);
    Assert.Equal(1, rows[0].B);
    Assert.Equal("Github", rows[1].A);
    Assert.Equal(2, rows[1].B);
}

3. Execute a query with first header row [Try it]

note : same column name use last right one

Input Excel :

Column1	Column2
MiniExcel	1
Github	2

var rows = MiniExcel.Query(useHeaderRow:true).ToList();

// or

using (var stream = File.OpenRead(path))
{
    var rows = stream.Query(useHeaderRow:true).ToList();

    Assert.Equal("MiniExcel", rows[0].Column1);
    Assert.Equal(1, rows[0].Column2);
    Assert.Equal("Github", rows[1].Column1);
    Assert.Equal(2, rows[1].Column2);
}

4. Query Support LINQ Extension First/Take/Skip ...etc

Query First

var row = MiniExcel.Query(path).First();
Assert.Equal("HelloWorld", row.A);

// or

using (var stream = File.OpenRead(path))
{
    var row = stream.Query().First();
    Assert.Equal("HelloWorld", row.A);
}

Performance between MiniExcel/ExcelDataReader/ClosedXML/EPPlus

5. Query by sheet name

MiniExcel.Query(path, sheetName: "SheetName");
//or
stream.Query(sheetName: "SheetName");

6. Query all sheet name and rows

var sheetNames = MiniExcel.GetSheetNames(path).ToList();
foreach (var sheetName in sheetNames)
{
    var rows = MiniExcel.Query(path, sheetName: sheetName);
}

7. Get Columns

var columns = MiniExcel.GetColumns(path); // e.g result : ["A","B"...]

var cnt = columns.Count;  // get column count

8. Dynamic Query cast row to IDictionary<string,object>

foreach(IDictionary<string,object> row in MiniExcel.Query(path))
{
    //..
}

Create Excel

1. Must be a non-abstract type with a public parameterless constructor .

2. MiniExcel support parameter IEnumerable Deferred Execution, If you want to use least memory, please do not call methods such as ToList

e.g : ToList or not memory usage

1. Anonymous or strongly type [Try it]

var path = Path.Combine(Path.GetTempPath(), $"{Guid.NewGuid()}.xlsx");
MiniExcel.SaveAs(path, new[] {
    new { Column1 = "MiniExcel", Column2 = 1 },
    new { Column1 = "Github", Column2 = 2}
});

2. Datatable

• DataTable use Caption for column name first, then use columname

var path = Path.Combine(Path.GetTempPath(), $"{Guid.NewGuid()}.xlsx");
var table = new DataTable();
{
    table.Columns.Add("Column1", typeof(string));
    table.Columns.Add("Column2", typeof(decimal));
    table.Rows.Add("MiniExcel", 1);
    table.Rows.Add("Github", 2);
}

MiniExcel.SaveAs(path, table);

3. Dapper

using (var connection = GetConnection(connectionString))
{
    var rows = connection.Query(@"select 'MiniExcel' as Column1,1 as Column2 union all select 'Github',2");
    MiniExcel.SaveAs(path, rows);
}

4. IEnumerable<IDictionary<string, object>>

var values = new List<Dictionary<string, object>>()
{
    new Dictionary<string,object>{{ "Column1", "MiniExcel" }, { "Column2", 1 } },
    new Dictionary<string,object>{{ "Column1", "Github" }, { "Column2", 2 } }
};
MiniExcel.SaveAs(path, values);

Create File Result :

Column1	Column2
MiniExcel	1
Github	2

5. SaveAs Stream [Try it]

using (var stream = File.Create(path))
{
    stream.SaveAs(values);
}

Fill Data To Excel Template

• The declaration is similar to Vue template {{variable name}}, or the collection rendering {{collection name.field name}}
• Collection rendering support IEnumerable/DataTable/DapperRow

1. Basic Fill

Template:

Result:

Code:

// 1. By POCO
var value = new
{
    Name = "Jack",
    CreateDate = new DateTime(2021, 01, 01),
    VIP = true,
    Points = 123
};
MiniExcel.SaveAsByTemplate(path, templatePath, value);


// 2. By Dictionary
var value = new Dictionary<string, object>()
{
    ["Name"] = "Jack",
    ["CreateDate"] = new DateTime(2021, 01, 01),
    ["VIP"] = true,
    ["Points"] = 123
};
MiniExcel.SaveAsByTemplate(path, templatePath, value);

2. IEnumerable Data Fill

Note1: Use the first IEnumerable of the same column as the basis for filling list

Template:

Result:

Code:

//1. By POCO
var value = new
{
    employees = new[] {
        new {name="Jack",department="HR"},
        new {name="Lisa",department="HR"},
        new {name="John",department="HR"},
        new {name="Mike",department="IT"},
        new {name="Neo",department="IT"},
        new {name="Loan",department="IT"}
    }
};
MiniExcel.SaveAsByTemplate(path, templatePath, value);

//2. By Dictionary
var value = new Dictionary<string, object>()
{
    ["employees"] = new[] {
        new {name="Jack",department="HR"},
        new {name="Lisa",department="HR"},
        new {name="John",department="HR"},
        new {name="Mike",department="IT"},
        new {name="Neo",department="IT"},
        new {name="Loan",department="IT"}
    }
};
MiniExcel.SaveAsByTemplate(path, templatePath, value);

3. Complex Data Fill

Note: Support multi-sheets and using same varible

Template:

Result:

// 1. By POCO
var value = new
{
    title = "FooCompany",
    managers = new[] {
        new {name="Jack",department="HR"},
        new {name="Loan",department="IT"}
    },
    employees = new[] {
        new {name="Wade",department="HR"},
        new {name="Felix",department="HR"},
        new {name="Eric",department="IT"},
        new {name="Keaton",department="IT"}
    }
};
MiniExcel.SaveAsByTemplate(path, templatePath, value);

// 2. By Dictionary
var value = new Dictionary<string, object>()
{
    ["title"] = "FooCompany",
    ["managers"] = new[] {
        new {name="Jack",department="HR"},
        new {name="Loan",department="IT"}
    },
    ["employees"] = new[] {
        new {name="Wade",department="HR"},
        new {name="Felix",department="HR"},
        new {name="Eric",department="IT"},
        new {name="Keaton",department="IT"}
    }
};
MiniExcel.SaveAsByTemplate(path, templatePath, value);

4. Fill Big Data Performance

NOTE: Using IEnumerable deferred execution not ToList can save max memory usage in MiniExcel

Excel Column Name/Index/Ignore Attribute

e.g

input excel :

public class ExcelAttributeDemo
{
    [ExcelColumnName("Column1")]
    public string Test1 { get; set; }
    [ExcelColumnName("Column2")]
    public string Test2 { get; set; }
    [ExcelIgnore]
    public string Test3 { get; set; }
    [ExcelColumnIndex("I")] // system will convert "I" to 8 index
    public string Test4 { get; set; } 
    public string Test5 { get; } //wihout set will ignore
    public string Test6 { get; private set; } //un-public set will ignore
    [ExcelColumnIndex(3)] // start with 0
    public string Test7 { get; set; }
}

var rows = MiniExcel.Query<ExcelAttributeDemo>(path).ToList();
Assert.Equal("Column1", rows[0].Test1);
Assert.Equal("Column2", rows[0].Test2);
Assert.Null(rows[0].Test3);
Assert.Equal("Test7", rows[0].Test4);
Assert.Null(rows[0].Test5);
Assert.Null(rows[0].Test6);
Assert.Equal("Test4", rows[0].Test7);

Excel Type Auto Check

Default system will auto check file path or stream is from xlsx or csv, but if you need to specify type, it can use excelType parameter.

stream.SaveAs(excelType:ExcelType.CSV);
//or
stream.SaveAs(excelType:ExcelType.XLSX);
//or
stream.Query(excelType:ExcelType.CSV);
//or
stream.Query(excelType:ExcelType.XLSX);

Examples:

1. SQLite & Dapper Large Size File SQL Insert Avoid OOM

note : please don't call ToList/ToArray methods after Query, it'll load all data into memory

using (var connection = new SQLiteConnection(connectionString))
{
    connection.Open();
    using (var transaction = connection.BeginTransaction())
    using (var stream = File.OpenRead(path))
    {
	   var rows = stream.Query();
	   foreach (var row in rows)
			 connection.Execute("insert into T (A,B) values (@A,@B)", new { row.A, row.B }, transaction: transaction);
	   transaction.Commit();
    }
}

performance:

2. ASP.NET Core 3.1 or MVC 5 Download/Upload Excel Xlsx API Demo Try it

public class ApiController : Controller
{
    public IActionResult Index()
    {
        return new ContentResult
        {
            ContentType = "text/html",
            StatusCode = (int)HttpStatusCode.OK,
            Content = @"<html><body>
<a href='api/DownloadExcel'>DownloadExcel</a><br>
<a href='api/DownloadExcelFromTemplatePath'>DownloadExcelFromTemplatePath</a><br>
<a href='api/DownloadExcelFromTemplateBytes'>DownloadExcelFromTemplateBytes</a><br>
<p>Upload Excel</p>
<form method='post' enctype='multipart/form-data' action='/api/uploadexcel'>
    <input type='file' name='excel'> <br>
    <input type='submit' >
</form>
</body></html>"
        };
    }

    public IActionResult DownloadExcel()
    {
        var values = new[] {
            new { Column1 = "MiniExcel", Column2 = 1 },
            new { Column1 = "Github", Column2 = 2}
        };
        var memoryStream = new MemoryStream();
        memoryStream.SaveAs(values);
        memoryStream.Seek(0, SeekOrigin.Begin);
        return new FileStreamResult(memoryStream, "application/vnd.openxmlformats-officedocument.spreadsheetml.sheet")
        {
            FileDownloadName = "demo.xlsx"
        };
    }

    public IActionResult DownloadExcelFromTemplatePath()
    {
        string templatePath = "TestTemplateComplex.xlsx";

        Dictionary<string, object> value = new Dictionary<string, object>()
        {
            ["title"] = "FooCompany",
            ["managers"] = new[] {
                new {name="Jack",department="HR"},
                new {name="Loan",department="IT"}
            },
            ["employees"] = new[] {
                new {name="Wade",department="HR"},
                new {name="Felix",department="HR"},
                new {name="Eric",department="IT"},
                new {name="Keaton",department="IT"}
            }
        };

        MemoryStream memoryStream = new MemoryStream();
        memoryStream.SaveAsByTemplate(templatePath, value);
        memoryStream.Seek(0, SeekOrigin.Begin);
        return new FileStreamResult(memoryStream, "application/vnd.openxmlformats-officedocument.spreadsheetml.sheet")
        {
            FileDownloadName = "demo.xlsx"
        };
    }

    private static Dictionary<string, Byte[]> TemplateBytesCache = new Dictionary<string, byte[]>();

    static ApiController()
    {
        string templatePath = "TestTemplateComplex.xlsx";
        byte[] bytes = System.IO.File.ReadAllBytes(templatePath);
        TemplateBytesCache.Add(templatePath, bytes);
    }

    public IActionResult DownloadExcelFromTemplateBytes()
    {
        byte[] bytes = TemplateBytesCache["TestTemplateComplex.xlsx"];

        Dictionary<string, object> value = new Dictionary<string, object>()
        {
            ["title"] = "FooCompany",
            ["managers"] = new[] {
                new {name="Jack",department="HR"},
                new {name="Loan",department="IT"}
            },
            ["employees"] = new[] {
                new {name="Wade",department="HR"},
                new {name="Felix",department="HR"},
                new {name="Eric",department="IT"},
                new {name="Keaton",department="IT"}
            }
        };

        MemoryStream memoryStream = new MemoryStream();
        memoryStream.SaveAsByTemplate(bytes, value);
        memoryStream.Seek(0, SeekOrigin.Begin);
        return new FileStreamResult(memoryStream, "application/vnd.openxmlformats-officedocument.spreadsheetml.sheet")
        {
            FileDownloadName = "demo.xlsx"
        };
    }

    public IActionResult UploadExcel(IFormFile excel)
    {
        var stream = new MemoryStream();
        excel.CopyTo(stream);

        foreach (var item in stream.Query(true))
        {
            // do your logic etc.
        }

        return Ok("File uploaded successfully");
    }
}

3. Paging Query

void Main()
{
	var rows = MiniExcel.Query(path);
	
	Console.WriteLine("==== No.1 Page ====");
	Console.WriteLine(Page(rows,pageSize:3,page:1));
	Console.WriteLine("==== No.50 Page ====");
	Console.WriteLine(Page(rows,pageSize:3,page:50));
	Console.WriteLine("==== No.5000 Page ====");
	Console.WriteLine(Page(rows,pageSize:3,page:5000));
}

public static IEnumerable<T> Page<T>(IEnumerable<T> en, int pageSize, int page)
{
	return en.Skip(page * pageSize).Take(pageSize);
}

FAQ

Q: How to convert query results to DataTable

Reminder: Not recommended, because DataTable will load all data into memory and lose MiniExcel's low memory consumption function.

public static DataTable QueryAsDataTable(string path)
{
	var rows = MiniExcel.Query(path, true);
	var dt = new DataTable();
	var first = true;
	foreach (IDictionary<string, object> row in rows)
	{
		if (first)
		{
			foreach (var key in row.Keys)
			{
				var type = row[key]?.GetType() ?? typeof(string);
				dt.Columns.Add(key, type);
			}

			first = false;
		}
		dt.Rows.Add(row.Values.ToArray());
	}
	return dt;
}

Q: Excel header title not equal class property name, how to mapping?

A. Please use ExcelColumnName attribute

Limitations and caveats

• Not support xls and encrypted file now

Reference

• ExcelDataReader / ClosedXML
• StackExchange/Dapper

Contributors