Import and Export Excel Files into Varbinary (Max) in SQL Server

introduction

in this article, you will learn how to import and export excel files into varbinary (max) in sql server using asp.net c#

what are the advantages of storing as a varbinary file?

• we don't need to depend on the file system.
• it will avoid data risks.

aspx code

just add two buttons:

<asp:button id="btnimportexceltodb" runat="server" text="importexceltodb" onclick="btnimportexceltodb_click" />  
<asp:button id="btnexportexcelfromdb" runat="server" text="exportexcelfromdb" onclick="btnexportexcelfromdb_click" />  

codebehind code

import code

//button click event for the importexceltodb   
protected void btnimportexceltodb_click(object sender, eventargs e)  
{  
    //specify the filepath where the file exist  
    string filename = @ "d:\tpms\uploaded_boq\raveena_boq1.xlsx";  

    //pass the filename as a parameter  
    this.storeexcelfiletodatabase(filename);   
}  
    
// store excel sheet (or any file for that matter) into a sql server table  
public void storeexcelfiletodatabase(string excelfilename)   
{  
    // if file doesn't exist --> terminate (you might want to show a message box or something)  
    if (!file.exists(excelfilename))   
    {  
        return;  
    }  
  
    // get all the bytes of the file into memory  
    byte[] excelcontents = file.readallbytes(excelfilename);  
  
    // define sql statement to use  
    string insertstmt = "insert into dbo.tender_excel_source(filename, filecontent) values(@filename, @binarycontent)";  
  
    // set up connection and command to do insert  
    using(sqlconnection connection = new sqlconnection(osmc.constring_property))  
    using(sqlcommand cmdinsert = new sqlcommand(insertstmt, connection))   
    {  
        cmdinsert.parameters.add("@filename", sqldbtype.varchar, 500).value = excelfilename;  
        cmdinsert.parameters.add("@binarycontent", sqldbtype.varbinary, int.maxvalue).value = excelcontents;  
  
        // open connection, execute sql statement, close connection again  
        connection.open();  
        cmdinsert.executenonquery();  
        connection.close();  
    }  
}  

export code

protected void btnexportexcelfromdb_click(object sender, eventargs e)  
{  
    string filepathtostore = @ "d:\tpms\uploaded_boq\raveena_boq_from_db.xlsx";  
    retrieveexcelfilefromdatabase(4, filepathtostore);  
}  
  
public void retrieveexcelfilefromdatabase(int id, string excelfilename)   
{  
    byte[] excelcontents;  
    string selectstmt = "select filecontent from dbo.tender_excel_source where file_sequence_no = @id";  
  
    using(sqlconnection connection = new sqlconnection(osmc.constring_property))  
    using(sqlcommand cmdselect = new sqlcommand(selectstmt, connection))   
    {  
        cmdselect.parameters.add("@id", sqldbtype.int).value = id;  
  
        connection.open();  
        excelcontents = (byte[]) cmdselect.executescalar();  
        connection.close();  
    }  
  
    file.writeallbytes(excelfilename, excelcontents);  
}  

database create table script

use [tpms_release1]  
go  
  
/****** object: table [dbo].[tender_excel_source] script date: 09-06-16 morning 10:19:05 ******/  
set ansi_nulls on  
go  
  
set quoted_identifier on  
go  
  
set ansi_padding on  
go  
  
create table [dbo].[tender_excel_source](  
    [fk_tender_id] [int] null,  
    [file_sequence_no] [int] identity(1,1) not null,  
    [filename] [nvarchar](1024) null,  
    [filecontent] [varbinary](max) null  
) on [primary] textimage_on [primary]  
  
go  
  
set ansi_padding off  
go  

output

when you're done, it should look like this:

click on the import button, and the excel file will have been converted to a byte file and will be saved like this:

click on the export button, and the opposite will happen:

i hope the above information was useful. kindly leave your feedback or suggestions.