Today, for many reasons, I had to convert CSV reports to Excel reports. The report generator is written in PHP. After some Google searches, I found Spreadsheet_Excel_Writer, a PEAR extension that allows to do pretty much anything there is to do with an Excel file; so I decided to use this existing module.

Step 1 - Install PEAR

I will not cover in details how to install PEAR on your system. You can read the instructions for installing it under Windows and Linux here.

Step 2 - Install PEAR extensions

Installing PEAR extensions is really easy. Whatever you're on a Windows or Linux machine, it's the same commands:


Step 3 - Getting started with a simple Excel example

Now that you have the needed PEAR extensions installed, you are ready to create a simple Excel example.

NOTE: make sure to add the PEAR path in your php.ini 'include_path'.

Include the extension:

Create a workbook:

Create a worksheet:

Write some data:

Close the file:

This very simple example will generate a 'test.xls' file containing 2 lines and 2 columns (with 'test' in each cell) that you will be offered to download (not stored on the hard disk).

If you wish to save the Excel file on the Web server's hard disk instead of downloading it, you can do so by specifying a file name when creating the workbook and by omitting the "send()" function.

Create a workbook:

Step 4 - Add some formatting

Spreadsheet_Excel_Writer allows you to add almost any formatting you want on a cell. How it works? Simple. You create your formats and when you call the "write()" you specify the format you want.

Creating a format:

This example will write "My Title" in bold, size 20 at line 0, column 0. You noticed the "setMerge()" function? When you use it in a format, Spreadsheet_Excel_Writer will merge all the cells for which you specify this format.

Merging cells:

In this example, line 0, columns 0-4 will be merged together.

Step 5 - Add images

Spreadsheet_Excel_Writer also allows to insert 24 bits Bitmap images in Excel documents.

Insert image:

Resources

You can do A LOT more than what is explained in this short tutorial. I suggest to read the entire Spreadsheet_Excel_Writer documentation here.

How to insert jpeg, gif and png images in the excel sheet

good one!!!!!!!!
:)

Helpful! Thanks

Hi,
I've some problems with the images!

This is my code:

<?php
require_once 'Spreadsheet/Excel/Writer.php';

$workbook = new Spreadsheet_Excel_Writer();
$workbook->send('test.xls');
$worksheet =& $workbook->addWorksheet('Prova 1');

$worksheet->insertBitmap(0,0,"mask.bmp");

$workbook->close();

?>

But The file is empty!

Can you help me?

Thanks

suberb article

Thanks.
I have one question. This tool is very useful. Suppose I am getting data from a database. How can I run through a query result and display it to the user for download in Excel format?

Please show me how i can do this or link me to some relevant resources for this.
Greetings

How to insert jpeg, gif and png images in the excel sheet

Nice, pearl is working fine. but when hosting my site. i need to install this frame work in remote server. i cant do this things. Any other alternate solution is available. pls give me any suggestions. Thanks in advance