How to convert datatable into csv/excel file in C#

How to convert datatable into csv/excel file in C#

Often we require to convert the datatable in context in a c# code into a plain text csv (comma separated values) or a excel readable file. Here i have created a c#  console application code snipped to convert a sample datatable into csv notepad file or csv excel readable file. You can utilize it where you need it.

Hope it would be helpful:

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using System;

using System.Text;

using System.Data;

using System.IO;

namespace ConsoleApplication1

{

    class Program

    {

        public  static void Main(string[] args)

        {

            //Create a sample datatable

            DataTable dt=new DataTable();

            dt.Columns.Add("FisrtName", typeof(string));

            dt.Columns.Add("LastName", typeof(string));

            DataRow dr1 = dt.NewRow();

            dr1["FisrtName"]="Vishal";

            dr1["LastName"]="Grade";

            dt.Rows.Add(dr1);

            DataRow dr2 = dt.NewRow();

            dr2["FisrtName"] = "Tony";

            dr2["LastName"] = "Stark";

            dt.Rows.Add(dr2);

            String result = DataTableToCSV(dt, ',');

            //Wrire the result comma seprated string to a csv file which can be opened in excel

            System.IO.File.WriteAllText(@"D:\\result.csv", result);

            //Wrire the result comma seprated string to a csv text file 

            System.IO.File.WriteAllText(@"D:\\result.txt", result);

            

            Console.Write(result);

            

        }

        //Function to convert datatble content into comma separated string

        public static string DataTableToCSV(DataTable datatable, char seperator)

        {

            StringBuilder sb = new StringBuilder();

            for (int i = 0; i < datatable.Columns.Count; i++)

            {

                sb.Append(datatable.Columns[i]);

                if (i < datatable.Columns.Count - 1)

                    sb.Append(seperator);

            }

            sb.AppendLine();

            foreach (DataRow dr in datatable.Rows)

            {

                for (int i = 0; i < datatable.Columns.Count; i++)

                {

                    sb.Append(dr[i].ToString());

                    if (i < datatable.Columns.Count - 1)

                        sb.Append(seperator);

                }

                sb.AppendLine();

            }

            return sb.ToString();

        }

    }

}

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Happy learning...!!