Question

VB.net: how do I change the column mapping for an excel sheet when the columns differ?

Asked by: nirisan

I have the following function which works fine when I have to import an excel sheet has 3 columns.
How could i modify the function so that the import and column matching still works when I have only two columns or the columns are more in the exel sheet. In short the excel sheets may have different number of columns everytime

Please see the code below. Kindly suggest with code.

Private Sub submitBtn_Click(ByVal sender As System.Object, ByVal e As System.EventArgs) Handles submitBtn.ServerClick
            
 
            
            Dim fileName As String = zipFile.PostedFile.FileName
            Dim ConnectionString As String = "Provider=Microsoft.Jet.OLEDB.4.0;Data Source='" & fileName & "';" & "Extended 
 
Properties=""Excel 8.0;HDR=YES;IMEX=1"""
            Dim excelConnection As System.Data.OleDb.OleDbConnection = New 
 
System.Data.OleDb.OleDbConnection(ConnectionString)
            excelConnection.Open()
 
            Dim excelCommand As New System.Data.OleDb.OleDbCommand("SELECT column1, column2, column3 From [Sheet1$]", 
 
excelConnection)
            Dim dr As DbDataReader = excelCommand.ExecuteReader
            Dim mapping1 As New SqlBulkCopyColumnMapping("column1", "column1")
            Dim mapping2 As New SqlBulkCopyColumnMapping("column2", "column2")
            Dim mapping3 As New SqlBulkCopyColumnMapping("column3", "column3")
 
            Try
 
                Using destinationConnection As SqlConnection = New SqlConnection(DBAccess.GetConnectionString2)
                    destinationConnection.Open()
 
                    Using bulkCopy As SqlBulkCopy =      New SqlBulkCopy(destinationConnection)
                        bulkCopy.DestinationTableName =  "dbo._temp_table"
 
                        bulkCopy.ColumnMappings.Add(mapping1)
                        bulkCopy.ColumnMappings.Add(mapping2)
                        bulkCopy.ColumnMappings.Add(mapping3)
 
 
                        Try
                            ' Write from the source to the destination.
                            bulkCopy.WriteToServer(dr)
 
                        Catch ex As Exception
                            'result.Text = ex.Message.ToString
                            Response.Write("Exception:" & ex.ToString & "<br>")
                            'Response.End()
                        Finally
 
                            dr.Close()
                            destinationConnection.Close()
                        End Try
 
 
                    End Using
 
                End Using
 
                result.Text = "File upload successful. Thank you."
            Catch ex As Exception
                Response.Write("Exception:" & ex.ToString & "<br>")
                Response.End()
                
                Exit Sub
            Finally
                excelConnection.Close()
 
            End Try
        End Sub

                                  
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Asked On
2009-10-14 at 10:36:59ID24812094
Tags

vb.net asp.net sql server

Topics

Programming for ASP.NET

,

.NET

,

.NET Framework 2.x

Participating Experts
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Answers

 

by: azarc3Posted on 2009-10-14 at 12:52:13ID: 25574406

Here's my suggestion...

Private Sub submitBtn_Click(ByVal sender As System.Object, ByVal e As System.EventArgs) Handles submitBtn.ServerClick
 
        Dim fileName As String = zipFile.PostedFile.FileName
        Dim ConnectionString As String = "Provider=Microsoft.Jet.OLEDB.4.0;Data Source='" & fileName & "';" & "Extended Properties=""Excel 8.0;HDR=YES;IMEX=1"""
 
        Try
 
            Using excelConnection As System.Data.OleDb.OleDbConnection = New System.Data.OleDb.OleDbConnection(ConnectionString)
 
                excelConnection.Open()
 
                Using excelCommand As New System.Data.OleDb.OleDbCommand("SELECT column1, column2, column3 From [Sheet1$]", excelConnection)
 
                    Using destinationConnection As SqlConnection = New SqlConnection(DBAccess.GetConnectionString2)
 
                        destinationConnection.Open()
 
                        Using bulkCopy As SqlBulkCopy = New SqlBulkCopy(destinationConnection)
 
                            Using dr As DbDataReader = excelCommand.ExecuteReader
 
                                For Each column In dr.GetSchemaTable.Columns
                                    Dim cTemp = CType(column, DataColumn)
                                    bulkCopy.ColumnMappings.Add(New SqlBulkCopyColumnMapping(cTemp.ColumnName, cTemp.ColumnName))
                                Next
 
                                bulkCopy.DestinationTableName = "dbo._temp_table"
 
                                ' Write from the source to the destination.
                                bulkCopy.WriteToServer(dr)
                                result.Text = "File upload successful. Thank you."
 
                            End Using
                        End Using
                    End Using
                End Using
            End Using
 
        Catch ex As Exception
            Response.Write("Exception:" & ex.ToString & "<br>")
        End Try
 
    End Sub

                                              
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by: nirisanPosted on 2009-10-14 at 14:49:49ID: 25575603

Hi Azarc3,

Thanks for your code.
This would work for if the exel sheet has three columns.

But if the excel sheet has only 2 columns then it gives an error at this line

destinationConnection.Open()

Any suggestion how we can dynamically support the select to select for 2 columns or 3 columns. Say the maximum columns the table would support is 4.

Is there anyway we can know the column names & number of colums in the excel sheet by ("SELECT * From [Sheet1$]", excelConnection)

The same column name(s) in the excel sheet and dbo.tablename will be maintained.

Kindly advise

 

by: nirisanPosted on 2009-10-14 at 15:05:13ID: 25575699

Currently in getting this error:
Exception:System.InvalidOperationException: The given ColumnName 'ColumnName' does not match up with any column in data source

This is the code below..

Private Sub submitBtn_Click(ByVal sender As System.Object, ByVal e As System.EventArgs) Handles submitBtn.ServerClick
               Dim fileName As String = xlsFile.PostedFile.FileName
                Dim ConnectionString As String = "Provider=Microsoft.Jet.OLEDB.4.0;Data Source='" & fileName & "';" & "Extended Properties=""Excel 8.0;HDR=YES;IMEX=1"""
          
Try
 
                Using excelConnection As System.Data.OleDb.OleDbConnection = New System.Data.OleDb.OleDbConnection(ConnectionString)
 
                    excelConnection.Open()
 
                    Using excelCommand As New System.Data.OleDb.OleDbCommand("SELECT * From [Sheet1$]", excelConnection)
 
                        Using destinationConnection As SqlConnection = New SqlConnection(DBAccess.GetConnectionString2)
 
                            destinationConnection.Open()
 
                            Using bulkCopy As SqlBulkCopy = New SqlBulkCopy(destinationConnection)
 
                                Using dr As DbDataReader = excelCommand.ExecuteReader
 
                                    For Each column In dr.GetSchemaTable.Columns
                                        Dim cTemp = CType(column, DataColumn)
                                        bulkCopy.ColumnMappings.Add(New SqlBulkCopyColumnMapping(cTemp.ColumnName, cTemp.ColumnName))
                                    Next
 
                                    bulkCopy.DestinationTableName = "dbo._temp_citypairs"
 
                                    ' Write from the source to the destination.
                                    bulkCopy.WriteToServer(dr)
                                    result.Text = "File upload successful. Thank you."
 
                                End Using
                            End Using
                        End Using
                    End Using
                End Using
 
            Catch ex As Exception
                Response.Write("Exception:" & ex.ToString & "<br>")
            End Try
 
End Sub

                                              
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by: azarc3Posted on 2009-10-14 at 15:07:53ID: 25575711

are you sure your connection strings are correct for the file's version of excel and your SQL Server database?

I won't be back in front of a computer for several hours, so be sure to check back if no one's answered yet.

 

by: nirisanPosted on 2009-10-14 at 15:11:41ID: 25575741

Im 100 % sure the connections are fine as I was able to import excel sheet using the same connections.

I will wait for your response.

thanks

 

by: azarc3Posted on 2009-10-14 at 20:25:36ID: 25576989

Ok, replace the parts below... This works for me using Excel and SQL server.

Dim ConnectionString As String = {Your connection sring goes here}
 
        Try
 
            Using excelConnection As System.Data.Odbc.OdbcConnection = New System.Data.Odbc.OdbcConnection(ConnectionString)
 
                Using excelCommand As New System.Data.Odbc.OdbcCommand("SELECT * FROM [Sheet1$] ", excelConnection)
 
                    Using destinationConnection As SqlConnection = New SqlConnection({Your SQL Server connection string goes here})
 
                        excelConnection.Open()
 
                        Using dr As DbDataReader = excelCommand.ExecuteReader()
 
                            destinationConnection.Open()
 
                            Using bulkCopy As SqlBulkCopy = New SqlBulkCopy(destinationConnection, SqlBulkCopyOptions.UseInternalTransaction, Nothing)
 
                                For i As Integer = 0 To dr.VisibleFieldCount - 1
                                    bulkCopy.ColumnMappings.Add(New SqlBulkCopyColumnMapping(i, i))
                                Next
 
                                bulkCopy.DestinationTableName = "dbo.table1"
 
                                ' Write from the source to the destination.
                                bulkCopy.WriteToServer(dr)
                                result.Text = "File upload successful. Thank you."
 
                            End Using
                        End Using
                    End Using
                End Using
            End Using
 
        Catch ex As Exception
            Response.Write("Exception:" & ex.ToString & "<br>")
        End Try

                                              
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by: nirisanPosted on 2009-10-15 at 04:43:42ID: 25579447

Thanks, we are almost there.
Ok, I have the connections seem to work fine. But i have a problem with one of the columns not accepting nulls.
System.Data.OleDb.OleDbConnection  works for me.

I scripted the table and attached the excel file.



Error:Exception:System.Data.SqlClient.SqlException: Cannot insert the value NULL into column 'lcode', table 'database.dbo._temp_citypairs'; column does not allow nulls. INSERT fails. The statement has been terminated. at System.Data.SqlClient.SqlConnection.OnError(SqlException exception, Boolean breakConnection) at System.Data.SqlClient.SqlInternalConnection.OnError(SqlException exception, Boolean breakConnection) at System.Data.SqlClient.TdsParser.ThrowExceptionAndWarning(TdsParserStateObject stateObj) at System.Data.SqlClient.TdsParser.Run(RunBehavior runBehavior, SqlCommand cmdHandler, SqlDataReader dataStream, BulkCopySimpleResultSet bulkCopyHandler, TdsParserStateObject stateObj) at System.Data.SqlClient.SqlBulkCopy.WriteToServerInternal() at System.Data.SqlClient.SqlBulkCopy.WriteRowSourceToServer(Int32 columnCount) at System.Data.SqlClient.SqlBulkCopy.WriteToServer(IDataReader reader) at CityPairs.submitBtn_Click(Object sender, EventArgs e)

CREATE TABLE [dbo].[_temp_citypairs](
	[id] [int] IDENTITY(1,1) NOT NULL,
	[startloc] [varchar](3) NOT NULL,
	[endloc] [varchar](3) NOT NULL,
	[lcode] [varchar](3) NOT NULL,
	[numstops] [tinyint] NULL,
	[locdata] [bit] NOT NULL CONSTRAINT [DF_temp_citypairs]  DEFAULT (0),
	[startdate] [smalldatetime] NULL,
	[enddate] [smalldatetime] NULL,
	[monday] [bit] NULL,
	[tuesday] [bit] NULL,
	[wednesday] [bit] NULL,
	[thursday] [bit] NULL,
	[friday] [bit] NULL,
	[saturday] [bit] NULL,
	[sunday] [bit] NULL,
	[startloc_new] [varchar](300) NULL,
	[endloc_new] [varchar](300) NULL
) ON [PRIMARY]
 
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
Dim fileName As String = xlsFile.PostedFile.FileName
            Dim ConnectionString As String = "Provider=Microsoft.Jet.OLEDB.4.0;Data Source='" & fileName & "';" & "Extended Properties=""Excel 8.0;HDR=YES;IMEX=1"""
        
 
            Try
 
                Using excelConnection As System.Data.OleDb.OleDbConnection = New System.Data.OleDb.OleDbConnection(ConnectionString)
 
                    Using excelCommand As New System.Data.OleDb.OleDbCommand("SELECT * FROM [Sheet1$] ", excelConnection)
 
                        Using destinationConnection As SqlConnection = New SqlConnection(DBAccess.GetConnectionString2)
 
                            excelConnection.Open()
 
                            Using dr As DbDataReader = excelCommand.ExecuteReader()
 
                                destinationConnection.Open()
 
                                Using bulkCopy As SqlBulkCopy = New SqlBulkCopy(destinationConnection, SqlBulkCopyOptions.UseInternalTransaction, Nothing)
 
                                    For i As Integer = 0 To dr.VisibleFieldCount - 1
                                        bulkCopy.ColumnMappings.Add(New SqlBulkCopyColumnMapping(i, i))
                                    Next
 
                                    bulkCopy.DestinationTableName = "dbo._temp_citypairs"
 
                                    ' Write from the source to the destination.
                                    bulkCopy.WriteToServer(dr)
                                    result.Text = "File upload successful. Thank you."
 
                                End Using
                            End Using
                        End Using
                    End Using
                End Using
 
            Catch ex As Exception
                Response.Write("Exception:" & ex.ToString & "<br>")
            End Try

                                              
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by: azarc3Posted on 2009-10-15 at 04:56:33ID: 25579518

that is a problem on your SQL Server side. To get around it, try putting a default value in your EXCEL select statement, like this:

(the "non_null_column" type is Integer)

"SELECT 0 as [non_null_column], * From [Sheet1$]"

try that and see if it works.

 

by: nirisanPosted on 2009-10-15 at 06:44:39ID: 25580425

But there are values in the column lcode in the excel sheet. It should pick it up ..isnt it?

 

by: nirisanPosted on 2009-10-15 at 07:31:15ID: 25580887

The suggestion actuall worked!
Not sure why?

Many thanks for all your help!

 

by: nirisanPosted on 2009-10-15 at 07:46:49ID: 31641196

Amazing Answer and  a great help.
Thank you

20120131-EE-VQP-002

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