Create Excel Supported XML in iPhone using Xcode.

This article guides you how to create Excel readable XML format using xcode. Here are some points you must take care -

First create a NSMutableString variable

NSMutableString *excel = [[NSMutableString alloc] init];
and  then build up your string with a header, then the spreadsheet header, then data and finally a closing section.

1. Header - Below lines should be added to the start of XML string -

      [excel appendString:@"<?xml version=\"1.0\"?>\n<?mso-application progid=\"Excel.Sheet\"?>\n<Workbook xmlns=\"urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:spreadsheet\" xmlns:o=\"urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office\" "];
[excel appendString:@"xmlns:x=\"urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:excel\" xmlns:ss=\"urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:spreadsheet\" xmlns:html=\"http://www.w3.org/TR/REC-html40\">\n<DocumentProperties xmlns=\"urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office\">"];
[excel appendString:@"<LastAuthor>Kuzora</LastAuthor>"];
[excel appendString:[NSString stringWithFormat:@"<Created>%@</Created>",[NSDate date]]];
[excel appendString:@"<Version>11.5606</Version>\n</DocumentProperties>\n<ExcelWorkbook xmlns=\"urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:excel\">\n<WindowHeight>6690</WindowHeight>\n<WindowWidth>14355</WindowWidth>"];
[excel appendString:@"<WindowTopX>360</WindowTopX>\n<WindowTopY>75</WindowTopY>\n<ProtectStructure>False</ProtectStructure>\n<ProtectWindows>False</ProtectWindows>\n</ExcelWorkbook>\n<Styles>"];
[excel appendString:@"<Style ss:ID=\"Default\" ss:Name=\"Normal\">\n<Alignment ss:Vertical=\"Bottom\"/>\n<Borders/>\n<Font/>\n<Interior/>\n<NumberFormat/>\n<Protection/>\n</Style>"];
[excel appendString:@"<Style ss:ID=\"s21\">\n<NumberFormat ss:Format=\"Medium Date\"/>\n</Style><Style ss:ID=\"s22\">\n<NumberFormat ss:Format=\"Short Date\"/>\n</Style></Styles>"];
            
2. Add the following code to create Worksheets and Table headings -
[excel appendString:@"<Worksheet ss:Name=\"User\">"];
                  [excel appendString:@"<Table ss:ExpandedColumnCount=\"8\" ss:ExpandedRowCount=\"2\" x:FullColumns=\"1\" x:FullRows=\"1\">"];
                  [excel appendString:@"<Row>"];
                  [excel appendString:@"<Cell><Data ss:Type=\"String\">TraineeDetailID</Data></Cell>"];
                  [excel appendString:@"<Cell><Data ss:Type=\"String\">Name</Data></Cell>"];
                  [excel appendString:@"<Cell><Data ss:Type=\"String\">DOB</Data></Cell>"];
                  [excel appendString:@"<Cell><Data ss:Type=\"String\">HeightFeet</Data></Cell>"];    
                  [excel appendString:@"<Cell><Data ss:Type=\"String\">HeightInches</Data></Cell>"];
                  [excel appendString:@"<Cell><Data ss:Type=\"String\">Weight</Data></Cell>"];
                  [excel appendString:@"<Cell><Data ss:Type=\"String\">ImageFile</Data></Cell>"];
                  [excel appendString:@"<Cell><Data ss:Type=\"String\">BMI</Data></Cell></Row>"];
"ss:Name" will be the name of your worksheet
"ss:ExpandedColumnCount=\"8\" - number of columns of the table.
"ss:ExpandedRowCount=\"2\" - number of rows.

Above, I have then defined the column headers (just for an example). They are the ones beginning with <Cell>

After this add your dynamic data for each column using loop or whatever way you prefer.  Like

[excel appendString:@"<Row>"];
[excel appendString:[NSString stringWithFormat:@"<Cell><Data ss:Type=\"Number\">1</Data></Cell>"]];
[excel appendString:[NSString stringWithFormat:@"<Cell><Data ss:Type=\"String\">Aaa</Data></Cell>"]];
[excel appendString:[NSString stringWithFormat:@"<Cell><Data ss:Type=\"String\">1984-07-25</Data></Cell>"]];
[excel appendString:[NSString stringWithFormat:@"<Cell><Data ss:Type=\"Number\">5</Data></Cell>"]];    
[excel appendString:[NSString stringWithFormat:@"<Cell><Data ss:Type=\"Number\">6</Data></Cell>"]];
[excel appendString:[NSString stringWithFormat:@"<Cell><Data ss:Type=\"Number\">65</Data></Cell>"]];
[excel appendString:[NSString stringWithFormat:@"<Cell><Data ss:Type=\"String\">myimage.jpg</Data></Cell>"]];
[excel appendString:[NSString stringWithFormat:@"<Cell><Data ss:Type=\"Number\">12.5</Data></Cell></Row>"]];
                  
Then add the following code to close your worksheet.

[excel appendString:@"</Table><WorksheetOptions xmlns=\"urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:excel\">"];
[excel appendString:@"<Selected/><LeftColumnVisible>4</LeftColumnVisible><Panes><Pane>"];
[excel appendString:@"<Number>3</Number><ActiveRow>2</ActiveRow><ActiveCol>2</ActiveCol>"];
[excel appendString:@"</Pane></Panes><ProtectObjects>False</ProtectObjects>"];
[excel appendString:@"<ProtectScenarios>False</ProtectScenarios></WorksheetOptions></Worksheet>"];

you can follow the above step for each spreadsheet (if you want to create more than one)

And in the end add the closing tag to close your workbook.

[excel appendString:@"</Workbook>"];

Save this "as file" and you can mail to any mail address. Sample "XML" File attached.

Enjoy coding.

Thanks
Nishant Trivedi

EE.xml