Export Excel data into a dataset

[Guest]

I use ADO.NET and the Microsoft.Jet.OLEDB.4.0 oledb provider to connect to an
excel spreadsheet and export data into a dataset to populate a datagrid.
Right now I use Extended Properties =Excel 8.0 in the connection string. When
I deploy on a production server do I need to check the version and put Excel
9.0 or 10.0 or 11.0 in the connection string? Also should Excel be installed
on the production server for this to work?
Thanks in advance for your reply.

 

[Norman Yuan]

No, you do not need to worry whether Excel is installed or not. the data in
*.xls file is accessed by Jet OLEDB provider, no Excel is involved. The
"Extended Properties=Excel 8.0" in connection string is only to tell Jet
engine the data is from *.xls. I guess the Jet's capability to read data
from *.xls was added when Excel was in its 8.0 (Excel97) and hasn't been
changed since.

 

[Val Mazur \(MVP\)]

Hi,

Excel 8.0 is a format supported by all the versions of the Excel starting
Excel 97, so you should not worry about it. You also do not need to install
Excel itself, because Jet OLEDB provider does not require it