Importing Excel to SQL Database using vb.net and asp.net - asp.net

Question

Im currently building a project that lets users import Excel files via a web interface (built), which saves the file to the server (built), and then imports the data into the SQL Database on the server depending on a few of the user options (not built).
Im not familiar with SQL database tools within VS at all so I have been fumbling around for the better part of two days just trying to get everything set up. Im pretty sure I need to use BulkCopy, but Im not quite sure how to use it and I can't seem to find specific examples that explain it pertaining to my specific application.
So in my App_Data folder I have an .mdf title "Device Database." In that database I have three tables: "Galaxy Nexus", "Hercules" , and "Ruby"
I am trying to import four cells from each imported excel sheet to their respective tables.
I would like to import cell(2,2) to column1 in the table, cell(2,3) to column2, cell(3,2) to column3 and cell(1,1) to column4.
The code I am trying to accomplish this with is:
Dim ExcelContentType As String = "application/vnd.ms-excel"
Dim Excel2010ContentType As String = "application/vnd.openxmlformats-officedocument.spreadsheetml.sheet"
Dim excelConnectionString As String = String.Format("Provider=Microsoft.ACE.OLEDB.12.0;Data Source={0};Extended Properties=Excel 8.0", SavedFile)
Using connection As New OleDbConnection(excelConnectionString)
Dim Command As OleDbCommand = New OleDbCommand("Select * FROM [Sheet1$]", connection)
connection.Open()
Using reader As DbDataReader = Command.ExecuteReader()
Dim sqlConnectionString As String = "Data Source=.\sqlexpress;Initial Catalog=ExcelDB;Integrated Security=True"
Using bulkCopy As New SqlBulkCopy(sqlConnectionString)
bulkCopy.DestinationTableName = DropDown1.SelectedItem.ToString
bulkCopy.WriteToServer(reader)
End Using
End Using
End Using
Where I am having trouble is, I do not know how to select certain cells from the excel sheet to import and I do not know how to copy those cells to specific columns in the specified table.
Any and all help is always appreciated.
Thanks,
Zach

Answer 1

Im posting an answer so that if anyone else stumbles upon this, they might be helped as well.
This is what got everything to work for me. (Shout out to kevin)
Protected Sub Button1_Click(sender As Object, e As System.EventArgs)
Dim appPath As String = Request.PhysicalApplicationPath
Dim con As New System.Data.SqlClient.SqlConnection
con.ConnectionString = "Data Source=.\SQLEXPRESS;AttachDbFilename=" & appPath & "App_Data\Devicedatabase.MDF;Integrated Security=True;User Instance=True;"
con.Open()
MsgBox("open")
con.Close()
MsgBox("close")
End Sub
This got the connection open after much trying and frustration.
This got the excel values imported to the database:
Using con As New SqlClient.SqlConnection With
{
.ConnectionString =
"Data Source=.\SQLEXPRESS;AttachDbFilename=" & appPath & "App_Data\Devicedatabase.MDF;Integrated Security=True;User Instance=True;"
}
Using cmd As New SqlClient.SqlCommand With
{
.Connection = con,
.CommandText = "INSERT INTO " & """" & DropDownList1.SelectedItem.ToString & """" & "ColumnName1, ColumnName2)VALUES (#Col1,#Col2)"
}
cmd.Parameters.Add(New SqlClient.SqlParameter With {.DbType = DbType.String, .ParameterName = "#Col1"})
cmd.Parameters.Add(New SqlClient.SqlParameter With {.DbType = DbType.String, .ParameterName = "#Col2"})
cmd.Parameters(0).Value = "Value obtained from Excel"
cmd.Parameters(1).Value = "Value obtained from Excel"
con.Open()
Dim Result As Integer = cmd.ExecuteNonQuery
If Result <> 1 Then
MessageBox.Show("Insert failed.")
Else
MessageBox.Show("Row inserted.")
End If
End Using
End Using
Enjoy guys!

Answer 2

Use Excel Data Reader dll for this. It will read the excel file and give the Dataset as result.

Answer 3

simple code for 'abcConnectionString' as a connection string
and 'pqr_table' as sql table.
'Sheet1' is for the sheet1 of excel file.
important thing is the table format ie rows n columns of excel n database file should b same
her is the vb.net code foe veb application
one FileUpload with name 'FileUpload1'
and one button.
this code is in side the buton method
Dim excelConnectionString As String = String.Empty
Dim uploadPath As String = "~/Uploads/"
Dim filePath As String = Server.MapPath(uploadPath + FileUpload1.PostedFile.FileName)
Dim fileExt As String = Path.GetExtension(FileUpload1.PostedFile.FileName)
Dim strConnection As [String] = ConfigurationManager.ConnectionStrings("abcConnectionString").ConnectionString
If fileExt = ".xls" OrElse fileExt = "XLS" Then
excelConnectionString = "Provider=Microsoft.Jet.OLEDB.4.0; Data Source='" & filePath & "'" & "; Extended Properties ='Excel 8.0;HDR=Yes'"
ElseIf fileExt = ".xlsx" OrElse fileExt = "XLSX" Then
excelConnectionString = "Provider=Microsoft.ACE.OLEDB.12.0;Data Source=" & filePath & ";Extended Properties=Excel 12.0;Persist Security Info=False"
End If
Dim excelConnection As New OleDbConnection(excelConnectionString)
Dim cmd As New OleDbCommand("Select * from [Sheet1$]", excelConnection)
excelConnection.Open()
Dim dReader As OleDbDataReader
dReader = cmd.ExecuteReader()
Dim sqlBulk As New SqlBulkCopy(strConnection)
sqlBulk.DestinationTableName = "pqr_table"
sqlBulk.WriteToServer(dReader)
MsgBox("Congratulations! Successfully Imported.")
excelConnection.Close()

Answer 4

simple code for 'abcConnectionString' as a connection string and 'pqr_table' as sql table. 'Sheet1' is for the sheet1 of excel file. important thing is the table format ie rows n columns of excel n database file should b same
here is the vb.net code foe veb application one FileUpload with name 'FileUpload1' and one button. this code is in side the buton method
Dim excelConnectionString As String = String.Empty
Dim uploadPath As String = "~/Uploads/"
Dim filePath As String = Server.MapPath(uploadPath + FileUpload1.PostedFile.FileName)
Dim fileExt As String = Path.GetExtension(FileUpload1.PostedFile.FileName)
Dim strConnection As [String] = ConfigurationManager.ConnectionStrings("abcConnectionString").ConnectionString
If fileExt = ".xls" OrElse fileExt = "XLS" Then
excelConnectionString = "Provider=Microsoft.Jet.OLEDB.4.0; Data Source='" & filePath & "'" & "; Extended Properties ='Excel 8.0;HDR=Yes'"
ElseIf fileExt = ".xlsx" OrElse fileExt = "XLSX" Then
excelConnectionString = "Provider=Microsoft.ACE.OLEDB.12.0;Data Source=" & filePath & ";Extended Properties=Excel 12.0;Persist Security Info=False"
End If
Dim excelConnection As New OleDbConnection(excelConnectionString)
Dim cmd As New OleDbCommand("Select * from [Sheet1$]", excelConnection)
excelConnection.Open()
Dim dReader As OleDbDataReader
dReader = cmd.ExecuteReader()
Dim sqlBulk As New SqlBulkCopy(strConnection)
sqlBulk.DestinationTableName = "pqr_table"
sqlBulk.WriteToServer(dReader)
MsgBox("Congratulations! Successfully Imported.")
excelConnection.Close()