Read excel file in C using libxls - c

Question

I am trying to create an application that reads an excel file using libxls.
I've already downloaded libxls but I do not know how to use it.
Can someone please show me a minimum program to read from a XLS file

Answer 1

If you mean libxls:
There are tests inside the source archive which can be used as sample code.
Here's the content of libxls-1.4.0/test/test2.c:
/* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
*
* This file is part of libxls -- A multiplatform, C/C++ library
* for parsing Excel(TM) files.
*
* Redistribution and use in source and binary forms, with or without modification, are
* permitted provided that the following conditions are met:
*
* 1. Redistributions of source code must retain the above copyright notice, this list of
* conditions and the following disclaimer.
*
* 2. Redistributions in binary form must reproduce the above copyright notice, this list
* of conditions and the following disclaimer in the documentation and/or other materials
* provided with the distribution.
*
* THIS SOFTWARE IS PROVIDED BY David Hoerl ''AS IS'' AND ANY EXPRESS OR IMPLIED
* WARRANTIES, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, THE IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND
* FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE ARE DISCLAIMED. IN NO EVENT SHALL David Hoerl OR
* CONTRIBUTORS BE LIABLE FOR ANY DIRECT, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, SPECIAL, EXEMPLARY, OR
* CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES (INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, PROCUREMENT OF SUBSTITUTE GOODS OR
* SERVICES; LOSS OF USE, DATA, OR PROFITS; OR BUSINESS INTERRUPTION) HOWEVER CAUSED AND ON
* ANY THEORY OF LIABILITY, WHETHER IN CONTRACT, STRICT LIABILITY, OR TORT (INCLUDING
* NEGLIGENCE OR OTHERWISE) ARISING IN ANY WAY OUT OF THE USE OF THIS SOFTWARE, EVEN IF
* ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGE.
*
* Copyright 2004 Komarov Valery
* Copyright 2006 Christophe Leitienne
* Copyright 2008-2012 David Hoerl
*
*/
// THIS FILE LETS YOU QUICKLY FEED A .xls FILE FOR PARSING
#include <stdio.h>
#include <stdlib.h>
#include <string.h>
#include <ctype.h>
#include "libxls/xls.h"
int main(int argc, char *argv[])
{
xlsWorkBook* pWB;
xlsWorkSheet* pWS;
unsigned int i;
if(argc != 2) {
printf("Need file arg\n");
exit(0);
}
struct st_row_data* row;
WORD t,tt;
pWB=xls_open(argv[1],"UTF-8");
if (pWB!=NULL)
{
for (i=0;i<pWB->sheets.count;i++)
printf("Sheet N%i (%s) pos %i\n",i,pWB->sheets.sheet[i].name,pWB->sheets.sheet[i].filepos);
pWS=xls_getWorkSheet(pWB,0);
xls_parseWorkSheet(pWS);
printf("pWS->rows.lastrow %d\n", pWS->rows.lastrow);
for (t=0;t<=pWS->rows.lastrow;t++)
{
printf("DO IT");
row=&pWS->rows.row[t];
xls_showROW(row);
for (tt=0;tt<=pWS->rows.lastcol;tt++)
{
xls_showCell(&row->cells.cell[tt]);
}
}
printf("Count of rows: %i\n",pWS->rows.lastrow);
printf("Max col: %i\n",pWS->rows.lastcol);
printf("Count of sheets: %i\n",pWB->sheets.count);
xls_showBookInfo(pWB);
} else {
printf("pWB == NULL\n");
}
return 0;
}
If you mean libxl:
Below you'll find a data reading example written in C from http://www.libxl.com/.
Furthermore they provide documentation and more examples on their homepage.
BookHandle book = xlCreateBook();
if(book)
{
if(xlBookLoad(book, L"example.xls"))
{
SheetHandle sheet = xlBookGetSheet(book, 0);
if(sheet)
{
double d;
const wchar_t* s = xlSheetReadStr(sheet, 2, 1, NULL);
if(s) wprintf(L"%s\n", s);
d = xlSheetReadNum(sheet, 3, 1, NULL);
printf("%g\n", d);
}
}
xlBookRelease(book);
}