XSLT-Template for Excel

[XL-Dennis]

Nice forum!

At present I'm working with VB.NET 2003 / SQL Server 2000 / ADO.NET/Excel 2003.

Since it´s not possible to dump the records with CopyFromDataset in ADO.NET I try to make a workaround with XML/XSLT. (Write the records into a XML-file via a DataSet, transform it to a HTML-file with the XSLT-file)

At present my main concern is to create the XSLT-file for Excel 2003.

Does anyone know a good source for XSLT-templates for Excel as I dislike very much to create all of it (It reminds me of the old days when we wrote all HTML by hand...)?

 

[XL-Dennis]

I found it here:

http://msdn.microsoft.com/xml/build...c_xl2003_ta/html/odc_xltransferxmltoxlwvb.asp

 

[starl]

Sorry we couldn't help you Dennis - but thanks for posting what you found. I'm sure it'll help someone in the future... that is if anyone can figure out what you're doing

 

[XL-Dennis]

An improved version of this little thing here:

http://www.excelkb.com/article.aspx?id=10094

Yes, I'm trying to learn about XML/XSLT

 

[TommyGun]

An improved version of this little thing here:

http://www.excelkb.com/article.aspx?id=10094

Yes, I'm trying to learn about XML/XSLT

Be careful Dennis...once you open that door, you might be changing your tag to XML-Dennis!

XML/XSLT is great for what it is designed to do. XML can take data and organize it into a way where it is logical, and can be processed with very little knowledge (given a good DTD or schema).

XSLT can take your XML and put it into a format that users like to see, or totally change your XML structure.

It is fun stuff!

If you haven't already, I highly recommend the books that O'Reilly has published on these two topics, and also their great XML site...O'Reilly XML.com.

 

[XL-Dennis]

Hi Tommy,

Thanks for the heads up on O'Reilly and the warning

My only aim is to get things working with importing data to Excel in ADO.NET in a smooth way.

I expect we in Office 2005 can use ADO.NET and that we also get the method GetFromDataset available.

The most remarkable thing is not XML itself (as i only generate XML by code) it's the fact that the XSLT-file must be "well formed" otherwise it will not be executed.

So far I've been only evaluating Stylus Studios which give some possibilites to evaluate the XSLT-instructions.

BTW, I recently downloaded the Office 2003 Schemas but I have not had the time to dig into it deeper:

http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/...52-3547-420a-a412-00a2662442d9&displaylang=en

No, I´m a VB.NET / ADO.NET - man so unless I aband it for InfoPath I sure will only be touching it on its surface

Take care,

 

[TommyGun]

Well...if you look at a lot of your VB.NET/ADO.NET config files, they are stored in XML. As a matter of fact, Windows XP does a lot with XML so it's a very good thing to know.

As far as I know, XML is the new version of the old INI files for applications.

 

[XL-Dennis]

As far as I know, XML is the new version of the old INI files for applications.

You seems to got a point with it but I'm sure MS wouldn't put it in terms like this

FYI, I prefer to use Windows 2000 SP-4 then Windows XP Pro with SP-2 and I also ordered the book Learning XML from O'Reilly.

 

[TommyGun]

That's a great book. I've just recently finished it. Have fun!

 

[XL-Dennis]

For those of You who are interested in this area following article at MSDN is worth reading:

http://msdn.microsoft.com/xml/default.aspx?pull=/library/en-us/odc_xl2003_ta/html/odc_xlxmlom.asp