5 Ways to Create Excel Sheets Using Ruby

Excel is one of the most widely used tools in the business world for data manipulation, analysis, and presentation. However, there are times when manipulating Excel spreadsheets programmatically can streamline workflows, especially for tasks that need to be repeated or are data-intensive. Ruby, known for its simplicity and developer-friendly syntax, can be an excellent language for automating these tasks. Here are five different ways you can create and work with Excel sheets using Ruby.

1. RubyExcel

RubyExcel is a wrapper around the Excel COM Object that lets you interact with Excel directly through Ruby. Here’s how you can set it up and use it:

• Installation: No additional installation is required; it leverages the built-in Ruby WIN32OLE library.
• Usage:

      require 'win32ole'
      excel = WIN32OLE.new('Excel.Application')
      excel.visible = true
      workbook = excel.Workbooks.Add()
      worksheet = workbook.Worksheets(1)
      worksheet.Cells(1,1).Value = "Hello, Excel!"
      workbook.SaveAs("c:\\path\\to\\file.xlsx")
      workbook.Close
      excel.Quit
      

💡 Note: This method requires Excel to be installed on the machine where the script will run.

2. Spreadsheet

The Spreadsheet gem provides functionality to read, write, and modify Excel 2003 XML and CSV files, but it also supports some newer Excel formats. Here’s how to get started:

• Installation: Add to your Gemfile gem 'spreadsheet' and then run bundle install.
• Usage:

      require 'spreadsheet'
      book = Spreadsheet::Workbook.new
      sheet1 = book.create_worksheet :name => 'Sheet1'
      sheet1.row(0).concat %w{Header1 Header2}
      sheet1.row(1).push 'Data1', 'Data2'
      book.write 'my_sheet.xls'
      

3. Axlsx

Axlsx is particularly good for creating complex Excel files with formatting and charts. Its API is designed to be readable and maintainable. Here’s how to use it:

• Installation: Add gem 'axlsx' to your Gemfile, then run bundle install.
• Usage:

      require 'axlsx'
      Axlsx::Package.new do |p|
        p.workbook.add_worksheet(:name => "My Sheet") do |sheet|
          sheet.add_row ["Header1", "Header2"]
          sheet.add_row ["Data1", "Data2"]
        end
        p.serialize('my_sheet.xlsx')
      end
      

4. write_xlsx

Another gem, write_xlsx, focuses on writing native Excel 2007+ .xlsx files from Ruby. Here’s a simple example:

• Installation: Add gem 'write_xlsx' to your Gemfile and run bundle install.
• Usage:

      require 'write_xlsx'
      workbook  = WriteXLSX.new('simple.xlsx')
      worksheet = workbook.add_worksheet
      worksheet.write('A1', 'Hi Excel!')
      workbook.close
      

5. Roo

While Roo is more commonly known for reading Excel files, it can also be used to write them, particularly when you want to read, manipulate, and then save back to Excel. Here’s how:

• Installation: Add gem 'roo' and gem 'caxlsx' to your Gemfile for this functionality, then run bundle install.
• Usage:

      require 'roo'
      workbook = RubyXL::Workbook.new
      worksheet = workbook.worksheets[0]
      worksheet.add_cell(0,0, "Header1")
      worksheet.add_cell(0,1, "Header2")
      worksheet.add_cell(1,0, "Data1")
      worksheet.add_cell(1,1, "Data2")
      workbook.write('my_sheet.xlsx')
      

Each of these libraries offers unique advantages:

• RubyExcel provides the most direct interaction with Excel but requires Excel installation.
• Spreadsheet is great for compatibility with older Excel files but has less support for newer formats.
• Axlsx gives you the most control over formatting and charts, which is beneficial for complex spreadsheets.
• write_xlsx is efficient for creating new .xlsx files without any external dependencies.
• Roo with caxlsx offers a more rounded solution when you also need to read from Excel files.

Choosing the right gem depends on what you want to achieve with Excel, the format of the files you're dealing with, and the complexity of the tasks you need to perform. Each has its own set of features that might make it more suitable for specific situations. However, remember that all of these solutions offer flexibility in handling data through Ruby, reducing manual data entry, and improving data accuracy and efficiency.

It's worth noting that automation in Excel can save significant time for repetitive tasks, enable batch processing, or integrate spreadsheets into larger applications or workflows. Whether you're building an application that requires data exporting to Excel, processing data from an Excel sheet, or simply automating reporting, these Ruby libraries can make your life easier.

In summary, Ruby's ecosystem provides multiple robust options for creating, reading, and manipulating Excel spreadsheets. Whether you're dealing with older formats or the latest Excel features, you can automate your spreadsheet tasks efficiently using Ruby. Remember to consider the specific requirements of your project, such as compatibility with different Excel versions, the need for formatting, and the presence of external dependencies when selecting the right tool.

Can I use Ruby to interact with Excel Online?

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Direct manipulation of Excel Online through Ruby isn’t currently supported as Excel Online is a cloud-based service with limited API access for direct scripting. However, you could use Ruby to generate Excel files and then upload them to services like OneDrive where Excel Online can open them.

What if I need to handle Excel files with charts and images?

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Axlsx or Roo with caxlsx would be your best choice for dealing with charts and images since they support more advanced formatting features. RubyExcel can also work with these elements but requires Excel to be installed.

Is there a performance difference among these Ruby Excel libraries?

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Yes, libraries like write_xlsx and Axlsx are generally faster at writing because they generate files without the overhead of COM or external applications. RubyExcel might be slower due to the OLE automation, but it can perform complex operations through Excel itself.

Related Terms:

• Rails export to Excel
• Ruby spreadsheet gem
• Excel sheet in rails
• Ruby create xlsx file
• Ruby XLSX
• Ruby write to Excel file