5 Simple Steps to Insert Images in Excel with PHP

Why Image Integration in Excel?

Before we delve into the code and the steps, let's briefly discuss why you might want to insert images into Excel files programmatically using PHP. Whether you're building a data visualization tool, automating report generation, or creating a content management system, integrating images can:

• Enhance the visual appeal of data presentations
• Provide quick visual context to numeric or textual data
• Allow for dynamic updates to reports where images change based on data or time
• Facilitate the creation of personalized reports where each user might have different images

This ability to merge images with data makes your spreadsheets more interactive and informative.

Prerequisites for PHP and Excel Integration

To get started, here's what you'll need:

• PHP 7.2 or above
• PhpSpreadsheet library for PHP - this is the successor of PHPExcel
• Basic understanding of PHP
• An installed PHP environment

You can install PhpSpreadsheet via Composer using: ```sh composer require phpoffice/phpspreadsheet ```

Step-by-Step Guide to Insert Images in Excel

Step 1: Include PhpSpreadsheet

Start by including the autoloader for PhpSpreadsheet:

require 'vendor/autoload.php';

use PhpOffice\PhpSpreadsheet\Spreadsheet;
use PhpOffice\PhpSpreadsheet\Writer\Xlsx;
use PhpOffice\PhpSpreadsheet\Worksheet\Worksheet;
use PhpOffice\PhpSpreadsheet\Worksheet\Drawing;

Step 2: Create a New Spreadsheet and Worksheet

💡 Note: Always create a new Spreadsheet object to avoid conflicts with existing data or sessions.

$spreadsheet = new Spreadsheet();
$sheet = $spreadsheet->getActiveSheet();

Step 3: Prepare the Image

You’ll need the path to your image:

$imagePath = 'path/to/your/image.png';

Step 4: Add the Image to the Worksheet

Now, we’ll add the image to our worksheet at the specified cell:

$drawing = new Drawing();
$drawing->setName('My Logo');
$drawing->setDescription('Company Logo');
$drawing->setPath($imagePath);
$drawing->setHeight(90);
$drawing->setCoordinates('A1');

$sheet->addDrawing($drawing);

⚠️ Note: The image size and position can be adjusted according to your spreadsheet layout needs.

Step 5: Save the Excel File

Finally, save the workbook:

$writer = new Xlsx($spreadsheet);
$writer->save('my_excel_with_image.xlsx');

Here’s how your final PHP script might look:

require 'vendor/autoload.php';
use PhpOffice\PhpSpreadsheet\Spreadsheet;
use PhpOffice\PhpSpreadsheet\Writer\Xlsx;
use PhpOffice\PhpSpreadsheet\Worksheet\Drawing;

$spreadsheet = new Spreadsheet();
$sheet = $spreadsheet->getActiveSheet();

$imagePath = 'path/to/your/image.png';

$drawing = new Drawing();
$drawing->setName('My Logo');
$drawing->setDescription('Company Logo');
$drawing->setPath($imagePath);
$drawing->setHeight(90);
$drawing->setCoordinates('A1');

$sheet->addDrawing($drawing);

$writer = new Xlsx($spreadsheet);
$writer->save('my_excel_with_image.xlsx');

To summarize the journey we’ve taken:

We’ve covered the necessity of integrating images into Excel files programmatically, set up the PHP environment with PhpSpreadsheet, and walked through the five simple steps to insert an image into an Excel spreadsheet. This method not only automates report generation but also enhances the visual and interactive capabilities of your data management tasks. With this knowledge, you’re now equipped to make your Excel documents more dynamic and user-friendly.