Embed Excel Sheets with iframe
The simplest way to display an Excel sheet on a web page is by using an iframe:
- Step-by-Step:
- Save your Excel file on a publicly accessible server or a cloud storage service like Google Drive or Dropbox.
- Get the sharable link to your Excel file.
- Use the link in an iframe on your web page:
<iframe src="YOUR-EXCEL-FILE-LINK-HERE" width="100%" height="500"></iframe>
⚠️ Note: Ensure the shared link does not require a login or any authentication which might block the iframe from loading.
Publish to the Web
Another way to display Excel sheets is by publishing them directly to the web from within Excel:
- Procedure:
- In Excel, go to
File>Share>Publish to Web. - Select the sheet you want to share and choose the type of link you want to share (Web Viewer or Embed).
- Copy the HTML code provided and paste it into your web page’s HTML source.
- In Excel, go to
<!-- Web Viewer Link -->
<iframe src="https://onedrive.live.com/embed?cid=YOUR-CID&resid=YOUR-RESID&authkey=YOUR-AUTHKEY" width="100%" height="500"></iframe>
<!-- Embed Option -->
<iframe src="https://view.officeapps.live.com/op/embed.aspx?src=YOUR-EXCEL-LINK" width="100%" height="500"></iframe>
Convert to HTML
If you prefer static representation, convert Excel sheets to HTML:
- Conversion:
- Use online tools or Excel’s built-in features to save your file as a webpage (.htm or .html).
- Upload the HTML and associated files to your web server.
<!DOCTYPE html>
<html>
<head><title>Excel Sheet as Webpage</title></head>
<body>
<div class="container">
<!-- Your converted Excel sheet will appear here -->
</div>
</body>
</html>
Use a Third-party Service
Many services allow real-time Excel viewing on the web:
- Examples:
- Tableizer: Converts Excel sheets into HTML tables.
- sheetsu: Real-time API for Google Sheets.
- Zoho Sheet: Provides an option to publish spreadsheets.
JavaScript Embedding
For dynamic features, use JavaScript libraries:
- Libraries:
- XLSX.js: Opens and displays Excel files.
- SheetJS: Converts spreadsheets to HTML for embedding.
- ExcelJS: Can read, edit, and display Excel files on web pages.
Here’s a basic example with XLSX.js:
<script src="xlsx.core.min.js"></script>
<script>
function displayExcel() {
var url = 'YOUR-EXCEL-FILE-LINK-HERE'; // URL to your Excel file
var oReq = new XMLHttpRequest();
oReq.open("GET", url, true);
oReq.responseType = "arraybuffer";
oReq.onload = function(e) {
var arraybuffer = oReq.response;
/* convert data to binary string */
var data = new Uint8Array(arraybuffer);
var arr = new Array();
for(var i = 0; i != data.length; ++i) arr[i] = String.fromCharCode(data[i]);
var bstr = arr.join("");
/* Call XLSX */
var workbook = XLSX.read(bstr, {type:"binary"});
/* Get first worksheet */
var first_sheet_name = workbook.SheetNames[0];
var worksheet = workbook.Sheets[first_sheet_name];
/* convert to array of arrays */
var json_object = XLSX.utils.sheet_to_json(worksheet, {header:1});
/* output the array to the webpage */
document.getElementById("sheetjs").innerHTML = json_object.map(r => `<tr>${r.map(c => `<td>${c}</td>`).join('')}</tr>`).join('');
}
oReq.send();
}
displayExcel();
</script>
<div id="sheetjs"></div>
Embedding Excel spreadsheets on the web has its uses:
- Viewability: You can share data easily in a format that is familiar to most office users.
- Functionality: Some methods preserve Excel’s interactive features, allowing users to work with the data directly.
- Real-Time Updates: With Google Sheets or other real-time solutions, data can be updated in real-time.
If you’re considering embedding Excel files:
📝 Note: There are server-side considerations and compatibility issues with different browsers and devices to consider.
When selecting a method to display Excel on a web page, consider your target audience, your data security needs, the level of interaction you want to provide, and the performance of your web page.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the security concerns when embedding Excel?
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When embedding Excel files, ensure that your data is protected from unauthorized access or malicious attacks. Only use trusted sources to host your Excel files and consider user permissions, especially if the data is sensitive.
Can I edit data directly from the web page?
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Some methods like publishing via Excel or using real-time services allow for direct editing, though the level of interactivity varies based on the embedding technique used.
What should I do if my Excel file is too large to display?
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If your Excel file is very large, consider using services that can handle large data sets, or you might need to convert it into smaller sections or tables and load them sequentially or on demand.
Is it possible to display data from multiple sheets?
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Yes, you can display data from multiple sheets by either publishing each sheet separately or dynamically loading data from different sheets using JavaScript or server-side scripts.
How do I handle formulas when embedding?
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Formulas are typically displayed as static values unless you’re using a method that supports live Excel functionality, like publishing to the web. For dynamic interaction with formulas, consider using real-time data manipulation tools.
