Create Excel Spreadsheets with PL/SQL: ExcelDocumentType This little project started about a year ago (give or take),

after the need arose to generate Excel formatted reports containing data from our primary Oracle database instance (at work). In the past, I had done this by manually running a query in TOAD and saving the results as an Excel spreadsheet. This works great for those little adhoc requests we all get from time to time from our customers. However, the manual method can quickly get out of hand and distract us from our real work developing applications. So, being the ever resourceful developer, I decided that it would be cool to automate the process. My search for pre-existing, free, and easy to use tools to generate Excel spreadsheets directly from the database turned up very little. The search did turn up with some very useful information on Excel XML. Armed with this new knowledge, I set out to create a PL/SQL based utility that would easily allow the user to generate formatted Excel spreadsheets from their data. I ended up creating an Oracle user defined object type called ExcelDocumentType. The ExcelDocumentType generates an Excel XML document as its end product. Excel XML documents are automatically recognized by IE and the Windows OS as Excel documents, and are treated as such when executed (double click ). The documents generated by the object work very well with Office 2003. The object gives the user the ability to create documents with the following features: Creation of multiple Worksheets Create and apply user defined styles Apply formulas to cells Create custom print headers Define rows, columns, and cells

The object provides two methods of document retrieval: The document can be retrieved as a CLOB. The document can be delivered through mod_plsql to a web browser. The document can be retrieved in a PL/SQL table via user defined type called ExcelDocumentLine. Object Member Functions and Procedures The ExcelDocumentType makes use of a global temporary table called ExcelDocumentStore . The global temporary tables acts as storage for each document segment as the document is being constructed. A previous version used VARRAYs, but that method had some serious performance issues for very large documents. The object contains the following member functions and procedures: ExcelDocumentType Constructor (Function). documentOpen - Open a document for writing. documentClose Close document for writing. worksheetOpen Opens a new worksheet, and takes a parameter for naming the worksheet. worksheetClose Closes the worksheet. worksheetHeaderFooter worksheetHeaderFooterOpen FooterOpen Open the header segment (of a worksheet) for writing. Takes no parameters. worksheetHeaderValues Sets the worksheet header values (may be used one or more times if constructing a header with LEFT, RIGHT, and CENTER): o Header String o Header font size o Use constants for Excel Specific header/footer values: WHF_FORMAT_LEFT Left side header/footer

WHF_FORMAT_CENTER Center of header/footer WHF_FORMAT_RIGHRT Right side header/footer WHF_FORMAT_PAGE Insert current page number WHF_FORMAT_PAGES Insert value for total number of pages WHF_FORMAT_DATE Insert current date WHF_FORMAT_TIME Insert current value for time WHF_FORMAT_FILEPATH Display file path WHF_FORMAT_FILE Display filename WHF_FORMAT_TAB Insert name of current worksheet (tab) WHF_FORMAT_FONT Font size place holder worksheetFooter worksheetFooterValues FooterValues Sets the worksheet footer values (may be used one or more times if constructing a header with LEFT, RIGHT, and CENTER): o Footer String o Footer font size o Use constants for Excel Specific header/footer values: WHF_FORMAT_LEFT Left side header/footer WHF_FORMAT_CENTER Center of header/footer WHF_FORMAT_RIGHRT Right side header/footer WHF_FORMAT_PAGE Insert current page number WHF_FORMAT_PAGES Insert value for total number of pages WHF_FORMAT_DATE Insert current date WHF_FORMAT_TIME Insert current value for time WHF_FORMAT_FILEPATH Display file path WHF_FORMAT_FILE Display filename WHF_FORMAT_TAB Insert name of current worksheet (tab) WHF_FORMAT_FONT Font size place holder worksheetHeaderFooter worksheetHeaderFooterClose FooterClose Closes worksheet header segment. stylesOpen Open the style definition segment. createStyle Create user defined styles. Each style has to be named so that it may be referenced later. Styles items are limited to the following parameters: o Style name or label (My Style) o Font (Font name in Upper lower format: Times New Roman) o Font Family (Roman) o Font Size o Bold (Y or N) o Italic (Y or N) o Underline (underline type, such as Single) o Text Color (Blue, Red, etc ) o Cell Color (Blue,Red, etc ) o Cell Texture (Solid or other valid Excel texture types) o Vertical Alignment (Center,Left,Right,Top, etc ) o Horizontal Alignment (Center,Left,Right,Top, etc ) o Text Wrap (Y or N) o Number Format (Standard Excel number format strings) o Custom XML add custom (but compliant) XML for additional style elements. defaultStyle use the default Excel document style. stylesClose Close styles segment defineColumn defineColumn Defines column and takes index and width as parameters. rowOpen Starts a new row segment. Takes an optional style parameter to set row color, font, etc. rowClose Close row segment.

addCell Add a cell segment to a row segment. Cell reside in a specific column within a specific row. This procedure takes the following types of parameters: o Column Index as defined with defineColumn procedure o Data The data that will occupy the cell. o Data Type String, Date, Number, etc (Excel standard) o Style Apply user defined style by label name. o Formula Valid Excel cell formula string. displayDocument generates the entire Excel XML document for display thru a web browser or other application that can accept a document via HTTP (thru mod_plsql). getDocument getDocument Function that generates a CLOB version of the Excel XML document. getDocumentData - Function that returns a Collection of type ExcelDocumentLine. Each bucket in the collection will contain a line from the XML document. The collection type is a PL/SQL table.

The following code sample demonstrates how to use the ExcelDocument Object: CREATE OR REPLACE PROCEDURE excelObjectTest IS demoDocument BEGIN demoDocument := ExcelDocumentType(); -- Open the document demoDocument.documentOpen; -- Define Styles demoDocument.stylesOpen; -- Include Default Style demoDocument.defaultStyle; -- Add Custom Styles /* Style for Column Header Row */ demoDocument.createStyle( p_style_id =>'ColumnHeader', p_font =>'Times New Roman', p_ffamily =>'Roman', p_fsize =>'10', p_bold =>'Y', p_underline =>'Single', p_align_horizontal=>'Center', p_align_vertical=>'Bottom'); /* Styles for alternating row colors. */ demoDocument.createStyle( p_style_id=>'NumberStyleBlueCell', p_cell_color=>'Cyan', p_cell_pattern =>'Solid', p_number_format => '###,###,###.00', p_align_horizontal => 'Right'); demoDocument.createStyle( p_style_id=>'TextStyleBlueCell', p_cell_color=>'Cyan', p_cell_pattern =>'Solid'); ExcelDocumentType;

/* Style for numbers */ demoDocument.createStyle( p_style_id => 'NumberStyle',

p_number_format => '###,###,###.00', p_align_horizontal => 'Right'); /* Style for Column Sum */ demoDocument.createStyle( p_style_id => 'ColumnSum', p_number_format => '###,###,###.00', p_align_horizontal => 'Right', p_text_color => 'Blue'); /* Style for Column Sum */ demoDocument.createStyle( p_style_id => 'RowSum', p_number_format => '###,###,###.00', p_align_horizontal => 'Right', p_text_color => 'Red'); -- Close Styles demoDocument.stylesClose; -- Open Worksheet demoDocument.worksheetOpen('Weekly Earnings'); -- Define Columns demoDocument.defineColumn(p_index=>'1',p_width=>30); -- Emp Name demoDocument.defineColumn(p_index=>'2',p_width=>16); -- Daily Dollar demoDocument.defineColumn(p_index=>'3',p_width=>16); demoDocument.defineColumn(p_index=>'4',p_width=>16); demoDocument.defineColumn(p_index=>'5',p_width=>16); demoDocument.defineColumn(p_index=>'6',p_width=>16); demoDocument.defineColumn(p_index=>'7',p_width=>16); -- Sum column -- Define Header Row demoDocument.rowOpen; --Define Header Row Data Cells demoDocument.addCell(p_style=>'ColumnHeader',p_data=>'Employee Name'); demoDocument.addCell(p_style=>'ColumnHeader',p_data=>'Monday'); demoDocument.addCell(p_style=>'ColumnHeader',p_data=>'Tuesday'); demoDocument.addCell(p_style=>'ColumnHeader',p_data=>'Wednesday'); demoDocument.addCell(p_style=>'ColumnHeader',p_data=>'Thursday'); demoDocument.addCell(p_style=>'ColumnHeader',p_data=>'Friday'); demoDocument.addCell(p_style=>'ColumnHeader',p_data=>'Totals'); demoDocument.rowClose; /*------------------------------------*/ /* Sheet Data would normally be */ /* data driven via cursor loops */ /* or other means. */ /* The purpose here is to demonstrate */ /* the features of the utility. */ /*------------------------------------*/ -- Row 1 demoDocument.rowOpen; demoDocument.addCell(p_data=>'Jason Bennett'); demoDocument.addCell(p_style=>'NumberStyle',p_data_type=>'Number', p_data=>'50000'); demoDocument.addCell(p_style=>'NumberStyle',p_data_type=>'Number', p_data=>'25000'); demoDocument.addCell(p_style=>'NumberStyle',p_data_type=>'Number', p_data=>'25000');

demoDocument.addCell(p_style=>'NumberStyle',p_data_type=>'Number', p_data=>'14000'); demoDocument.addCell(p_style=>'NumberStyle',p_data_type=>'Number', p_data=>'200'); demoDocument.addCell(p_style=>'RowSum',p_data_type=>'Number', p_formula=>'SUM(RC[5]:RC[-1])'); demoDocument.rowClose; -- Row 2 demoDocument.rowOpen; demoDocument.addCell(p_style=>'TextStyleBlueCell', p_data=>'Joe Smith'); demoDocument.addCell(p_style=>'NumberStyleBlueCell',p_data_type=>'Number', p_data=>'500'); demoDocument.addCell(p_style=>'NumberStyleBlueCell',p_data_type=>'Number', p_data=>'8000'); demoDocument.addCell(p_style=>'NumberStyleBlueCell',p_data_type=>'Number', p_data=>'35'); demoDocument.addCell(p_style=>'NumberStyleBlueCell',p_data_type=>'Number', p_data=>'1000'); demoDocument.addCell(p_style=>'NumberStyleBlueCell',p_data_type=>'Number', p_data=>'15'); demoDocument.addCell(p_style=>'RowSum',p_data_type=>'Number', p_formula=>'SUM(RC[5]:RC[-1])'); demoDocument.rowClose; -- Row 3 demoDocument.rowOpen; demoDocument.addCell(p_data=>'Wilma Jones'); demoDocument.addCell(p_style=>'NumberStyle',p_data_type=>'Number', p_data=>'300'); demoDocument.addCell(p_style=>'NumberStyle',p_data_type=>'Number', p_data=>'9000'); demoDocument.addCell(p_style=>'NumberStyle',p_data_type=>'Number', p_data=>'350'); demoDocument.addCell(p_style=>'NumberStyle',p_data_type=>'Number', p_data=>'2000'); demoDocument.addCell(p_style=>'NumberStyle',p_data_type=>'Number', p_data=>'159'); demoDocument.addCell(p_style=>'RowSum',p_data_type=>'Number', p_formula=>'SUM(RC[5]:RC[-1])'); demoDocument.rowClose; -- Row 4 demoDocument.rowOpen; demoDocument.addCell(p_style=>'TextStyleBlueCell', p_data=>'Chris P.'); demoDocument.addCell(p_style=>'NumberStyleBlueCell',p_data_type=>'Number', p_data=>'45000'); demoDocument.addCell(p_style=>'NumberStyleBlueCell',p_data_type=>'Number', p_data=>'67000'); demoDocument.addCell(p_style=>'NumberStyleBlueCell',p_data_type=>'Number', p_data=>'200'); demoDocument.addCell(p_style=>'NumberStyleBlueCell',p_data_type=>'Number', p_data=>'650'); demoDocument.addCell(p_style=>'NumberStyleBlueCell',p_data_type=>'Number', p_data=>'21000'); demoDocument.addCell(p_style=>'RowSum',p_data_type=>'Number', p_formula=>'SUM(RC[5]:RC[-1])'); demoDocument.rowClose; -- Summary Row 5 demoDocument.rowOpen; demoDocument.addCell(p_col_index=>'2',p_style=>'ColumnSum',p_data_type=>'Number',p_fo rmula=>'SUM(R[-4]C:R[-1]C)'); demoDocument.addCell(p_col_index=>'3',p_style=>'ColumnSum',p_data_type=>'Number',p_fo rmula=>'SUM(R[-4]C:R[-1]C)');

demoDocument.addCell(p_col_index=>'4',p_style=>'ColumnSum',p_data_type=>'Number',p_fo rmula=>'SUM(R[-4]C:R[-1]C)'); demoDocument.addCell(p_col_index=>'5',p_style=>'ColumnSum',p_data_type=>'Number',p_fo rmula=>'SUM(R[-4]C:R[-1]C)'); demoDocument.addCell(p_col_index=>'6',p_style=>'ColumnSum',p_data_type=>'Number',p_fo rmula=>'SUM(R[-4]C:R[-1]C)'); demoDocument.addCell(p_col_index=>'7',p_style=>'ColumnSum',p_data_type=>'Number',p_fo rmula=>'SUM(R[-4]C:R[-1]C)'); demoDocument.rowClose; -- Close the Worksheet demoDocument.worksheetClose; -- Close the document. demoDocument.documentClose; -- Display the document. demoDocument.displayDocument; EXCEPTION WHEN OTHERS THEN htp.p(sqlerrm); END; /

Specific Examples
How to create customer headers and footers: demoDocument.worksheetOpen('MyWorkSheet'); -- Open Header/Footer section demoDocument.worksheetHeaderFooterOpen; -- Add page number 1 of 10 to the left side of the header demoDocument.worksheetHeaderValues(p_headerstring=>demoDocument.WHF_FORMAT_LEFT|| demoDocument.WHF_FORMAT_PAGE|| ' '||demoDocument.WHF_FORMAT_PAGES); -- Add some text for a title to the center portion of the header with a font size of 12 demoDocument.worksheetHeaderValues(p_headerstring=>demoDocument.WHF_FORMAT_CENTER|| demoDocument.WHF_FORMAT_FONT||'My Title', p_fontsize=>'12'); -- Add the date and time to the left side of the header demoDocument.worksheetHeaderValues(p_headerstring=>demoDocument.WHF_FORMAT_RIGHT|| of

demoDocument.WHF_FORMAT_DATE||' '|| demoDocument.WHF_FORMAT_TIME); -- Add the current filename to the right side of the footer. demoDocument.worksheetFooterValues(p_footerstring=>demoDocument.WHF_FORMAT_RIGHT|| demoDocument.WHF_FORMAT_FILE); -- Close the header and footer section. demoDocument.worksheetHeaderFooterClose;

How to send your Excel XML document to a file: If you are sending the document to file from within a PL/SQL package, I recommend setting up a directory mapping using the following command: CREATE DIRECTORY MYDIRECTORY as '<some path to a directory in the format of the hosting OS' This makes life easier when reading and writing files using UTL_FILE. In the declarations section of the PL/SQL routine that is building the Excel document, add the following type of declaration for a documentArray to hold each line of the XML representing your spreadsheet, and a file pointer declaration: documentArray v_file ExcelDocumentLine := ExcelDocumentLine(); UTL_FILE.FILE_TYPE;

Now, at the end of your routine (after closing the excel document, demoDocument.documentClose;) add the following code: -- Write document to a file -- Assuming UTL file settings are setup in your DB Instance. -documentArray := demoDocument.getDocumentData; v_file := UTL_FILE.fopen('MYDIRECTORY','ExcelDocument.xml','W',4000); FOR x IN 1 .. documentArray.COUNT LOOP UTL_FILE.put_line(v_file,documentArray(x)); END LOOP; UTL_FILE.fclose(v_file); The document will be written out to the file system in the physical directory mapped to MYDIRECTORY. How to return your document as a CLOB: To return your Excel document as a CLOB, make sure you have either defined a CLOB variable in the declaration section of your PL/SQL routine, and execute the following (or similar) line of code after closing your document: --clobDocument is variable/object of type CLOB clobDocument := demoDocument.getDocument;

Returning the document as a CLOB allows it to stored in a database column, or passed to an external program written in Java, .NET, or other language that can handle the CLOB datatype. How to return your document to a web browser using the the PL/SQL DAD: To return your document to a web browser via the PL/SQL DAD, simply add the following line of code to the bottom of your PL/SQL routine after closing the document: demoDocument.displayDocument;