---
sidebar_position: 5
---

# Data Export

import current from '/version.js';
import Tabs from '@theme/Tabs';
import TabItem from '@theme/TabItem';

## Writing Workbooks

### API

_Generate spreadsheet bytes (file) from data_

```js
var data = XLSX.write(workbook, opts);
```

The `write` method attempts to package data from the workbook into a file in
memory.  By default, XLSX files are generated, but that can be controlled with
the `bookType` property of the `opts` argument.  Based on the `type` option,
the data can be stored as a "binary string", JS string, `Uint8Array` or Buffer.

The second `opts` argument is required.  ["Writing Options"](../api/write-options)
covers the supported properties and behaviors.

_Generate and attempt to save file_

```js
XLSX.writeFile(workbook, filename, opts);
```

The `writeFile` method packages the data and attempts to save the new file.  The
export file format is determined by the extension of `filename` (`SheetJS.xlsx`
signals XLSX export, `SheetJS.xlsb` signals XLSB export, etc).

The second `opts` argument is optional.  ["Writing Options"](../api/write-options)
covers the supported properties and behaviors.

_Generate and attempt to save an XLSX file_

```js
XLSX.writeFileXLSX(workbook, filename, opts);
```

The `writeFile` method embeds a number of different export functions.  This is
great for developer experience but not amenable to tree shaking using the
current developer tools.  When only XLSX exports are needed, this method avoids
referencing the other export functions.

The second `opts` argument is optional.  ["Writing Options"](../api/write-options)
covers the supported properties and behaviors.

:::note

The `writeFile` and `writeFileXLSX` methods uses platform-specific APIs to save
files. The APIs do not generally provide feedback on whether files were created.

:::

#### Examples

Here are a few common scenarios (click on each subtitle to see the code).

The [demos](../getting-started/demos) cover special deployments in more detail.

### Example: Local File

`XLSX.writeFile` supports writing local files in platforms like NodeJS. In other
platforms like React Native, `XLSX.write` should be called with file data.

<Tabs>
  <TabItem value="browser" label="Browser">

`XLSX.writeFile` wraps a few techniques for triggering a file save:

- `URL` browser API creates an object URL for the file, which the library uses
  by creating a link and forcing a click. It is supported in modern browsers.
- `msSaveBlob` is an IE10+ API for triggering a file save.
- `IE_FileSave` uses VBScript and ActiveX to write a file in IE6+ for Windows
  XP and Windows 7.  The shim must be included in the containing HTML page.

There is no standard way to determine if the actual file has been downloaded.

```js
/* output format determined by filename */
XLSX.writeFile(workbook, "out.xlsb");
/* at this point, out.xlsb will have been downloaded */
```

<details>
  <summary><b>SWF workaround for Windows 95+</b> (click to show)</summary>

:::warning

Each moving part in this solution has been deprecated years ago:

- Adobe stopped supporting Flash Player at the end of 2020
- Microsoft stopped supporting IE8 in 2019 and stopped supporting IE9 in 2020
- `Downloadify` support ended in 2010 and `SWFObject` support ended in 2016

New projects should strongly consider requiring modern browsers.  This info is
provided on an "as is" basis and there is no realistic way to provide support
given that every related vendor stopped providing support for their software.

:::

`XLSX.writeFile` techniques work for most modern browsers as well as older IE.
For much older browsers, there are workarounds implemented by wrapper libraries.

[`Downloadify`](https://github.com/dcneiner/downloadify) uses a Flash SWF button
to generate local files, suitable for environments where ActiveX is unavailable:

```js
Downloadify.create(id,{
  /* other options are required! read the downloadify docs for more info */
  filename: "test.xlsx",
  data: function() { return XLSX.write(wb, {bookType:"xlsx", type:"base64"}); },
  append: false,
  dataType: "base64"
});
```

The [`oldie` demo](https://github.com/SheetJS/SheetJS/tree/master/demos/oldie/) shows an IE-compatible fallback scenario.

</details>

  </TabItem>
  <TabItem value="nodejs" label="NodeJS">

`writeFile` uses `fs.writeFileSync` under the hood:

```js
var XLSX = require("xlsx");

/* output format determined by filename */
XLSX.writeFile(workbook, "out.xlsb");
```

For Node ESM, `fs` must be loaded manually:

```js
import * as fs from "fs";
import { writeFile, set_fs } from "xlsx/xlsx.mjs";
set_fs(fs);

/* output format determined by filename */
writeFile(workbook, "out.xlsb");
```

  </TabItem>
  <TabItem value="deno" label="Deno">

`writeFile` uses `Deno.writeFileSync` under the hood:

<pre><code parentName="pre" {...{"className": "language-ts"}}>{`\
// @deno-types="https://cdn.sheetjs.com/xlsx-${current}/package/types/index.d.ts"
import * as XLSX from 'https://cdn.sheetjs.com/xlsx-${current}/package/xlsx.mjs';

XLSX.writeFile(workbook, "test.xlsx");`}</code></pre>

Applications writing files must be invoked with the `--allow-write` flag.  The
[`deno` demo](https://github.com/SheetJS/SheetJS/tree/master/demos/deno/) has more examples

  </TabItem>
  <TabItem value="electron" label="Electron">

`writeFile` can be used in the renderer process:

```js
/* From the renderer process */
var XLSX = require("xlsx");

XLSX.writeFile(workbook, "out.xlsb");
```

Electron APIs have changed over time.  The [`electron` demo](https://github.com/SheetJS/SheetJS/tree/master/demos/electron/)
shows a complete example and details the required version-specific settings.

  </TabItem>
  <TabItem value="reactnative" label="React Native">

:::caution

React Native does not provide a way to write files to the filesystem.  A
separate third-party library must be used.

Since React Native internals change between releases, libraries may only work
with specific versions of React Native.  Project documentation should be
consulted before picking a library.

:::

The [`react` demo](https://github.com/SheetJS/SheetJS/tree/master/demos/react) includes a sample React Native app.

The following libraries have been tested:

- [`react-native-file-access`](https://npm.im/react-native-file-access)

The `base64` encoding returns strings compatible with the `base64` type:

```js
import * as XLSX from "xlsx";
import { Dirs, FileSystem } from "react-native-file-access";
const DDP = Dirs.DocumentDir + "/";

const b64 = XLSX.write(workbook, {type:'base64', bookType:"xlsx"});
/* b64 is a base64 string */
await FileSystem.writeFile(DDP + "sheetjs.xlsx", b64, "base64");
```

- [`react-native-fs`](https://npm.im/react-native-fs)

The `ascii` encoding accepts binary strings compatible with the `binary` type:

```js
import * as XLSX from "xlsx";
import { writeFile, DocumentDirectoryPath } from "react-native-fs";
const DDP = DocumentDirectoryPath + "/";

const bstr = XLSX.write(workbook, {type:'binary', bookType:"xlsx"});
/* bstr is a binary string */
await writeFile(DDP + "sheetjs.xlsx", bstr, "ascii");
```

  </TabItem>
  <TabItem value="extendscript" label="Photoshop">

`writeFile` wraps the `File` logic in Photoshop and other ExtendScript targets.
The specified path should be an absolute path:

```js
#include "xlsx.extendscript.js"

/* Ask user to select path */
var thisFile = File.saveDialog("Select an output file", "*.xlsx;*.xls");
/* output format determined by filename */
XLSX.writeFile(workbook, thisFile.absoluteURI);
```

The [`extendscript` demo](../getting-started/demos/extendscript) includes a more complex example.

  </TabItem>
  <TabItem value="headless" label="Headless">

The [`headless` demo](../getting-started/demos/headless) includes complete
examples of converting HTML TABLE elements to XLSB workbooks using Puppeteer
and other headless automation tools.

Headless browsers may not have access to the filesystem, so `XLSX.writeFile`
may fail.  It is strongly recommended to generate the file bytes in the browser
context, send the bytes to the automation context, and write from automation.

Puppeteer and Playwright are NodeJS modules that support binary strings:

```js
/* from the browser context */
var bin = XLSX.write(workbook, { type:"binary", bookType: "xlsb" });

/* from the automation context */
fs.writeFileSync("SheetJSansHead.xlsb", bin, { encoding: "binary" });
```

PhantomJS `fs.write` supports writing files from the main process.  The mode
`wb` supports binary strings:

```js
/* from the browser context */
var bin = XLSX.write(workbook, { type:"binary", bookType: "xlsb" });

/* from the automation context */
fs.write("SheetJSansHead.xlsb", bin, "wb");
```

  </TabItem>
</Tabs>


### Example: Remote File

This example focuses on uploading files ("Ajax" in browser parlance) using APIs
like `XMLHttpRequest` and `fetch` as well as third-party libraries.

<Tabs>
  <TabItem value="browser" label="Browser">

:::caution

Some platforms like Azure and AWS will attempt to parse POST request bodies as
UTF-8 strings before user code can see the data.  This will result in corrupt
data parsed by the server.  There are some workarounds, but the safest approach
is to adjust the server process or Lambda function to accept Base64 strings.

:::

A complete example using XHR is [included in the XHR demo](https://github.com/SheetJS/SheetJS/tree/master/demos/xhr/), along
with examples for fetch and wrapper libraries.  This example assumes the server
can handle Base64-encoded files (see the demo for a basic nodejs server):

```js
/* in this example, send a base64 string to the server */
var wbout = XLSX.write(workbook, { bookType: "xlsx", type: "base64" });

/* prepare data for POST */
var formdata = new FormData();
formdata.append("file", "test.xlsx"); // <-- server expects `file` to hold name
formdata.append("data", wbout); // <-- `data` holds the base64-encoded data

/* perform POST request */
var req = new XMLHttpRequest();
req.open("POST", "/upload", true);
req.send(formdata);
```

For servers that do not parse POST request bodies as UTF-8 strings, a `Blob` can
be generated from the `array` output:

```js
/* in this example, send a Blob to the server */
var wbout = XLSX.write(workbook, { bookType: "xlsx", type: "array" });

/* prepare data for POST */
var blob = new Blob([new Uint8Array(wbout)], {type:"application/octet-stream"});
var formdata = new FormData();
formdata.append("file", blob, "test.xlsx");

/* perform POST request */
fetch("/upload", { method: 'POST', body: formdata });
```

  </TabItem>
  <TabItem value="nodejs" label="NodeJS">

`XLSX.write` with `type: "buffer"` will generate a NodeJS `Buffer` which can be
used with standard NodeJS approaches for uploading data.

Node 17.5 and 18.0 have native support for fetch:

```js
const XLSX = require("xlsx");

const buf = XLSX.write(workbook, { bookType: "xlsx", type: "buffer" });
var blob = new Blob([buf], {type:"application/octet-stream"});
var formdata = new FormData();
formdata.append("file", blob, "test.xlsx");

/* perform POST request */
fetch("https://thisis.a.test/upload", { method: 'POST', body: formdata });
```

  </TabItem>
</Tabs>

## Generating JSON and JS Data

JSON and JS data tend to represent single worksheets. The utility functions in
this section work with single worksheets.

The ["Common Spreadsheet Format"](../csf/general) section describes
the object structure in more detail.  `workbook.SheetNames` is an ordered list
of the worksheet names.  `workbook.Sheets` is an object whose keys are sheet
names and whose values are worksheet objects.

The "first worksheet" is stored at `workbook.Sheets[workbook.SheetNames[0]]`.

### API

_Create an array of JS objects from a worksheet_

```js
var jsa = XLSX.utils.sheet_to_json(worksheet, opts);
```

_Create an array of arrays of JS values from a worksheet_

```js
var aoa = XLSX.utils.sheet_to_json(worksheet, {...opts, header: 1});
```

The `sheet_to_json` utility function walks a workbook in row-major order,
generating an array of objects.  The second `opts` argument controls a number of
export decisions including the type of values (JS values or formatted text). The
["JSON"](../api/utilities#json) section describes the argument in more detail.

By default, `sheet_to_json` scans the first row and uses the values as headers.
With the `header: 1` option, the function exports an array of arrays of values.

#### Examples

### Example: Data Grids

<Tabs>
  <TabItem value="js" label="Vanilla JS">

[`x-spreadsheet`](https://github.com/myliang/x-spreadsheet) is an interactive
data grid for previewing and modifying structured data in the web browser.  The
[demo](https://github.com/SheetJS/SheetJS/tree/master/demos/xspreadsheet)
includes a sample script with the `stox` function for converting from
a workbook to x-spreadsheet.  Live Demo: <https://oss.sheetjs.com/sheetjs/x-spreadsheet>

  </TabItem>
  <TabItem value="react" label="React">

[`react-data-grid`](https://adazzle.github.io/react-data-grid) is a data grid
built for React.  It uses two properties: `rows` of data objects and `columns`
which describe the columns.  For the purposes of massaging the data to fit the
`react-data-grid` API it is easiest to start from an array of arrays.

This demo starts by fetching a remote file and using `XLSX.read` to extract:

```js
import { useEffect, useState } from "react";
import DataGrid from "react-data-grid";
import { read, utils } from "xlsx";

const url = "https://oss.sheetjs.com/test_files/RkNumber.xls";

export default function App() {
  const [columns, setColumns] = useState([]);
  const [rows, setRows] = useState([]);
  useEffect(() => {(async () => {
    const wb = read(await (await fetch(url)).arrayBuffer());

    /* use sheet_to_json with header: 1 to generate an array of arrays */
    const data = utils.sheet_to_json(wb.Sheets[wb.SheetNames[0]], { header: 1 });

    /* see react-data-grid docs to understand the shape of the expected data */
    setColumns(data[0].map((r) => ({ key: r, name: r })));
    setRows(data.slice(1).map((r) => r.reduce((acc, x, i) => {
      acc[data[0][i]] = x;
      return acc;
    }, {})));
  })(); });

  return <DataGrid columns={columns} rows={rows} />;
}
```

  </TabItem>
  <TabItem value="vue" label="VueJS">

[`vue3-table-lite`](https://linmasahiro.github.io/vue3-table-lite/dist/) is a
simple VueJS 3 data table.  It is featured in the
[VueJS demo](https://github.com/SheetJS/SheetJS/tree/master/demos/vue/modify/).

  </TabItem>
</Tabs>

### Example: Data Loading

<details>
  <summary><b>Populating a database (SQL or no-SQL)</b> (click to show)</summary>

The [`database` demo](https://github.com/SheetJS/SheetJS/tree/master/demos/database/)
includes examples of working with databases and query results.

</details>

<details>
  <summary><b>Numerical Computations with TensorFlow.js</b> (click to show)</summary>

`@tensorflow/tfjs` and other libraries expect data in simple arrays, well-suited
for worksheets where each column is a data vector.  That is the transpose of how
most people use spreadsheets, where each row is a vector.

A single `Array#map` can pull individual named rows from `sheet_to_json` export:

```js
const XLSX = require("xlsx");
const tf = require('@tensorflow/tfjs');

const key = "age"; // this is the field we want to pull
const ages = XLSX.utils.sheet_to_json(worksheet).map(r => r[key]);
const tf_data = tf.tensor1d(ages);
```

All fields can be processed at once using a transpose of the 2D tensor generated
with the `sheet_to_json` export with `header: 1`. The first row, if it contains
header labels, should be removed with a slice:

```js
const XLSX = require("xlsx");
const tf = require('@tensorflow/tfjs');

/* array of arrays of the data starting on the second row */
const aoa = XLSX.utils.sheet_to_json(worksheet, {header: 1}).slice(1);
/* dataset in the "correct orientation" */
const tf_dataset = tf.tensor2d(aoa).transpose();
/* pull out each dataset with a slice */
const tf_field0 = tf_dataset.slice([0,0], [1,tensor.shape[1]]).flatten();
const tf_field1 = tf_dataset.slice([1,0], [1,tensor.shape[1]]).flatten();
```

The [`array` demo](https://github.com/SheetJS/SheetJS/tree/master/demos/array/) shows a complete example.

</details>


## Generating HTML Tables

#### API

_Generate HTML Table from Worksheet_

```js
var html = XLSX.utils.sheet_to_html(worksheet);
```

The `sheet_to_html` utility function generates HTML code based on the worksheet
data.  Each cell in the worksheet is mapped to a `<TD>` element.  Merged cells
in the worksheet are serialized by setting `colspan` and `rowspan` attributes.

#### Examples

The `sheet_to_html` utility function generates HTML code that can be added to
any DOM element by setting the `innerHTML`:

```js
var container = document.getElementById("tavolo");
container.innerHTML = XLSX.utils.sheet_to_html(worksheet);
```

Combining with `fetch`, constructing a site from a workbook is straightforward:

<Tabs>
  <TabItem value="js" label="Vanilla JS">

This example assigns the `innerHTML` of a DIV element:

```html
<body>
  <style>TABLE { border-collapse: collapse; } TD { border: 1px solid; }</style>
  <div id="tavolo"></div>
  <script src="https://cdn.sheetjs.com/xlsx-latest/package/dist/xlsx.full.min.js"></script>
  <script type="text/javascript">
(async() => {
  /* fetch and parse workbook -- see the fetch example for details */
  const workbook = XLSX.read(await (await fetch("sheetjs.xlsx")).arrayBuffer());

  let output = [];
  /* loop through the worksheet names in order */
  workbook.SheetNames.forEach(name => {

    /* generate HTML from the corresponding worksheets */
    const worksheet = workbook.Sheets[name];
    const html = XLSX.utils.sheet_to_html(worksheet);

    /* add a header with the title name followed by the table */
    output.push(`<H3>${name}</H3>${html}`);
  });
  /* write to the DOM at the end */
  tavolo.innerHTML = output.join("\n");
})();
  </script>
</body>
```

  </TabItem>
  <TabItem value="react" label="React">

It is generally recommended to use a React-friendly workflow, but it is possible
to generate HTML and use it in React with `dangerouslySetInnerHTML`:

```jsx
import * as XLSX from 'xlsx';

function Tabeller(props) {
  /* the workbook object is the state */
  const [workbook, setWorkbook] = React.useState(XLSX.utils.book_new());

  /* fetch and update the workbook with an effect */
  React.useEffect(() => { (async() => {
    /* fetch and parse workbook -- see the fetch example for details */
    const wb = XLSX.read(await (await fetch("sheetjs.xlsx")).arrayBuffer());
    setWorkbook(wb);
  })(); });

  return workbook.SheetNames.map(name => (<>
    <h3>name</h3>
    <div dangerouslySetInnerHTML={{
      /* this __html mantra is needed to set the inner HTML */
      __html: XLSX.utils.sheet_to_html(workbook.Sheets[name])
    }} />
  </>));
}
```

The [`react` demo](https://github.com/SheetJS/SheetJS/tree/master/demos/react) includes more React examples.

  </TabItem>
  <TabItem value="vue" label="VueJS">

It is generally recommended to use a VueJS-friendly workflow, but it is possible
to generate HTML and use it in VueJS with the `v-html` directive:

```jsx
import { read, utils } from 'xlsx';
import { reactive } from 'vue';

const S5SComponent = {
  mounted() { (async() => {
    /* fetch and parse workbook -- see the fetch example for details */
    const workbook = read(await (await fetch("sheetjs.xlsx")).arrayBuffer());
    /* loop through the worksheet names in order */
    workbook.SheetNames.forEach(name => {
      /* generate HTML from the corresponding worksheets */
      const html = utils.sheet_to_html(workbook.Sheets[name]);
      /* add to state */
      this.wb.wb.push({ name, html });
    });
  })(); },
  /* this state mantra is required for array updates to work */
  setup() { return { wb: reactive({ wb: [] }) }; },
  template: `
  <div v-for="ws in wb.wb" :key="ws.name">
    <h3>{{ ws.name }}</h3>
    <div v-html="ws.html"></div>
  </div>`
};
```

The [`vuejs` demo](https://github.com/SheetJS/SheetJS/tree/master/demos/vue) includes more React examples.

  </TabItem>
</Tabs>

## Generating Single-Worksheet Snapshots

The `sheet_to_*` functions accept a worksheet object.

#### API

_Generate a CSV from a single worksheet_

```js
var csv = XLSX.utils.sheet_to_csv(worksheet, opts);
```

This snapshot is designed to replicate the "CSV UTF8 (`.csv`)" output type.
["Delimiter-Separated Output"](../api/utilities#delimiter-separated-output) describes the
function and the optional `opts` argument in more detail.

_Generate "Text" from a single worksheet_

```js
var txt = XLSX.utils.sheet_to_txt(worksheet, opts);
```

This snapshot is designed to replicate the "UTF16 Text (`.txt`)" output type.
["Delimiter-Separated Output"](../api/utilities#delimiter-separated-output) describes the
function and the optional `opts` argument in more detail.

_Generate a list of formulae from a single worksheet_

```js
var fmla = XLSX.utils.sheet_to_formulae(worksheet);
```

This snapshot generates an array of entries representing the embedded formulae.
Array formulae are rendered in the form `range=formula` while plain cells are
rendered in the form `cell=formula or value`.  String literals are prefixed with
an apostrophe `'`, consistent with Excel's formula bar display.

["Formulae Output"](../api/utilities#formulae-output) describes the function in more detail.

## Streaming Write

The streaming write functions are available in the `XLSX.stream` object.  They
take the same arguments as the normal write functions but return a NodeJS
Readable Stream.

- `XLSX.stream.to_csv` is the streaming version of `XLSX.utils.sheet_to_csv`.
- `XLSX.stream.to_html` is the streaming version of `XLSX.utils.sheet_to_html`.
- `XLSX.stream.to_json` is the streaming version of `XLSX.utils.sheet_to_json`.

<details>
  <summary><b>nodejs convert to CSV and write file</b> (click to show)</summary>

```js
var output_file_name = "out.csv";
var stream = XLSX.stream.to_csv(worksheet);
stream.pipe(fs.createWriteStream(output_file_name));
```

</details>

<details>
  <summary><b>nodejs write JSON stream to screen</b> (click to show)</summary>

```js
/* to_json returns an object-mode stream */
var stream = XLSX.stream.to_json(worksheet, {raw:true});

/* the following stream converts JS objects to text via JSON.stringify */
var conv = new Transform({writableObjectMode:true});
conv._transform = function(obj, e, cb){ cb(null, JSON.stringify(obj) + "\n"); };

stream.pipe(conv); conv.pipe(process.stdout);
```

</details>

<https://github.com/sheetjs/sheetaki> pipes write streams to nodejs response.