docs.sheetjs.com/docz/docs/03-demos/30-cloud/03-oraclecloud.md

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Oracle Cloud Services (OCI) is a cloud services platform which includes traditional virtual machine support, "Serverless Functions" and cloud storage.

SheetJS is a JavaScript library for reading and writing data from spreadsheets.

This demo demonstrates how to integrate SheetJS with Oracle Visual Builder Studio (VBS)¹ to build a web application that handles Excel files. You'll learn to create an application that can import spreadsheet data, store it in Business Objects², display it in a table, and export it back to Excel format.

:::caution pass

Oracle Cloud Services iterates quickly and there is no guarantee that the referenced services will be available in the future.

:::

:::note Tested Deployments

This demo was last tested on 2025-02-04.

:::

Visual Applications

Oracle Cloud Services offers Visual Builder Studio a browser-based development environment for creating web applications with drag-and-drop components.

Installation

SheetJS libraries conform to the Oracle Cloud Visual Builder Studio (VBS) ECMAScript³ requirements. SheetJS libraries can be loaded in Oracle VBS site at different points in the app lifecycle.

Configure in app-flow.json

The app-flow.json method is recommended as it aligns better with Visual Builder Studio's module management system.

1. Click 📄 Source from the left sidebar
2. Open webApps/sheetjs_demo_app/app-flow.json
3. Add the following configuration after line 5:

{\ "requirejs": { "paths": { "xlsx": "https://cdn.sheetjs.com/xlsx-${current}/package/dist/xlsx.full.min.js" } } }

HTML

Oracle Cloud VBS is typically loaded in SCRIPT tag in webApps/sheetjs_demo_app/index.html. Similarly, SheetJS Standalone scripts can be loaded with a SCRIPT tag in the same HTML page:

{`\

`}

This will expose the XLSX global object, which includes the functions listed in the "API Reference" section of the documentation.

Internal State

The various SheetJS APIs work with various data shapes. The preferred state depends on the application.

Business Objects

Business Objects² in Oracle VBS provides a server-side model implementation for persistent data storage. Think of them as a combination of a data model and database table that handles both data storage and UI binding.

Business Object Definition

The example presidents sheet has one header row with "Name" and "Index" columns. In Oracle VBS, we model this as a Business Object with corresponding fields:

Spreadsheet	Business Object Definition
	{ "items" : [ { "name": "Pres", "fields": { "name": { "type": "string", "label": "Name" }, "index1": { "type": "number", "label": "Index" } } }] }

Here is how the data is represented when queried from the Business Object via REST call:

{
  "items": [
    { "name": "Bill Clinton", "index1": 42 },
    { "name": "GeorgeW Bush", "index1": 43 },
    { "name": "Barack Obama", "index1": 44 },
    { "name": "Donald Trump", "index1": 45 },
    { "name": "Joseph Biden", "index1": 46 }
  ]
}

Updating Business Object

Starting from a spreadsheet file, the SheetJS read method parses the data into a workbook object. After selecting a worksheet, sheet_to_json generates row objects that can be created as Business Object records using the auto-generated REST API.

Here is a sample flow diagram and method for downloading a workbook, generating rows from the first worksheet, and updating a Business Object²:

flowchart LR
    xlsx[(Remote\nFile)]
    bo1[(Data\nArrayBuffer)]
    wb(SheetJS\nWorkbook)
    ws(SheetJS\nWorksheet)
    json(JSON\nData)
    bo2[(Business\nObject)]

    xlsx --> |fetch\n\n| bo1
    bo1 --> |XLSX.read\n\n| wb
    wb --> |wb.Sheets\nselect| ws
    ws --> |sheet_to_json\n\n| json
    json --> |REST API\ncreate| bo2
    linkStyle 1,2,3 color:blue,stroke:blue;

{` define(['vb/action/actionChain', 'vb/action/actions', 'xlsx'], (ActionChain, Actions, XLSX) => { class ButtonActionChain extends ActionChain { async run(context) { // fetch XLSX file const data = await (await fetch("https://docs.sheetjs.com/pres.xlsx")).arrayBuffer(); const wb = XLSX.read(data); // get the first worksheet const ws = wb.Sheets[wb.SheetNames[0]]; // convert to json const jsonData = XLSX.utils.sheet_to_json(ws);

    // process each row and create business object records
    for (const row of jsonData) {
        const presData = {
            name: row.Name,
            index1: Number(row.Index)
        };

        // update business object with new record
        await Actions.callRest(context, {
            endpoint: 'businessObjects/create_Pres',
            body: presData
        });
    }
  }
}
return ButtonActionChain;

}); `}

Rendering Data

In Oracle VBS, the table component oj-table supports direct binding to Business Objects for data display. The view structure defines both the data source binding and column layout:

The following example uses the Table⁴ component to display data.

{`\

// highlight-start // highlight-end

`}

Exporting Data

The export functionality converts Business Object data into an Excel spreadsheet. The process involves retrieving data through REST API call, transforming it into a format suitable for SheetJS, and generating an XLSX file. Here's the complete flow:

flowchart LR
    bo[(Business\nObject)]
    rest(REST API\nCall)
    json(JSON\nArray)
    ws(SheetJS\nWorksheet)
    wb(SheetJS\nWorkbook)
    xlsx[(XLSX\nFile)]

    bo --> |getall_Pres\nendpoint| rest
    rest --> |transform\nresponse| json
    json --> |json_to_sheet\n\n| ws
    ws --> |book_new\n\n| wb
    wb --> |writeFileXLSX\n\n| xlsx

    linkStyle 2,3,4 color:blue,stroke:blue;

{` define(['vb/action/actionChain', 'vb/action/actions', 'xlsx'], (ActionChain, Actions, XLSX) => { class ButtonActionChain1 extends ActionChain { async run(context) { // get pres data const presDataResponse = await Actions.callRest(context, { endpoint: 'businessObjects/getall_Pres', parameters: { fields: 'name,index1' } });

    // transform to simple array
    const simplifiedData = presDataResponse.body.items.map(item => ({
      Name: item.name,
      Index: item.index1
    }));

    // generate workbook
    const ws = XLSX.utils.json_to_sheet(simplifiedData);
    const wb = XLSX.utils.book_new(ws, "Presidents");

    // export to XLSX which triggers a download
    XLSX.writeFileXLSX(wb, "SheetJSOracleVisualBuilderAoO.xlsx");
  }
}
return ButtonActionChain1;

}); `}

:::note pass

Visual Builder Studio provides a visual development environment and handles the build and deployment process automatically.

:::

Importing Data

The import functionality enables data transfer from an Excel spreadsheet into your Oracle VBS application. The process begins by fetching the XLSX file, parsing it using SheetJS, and then creating corresponding Business Object records.

define([
    'vb/action/actionChain',
    'vb/action/actions',
    'vb/action/actionUtils',
    'xlsx'
], (
    ActionChain,
    Actions,
    ActionUtils,
    XLSX
) => {
    'use strict';

    class ButtonActionChain extends ActionChain {

        /**
         * @param {Object} context
         */
        async run(context) {
            const { $page, $flow, $application, $constants, $variables } = context;

            // fetch XLSX file
            const url = "https://docs.sheetjs.com/pres.xlsx";
            const data = await (await fetch(url)).arrayBuffer();
            const wb = XLSX.read(data);

            // get the first worksheet
            const ws = wb.Sheets[wb.SheetNames[0]];

            // convert to json
            const jsonData = XLSX.utils.sheet_to_json(ws);

            // process each row and create business object records
            for (const row of jsonData) {
                const presData = {
                    name: row.Name,
                    index1: Number(row.Index)
                };

                // create a business object record
                await Actions.callRest(context, {
                    endpoint: 'businessObjects/create_Pres',
                    body: presData
                });
            }
        }
    }
    return ButtonActionChain;
});

Exporting Data

The export functionality allows you to convert Business Object data into Excel spreadsheets. This process involves retrieving data from the Business Object using REST API calls, transforming it into a format suitable for SheetJS, and generating an XLSX file.

define([
    'vb/action/actionChain',
    'vb/action/actions',
    'vb/action/actionUtils',
    'xlsx'
], (
    ActionChain,
    Actions,
    ActionUtils,
    XLSX
) => {
    'use strict';

    class ButtonActionChain1 extends ActionChain {

        /**
         * @param {Object} context
         */
        async run(context) {
            const { $page, $flow, $application, $constants, $variables } = context;

            // get pres data
            const presDataResponse = await Actions.callRest(context, {
                endpoint: 'businessObjects/getall_Pres',
                parameters: {
                    fields: 'name,index1'
                }
            });

            // transform to simple array
            const simplifiedData = presDataResponse.body.items.map(item => ({
                Name: item.name,
                Index: item.index1
            }));

            // generate workbook
            const ws = XLSX.utils.json_to_sheet(simplifiedData);
            const wb = XLSX.utils.book_new(ws, "Presidents");

            /* export to XLSX */
            XLSX.writeFileXLSX(wb, "SheetJSOracleVisualBuilderAoO.xlsx");

        }
    }
    return ButtonActionChain1;
});

Oracle Visual Builder Studio Web Applications Demo

:::note pass

At the time of writing, Oracle Cloud offers a 30-day free trial that includes Visual Builder Studio access.

:::

0. If you do not have an account create a new Oracle Cloud free tier account⁵.

Visual Builder Setup

1. Sign in to the Oracle Cloud Management Console with your created account.

2. Type "Visual Builder Studio" in the top search box and click Visual Builder Studio (under services).

3. Before creating Visual Builder Studio Instances we need to create an instance. Click Visual Builder from the left sidebar and click Create an instance.

• Give it a name: sheetjs-demo-vb-instance
• Select network access: Default (No access rules.)
• Nodes: 1

4. Now click Visual Builder Studio from the left sidebar and click Create Visual Builder Studio and give it instance name: sheetjs-vbs-instance and click next and set select compartment to yourusername (root). Lastly, click Create Visual Builder Studio (this will take 5-15 minutes to fully setup).

• Click link name sheetjs-vbs-instance

5. Click Service Console create a new project and fill it with the following inputs.

• Project Details: sheetjs-demo-project
• Project Template: Empty Project
• Project Properties: Markdown
• Click Finish

6. Select Project Home from the left sidebar and create an environment.

• Environment Name: sheetjs-demo-env
• Click Create
• Click Add Instance

7. In Environments select the Service Instances tab and search for Instance URL if not shown click details to expand Visual Builder sheetjs-demo-vb-instance and open Instance URL This will open Visual Builder Studio.

8. Click New Application and set

• Application Display Name: sheetjs-vbs-demo
• Application Template: Empty Application
• Click Finish

9. Create a new Business Object by clicking Business Object card in the Welcome tab or from the sidebar as shown

• Name: Pres
• Display: President

10. Click Pres Business Object and select Fields tab. Then, create a new field by clicking the +Fields button and select first drop-down Field.

• Label1: Name

• Type1: Click A (String)

• Label2: Index

• Type2: Click # (Number)

11. Click 🖥️ Web Applications from the left sidebar and create a new Web Application by clicking +Web Application You should have the following fields.

• Application Name: sheetjs_demo_app
• Navigation Style: None
• Click Create

12. Adding SheetJS Module to the App Click 📄 Source from the left sidebar and paste the following on webApps/sheetjs_demo_app/app-flow.json

{\ "requirejs": { "paths": { "xlsx": "https://cdn.sheetjs.com/xlsx-${current}/package/dist/xlsx.full.min.js" } } }

13. Let's create the UI for our application we will be creating a table and two buttons one for import XLSX and one for export XLSX.

• From the left sidebar click the 🖥️ Web Applications and select main-start
• Select Page Designer and drag and drop two Button components and one Table Component to the canvas

14. Creating our button event handler

• Now select the left button in the canvas and on the right side on General tab set ID to import-xslx and label to Import XLSX.
• Now select the Events tab and click + Event Listener drop down button and select On 'ojAction'
• Now it should auto-select Action Chains if not click from top tab option.
• Switch from Design to Code from top right

15. Replace Action Chains > ButtonActionChain > Code with the importing data snippet in the "Importing Data" example code.

16. Now repeat step 14 for the second button

• Now select the first button in the canvas and on the right side on General tab set ID to export-xslx and label to Export XLSX.
• Now select the Events tab and click + Event Listener drop down button and select On 'ojAction'
• Now it should auto-select Action Chains if not click from top tab option.
• Switch from Design to Code from top right

17. Replace Action Chains > ButtonActionChain1 > Code with the exporting data snippet in the "Exporting Data" example code.

18. Connect the Business Object Pres to the table.

• Now select Page Designer and in the canvas select the table component from the right sidebar select Quick Start and then Add Data
• This opens up a modal on Choose the source of your data select Pres Business Object and click next.

• On Bind Data step 2 from the left sidebar named Endpoint Structure check box name and index1 then click next and lastly click finish.

19. Testing the Application

• a) Launch the Preview:
  • Look for the Play (▶️) icon in the top-right corner of the Visual Builder Studio
  • Click it to open your application in a new browser tab
• b) Test the Import Function:
  • In the preview tab, click the "Import XLSX" button
  • Navigate back to Visual Builder Studio
  • Select the Pres business object
  • Click the "Data" tab
  • Verify that new records have been created with the president names and index
  • Return to your application preview tab
  • Refresh the page
  • You should now see the table populated with the imported president data
• c) Test the Export Function:
  • Click the "Export XLSX" button
  • This will trigger an automatic download of a file named "SheetJSOracleVisualBuilderAoO.xlsx"
  • Open the downloaded file using a spreadsheet editor.
  • Verify that the exported data matches what was displayed in your application's table

---

1. Oracle Visual Builder Studio ↩︎

2. See Oracle VBS working with Business Objects for more detail. ↩︎

3. See "JavaScript Support in Oracle VBS" for more details on custom JavaScript functionality and module handling. ↩︎

4. See Oracle VBS Table Component for more details. ↩︎

5. Registering for a free account on the Oracle Cloud Free Tier requires a valid phone number and a valid credit card. ↩︎