---
title: Bundling Sheets with RequireJS
sidebar_label: RequireJS
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sidebar_position: 11
---
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[RequireJS](https://requirejs.org/) is a JavaScript file and module loader. It
includes an in-browser loader as well as a static optimizer.
[SheetJS](https://sheetjs.com) is a JavaScript library for reading and writing
data from spreadsheets.
This demo uses RequireJS and SheetJS to export data. We'll explore how to load
SheetJS in a site using RequireJS and how to use the `r.js` optimizer to create
a bundled site.
The [Live demo](pathname:///requirejs/requirejs.html) loads RequireJS from the
CDN, uses it to load the standalone script from the SheetJS CDN, and uses the
`XLSX` variable to create a button click handler that creates a workbook.
:::note pass
This demo focuses on integration details with the RequireJS loader.
The demos follow the ["Export Tutorial"](/docs/getting-started/examples/export),
which covers SheetJS library usage in more detail.
:::
:::note Tested Deployments
This demo was tested in the following environments:
| RequireJS | Date |
|:----------|:-----------|
| `2.3.7` | 2025-01-07 |
| `2.1.22` | 2025-01-07 |
:::
## Integration Details
The [SheetJS Standalone scripts](/docs/getting-started/installation/standalone)
comply with AMD `define` semantics. They support RequireJS and the `r.js`
optimizer out of the box.
### Configuration
The RequireJS config should set the `xlsx` alias in the `paths` property.
#### SheetJS CDN
The SheetJS CDN URL can be directly referenced in a path alias:
<CodeBlock language="js">{`\
require.config({
baseUrl: ".",
name: "app",
paths: {
// highlight-next-line
xlsx: "https://cdn.sheetjs.com/xlsx-${current}/package/dist/xlsx.full.min"
}
});`}
</CodeBlock>
#### Vendoring
After downloading the SheetJS standalone script, a relative path can be used in
the path alias. For example, if the standalone script was downloaded in the same
directory as the HTML page, the path should be `./xlsx.full.min`:
```js
require.config({
baseUrl: ".",
name: "app",
paths: {
// highlight-next-line
xlsx: "./xlsx.full.min"
}
});
```
### Usage
Once the alias is set, `"xlsx"` can be required from app scripts:
```js
// highlight-next-line
require(["xlsx"], function(XLSX) {
/* use XLSX here */
console.log(XLSX.version);
});
```
Within the callback, the `XLSX` variable exposes the functions listed in the
["API Reference"](/docs/api/) section of the documentation.
## Complete Example
This demo will explore the standalone RequireJS script and the `r.js` optimizer.
### Standalone RequireJS
0) Download the SheetJS Standalone script and move to the project directory:
<ul>
<li><a href={`https://cdn.sheetjs.com/xlsx-${current}/package/dist/xlsx.full.min.js`}>xlsx.full.min.js</a></li>
</ul>
<CodeBlock language="bash">{`\
curl -LO https://cdn.sheetjs.com/xlsx-${current}/package/dist/xlsx.full.min.js`}
</CodeBlock>
1) Save the following to `index.html`:
```html title="index.html"
<!DOCTYPE html>
<html lang="en">
<head></head>
<body>
<h1>SheetJS Presidents Demo</h1>
<button id="xport">Click here to export</button>
<!-- highlight-next-line -->
<script src="http://requirejs.org/docs/release/2.3.6/comments/require.js"></script>
<script>
/* Wire up RequireJS */
require.config({
baseUrl: ".",
name: "SheetJSRequire",
paths: {
xlsx: "./xlsx.full.min"
}
});
</script>
<script src="SheetJSRequire.js"></script>
</body>
</html>
```
:::note pass
To change the RequireJS version, change the version in the highlighted line. For
example, the following script corresponds to RequireJS `2.1.22`:
```html
<script src="http://requirejs.org/docs/release/2.1.22/comments/require.js"></script>
```
:::
2) Save the following to `SheetJSRequire.js`:
```js title="SheetJSRequire.js"
require(["xlsx"], function(XLSX) {
document.getElementById("xport").addEventListener("click", function() {
/* fetch JSON data and parse */
var url = "https://docs.sheetjs.com/executive.json";
fetch(url).then(function(res) { return res.json(); }).then(function(raw_data) {
/* filter for the Presidents */
var prez = raw_data.filter(function(row) { return row.terms.some(function(term) { return term.type === "prez"; }); });
/* sort by first presidential term */
prez.forEach(function(row) { row.start = row.terms.find(function(term) {return term.type === "prez"; }).start; });
prez.sort(function(l,r) { return l.start.localeCompare(r.start); });
/* flatten objects */
var rows = prez.map(function(row) { return {
name: row.name.first + " " + row.name.last,
birthday: row.bio.birthday
}; });
/* generate worksheet and workbook */
var worksheet = XLSX.utils.json_to_sheet(rows);
var workbook = XLSX.utils.book_new();
XLSX.utils.book_append_sheet(workbook, worksheet, "Dates");
/* fix headers */
XLSX.utils.sheet_add_aoa(worksheet, [["Name", "Birthday"]], { origin: "A1" });
/* calculate column width */
var max_width = rows.reduce(function(w, r) { return Math.max(w, r.name.length); }, 10);
worksheet["!cols"] = [ { wch: max_width } ];
/* create an XLSX file and try to save to Presidents.xlsx */
XLSX.writeFileXLSX(workbook, "Presidents.xlsx");
});
});
});
```
:::info pass
The `r.js` optimizer does not handle `async` functions or ES6 arrow functions.
To demonstrate compatibility with older RequireJS releases, `SheetJSRequire.js`
uses normal functions and traditional Promise chains.
:::
3) Start a local HTTP server:
```bash
npx http-server .
```
4) Load the displayed URL (typically `http://localhost:8080/`) in a web browser.
Click on "Click here to export" to generate a file.
### r.js Optimizer
5) Create `build.js` configuration for the optimizer:
```js title="build.js"
({
baseUrl: ".",
name: "SheetJSRequire",
paths: {
xlsx: "./xlsx.full.min"
},
out: "SheetJSRequire.min.js"
});
```
6) Run the `r.js` optimizer to create `SheetJSRequire.min.js`:
```bash
npx -p requirejs@2.3.6 r.js -o build.js
```
:::note pass
To change the RequireJS version, change the version in the command. For example,
the following command uses RequireJS `2.1.22` to generate an optimized script:
```bash
npx -p requirejs@2.1.22 r.js -o build.js
```
:::
6) Save the following to `optimized.html`:
```html title="optimized.html"
<!DOCTYPE html>
<html lang="en">
<head></head>
<body>
<h1>SheetJS Presidents Demo</h1>
<button id="xport">Click here to export</button>
<!-- highlight-next-line -->
<script src="http://requirejs.org/docs/release/2.3.6/comments/require.js"></script>
<script src="SheetJSRequire.min.js"></script>
</body>
</html>
```
:::note pass
To change the RequireJS version, change the version in the highlighted line. For
example, the following script corresponds to RequireJS `2.1.22`:
```html
<script src="http://requirejs.org/docs/release/2.1.22/comments/require.js"></script>
```
:::
7) Open `optimized.html` in the browser (`http://localhost:8080/optimized.html`)
Click on "Click here to export" to generate a file.