how to convert created excel file using closed xml into bytes format

Question

Hi I am using closedxML DLL for exporting to excel i have static method like this below

    public static void WriteToExcel(string fileName, List<CP> pages)
    {
        var wb = new XLWorkbook();
        byte[] file;


        var ws = wb.Worksheets.Add("CPs");
        WriteCostHeader(ws);

        ////write all the header columns
        //for (int i = 0; i < pages.Count; i++)
        int iRow = 2;
        foreach(var page in pages)
        {
            WriteCostPage(ws, page, iRow++);                

            WriteCostItemHead(ws, iRow++);

            foreach(var item in page.Items)
            {
                WriteCostItem(ws, item, iRow++);
            }
            iRow++;
        }

       wb.SaveAs(fileName);           
    }

I am calling above function in a method like this below

public  static List<CP> Init()
{

    //binding items to to list
}

static void Main(string[] args)
{
      byte[] file;
      file = ExcelProvider.WriteToExcel("D:\\Temp\\Test1.xls", Init());
      //Console.WriteLine("done");
      //Console.ReadLine();
 }

 public byte[] CreatePackage()
 {
     string fileName = string.Format("{0}.xlsx", "Generated");
     byte[] excelFile;         
     // getting error here cannot convert void to byte[]  
     excelFile =  ExcelProvider.WriteToExcel(fileName, Init());            
 }

but i need to get that result excel sheet in bytes, I need to store it in memory stream later i can use for further purpose ..

But I am not sure how can i get the created excel file in bytes format...

Would any one pls give any idea or solutions on this one ... Many thanks In advance ...

Answer 1

Closed XML workbooks are saved to a stream. You can use a memory stream. Then call MemoryStream.ToArray() to get its bytes. So...

var wb = new XLWorkbook();
//...
var workbookBytes = new byte[0];
using (var ms = new MemoryStream())
{
    wb.SaveAs(ms);
    workbookBytes = ms.ToArray();
}