Simple export from ASP.NET GridView into Excel VB.NET

Question

I have a GridView that I need to export into Excel (by button event) and I'm using Visual Studio and vb.net.

I never tried this before and I'm kinda clueless, is there a simple way to do this? I don't think I need any complications at the moment, just a simple export of the GridView information.

Also I already got a connection between the GridView and my database. I tried adding a working Excel export from other project but I still miss something .

   Public Overrides Sub VerifyRenderingInServerForm(ByVal control As Control)
        ' Verifies that the control is rendered 

    End Sub

    Protected Sub exportExelBtn_Click(ByVal sender As Object, ByVal e As System.EventArgs) Handles exportExelBtn.Click
        Dim errorCheck As Integer = 0
        Dim popupscript As String = ""

        If approvalGrid.Rows.Count > 0 Then
            Try

                Response.ClearContent()
                Response.Buffer = True
                Response.AddHeader("content-disposition", String.Format("attachment; filename={0}", "TestPage.xls"))
                Response.ContentEncoding = Encoding.UTF8
                Response.ContentType = "application/ms-excel"
                ' Dim sw As New stringwriter()
                Dim tw As New IO.StringWriter()
                Dim htw As New HtmlTextWriter(tw)
                approvalGrid.RenderControl(htw)
                Response.Write(tw.ToString())
                Response.[End]()

            Catch ex As Exception
                errorCheck = 1
            End Try
        Else
            errorCheck = 1
        End If
        If errorCheck = 1 Then
            'a pop up error messege feature
            popupscript = "<script language='javascript'>" + "alert(" + Chr(34) + "There was an error in exporting to exel, please make sure there is a grid to export!" + Chr(34) + ");</script>"
        End If
        Page.ClientScript.RegisterStartupScript(Me.GetType(), "PopUpWindow", popupscript, False)
   End Sub

The problem is that the file that it creates upon click says it's not Excel format and when I agree to open it I do see the GridView information as I wanted but I also see a lot of extra info in the form of buttons calanders and other stuff from my page, how can I prevent the export of those other stuff?

Answer 1

Please Try Below code

Public Overrides Sub VerifyRenderingInServerForm(control As Control)
        ' Verifies that the control is rendered 

End Sub

Protected Sub btnExport_Click(sender As Object, e As EventArgs)
    If gridview.Rows.Count > 0 Then
        Try
            gridview.Columns(0).Visible = False
            Response.ClearContent()
            Response.Buffer = True
            Response.AddHeader("content-disposition", String.Format("attachment; filename={0}", "TestPage.xls"))
            Response.ContentEncoding = Encoding.UTF8
            Response.ContentType = "application/ms-excel"
            Dim sw As New StringWriter()
            Dim htw As New HtmlTextWriter(sw)
            gridview.RenderControl(htw)
            Response.Write(sw.ToString())
            Response.[End]()

        Catch ex As Exception
        Finally
            gridview.Columns(0).Visible = True
        End Try
    End If
End Sub