open an Excel file in C#

The following section explains how to open and read an Excel file through C#.

For open or read an Excel file in C# , first you have to add the Microsoft Excel 12.0 Object Library in you project.

Create a new project and add a Command Button to the Form.

Form the following images you can find how to add Excel reference library in your project.

Select Reference Dialogue from Project menu

Select Microsoft Excel 12.0 Object Library and click OK button

Copy and paste the following source code in your C# project file.

Next :  How to read an Excel file in CSharp

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using System.Windows.Forms;
using Excel = Microsoft.Office.Interop.Excel; 

namespace WindowsApplication1
{
    public partial class Form1 : Form
    {
        public Form1()
        {
            InitializeComponent();
        }

        private void button1_Click(object sender, EventArgs e)
        {
            Excel.Application xlApp ;
            Excel.Workbook xlWorkBook ;
            Excel.Worksheet xlWorkSheet ;
            object misValue = System.Reflection.Missing.Value;

            xlApp = new Excel.ApplicationClass();
            xlWorkBook = xlApp.Workbooks.Open("csharp.net-informations.xls", 0, true, 5, "", "", true, Microsoft.Office.Interop.Excel.XlPlatform.xlWindows, "\t", false, false, 0, true, 1, 0);
            xlWorkSheet = (Excel.Worksheet)xlWorkBook.Worksheets.get_Item(1);

            MessageBox.Show(xlWorkSheet.get_Range("A1","A1").Value2.ToString());

            xlWorkBook.Close(true, misValue, misValue);
            xlApp.Quit();

            releaseObject(xlWorkSheet);
            releaseObject(xlWorkBook);
            releaseObject(xlApp);
        }

        private void releaseObject(object obj)
        {
            try
            {
                System.Runtime.InteropServices.Marshal.ReleaseComObject(obj);
                obj = null;
            }
            catch (Exception ex)
            {
                obj = null;
                MessageBox.Show("Unable to release the Object " + ex.ToString());
            }
            finally
            {
                GC.Collect();
            }
        } 
    }
}

Note : You have to add  Microsoft.Office.Interop.Excel  to your source code. 
using Excel = Microsoft.Office.Interop.Excel;  

When you execute the C# source code , it will open the excel file and read the content in the cell A1

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