In this article I will explain with an example, how to export DataTable data to CSV file in Windows Forms (WinForms) Application using C# and VB.Net.
CSV file is nothing but a Text file where data (records) are stored separated (delimited) by comma character.
Form Controls
I have added a DataGridView and a Button to the Windows Form.
![Export DataTable to CSV (Text) File in Windows Forms (WinForms) Application using C# and VB.Net]()
Namespaces
You will need to import the following namespaces.
C#
using System.IO;
using System.Data;
VB.Net
Imports System.IO
Imports System.Data
Populating DataGridView
The DataGridView is populated with a dynamic DataTable with some sample data.
C#
public Form1()
{
InitializeComponent();
this.BindDataGridView();
}
private void BindDataGridView()
{
DataTable dt = new DataTable();
dt.Columns.AddRange(new DataColumn[3] { new DataColumn("Id", typeof(int)),
new DataColumn("Name", typeof(string)),
new DataColumn("Country",typeof(string)) });
dt.Rows.Add(1, "John Hammond", "United States");
dt.Rows.Add(2, "Mudassar Khan", "India");
dt.Rows.Add(3, "Suzanne Mathews", "France");
dt.Rows.Add(4, "Robert Schidner", "Russia");
this.dataGridView1.DataSource = dt;
}
VB.Net
Public Sub New()
InitializeComponent()
Me.BindDataGridView()
End Sub
Private Sub BindDataGridView()
Dim dt As New DataTable()
dt.Columns.AddRange(New DataColumn() {New DataColumn("Id", GetType(Integer)), _
New DataColumn("Name", GetType(String)), _
New DataColumn("Country", GetType(String))})
dt.Rows.Add(1, "John Hammond", "United States")
dt.Rows.Add(2, "Mudassar Khan", "India")
dt.Rows.Add(3, "Suzanne Mathews", "France")
dt.Rows.Add(4, "Robert Schidner", "Russia")
Me.dataGridView1.DataSource = dt
End Sub
![Export DataTable to CSV (Text) File in Windows Forms (WinForms) Application using C# and VB.Net]()
Exporting DataGridView data to CSV file
When the Export button is clicked, the following event handler is executed. A loop is executed over the Columns and Rows of the DataGridView and a comma separated (delimited) string is generated.
Finally comma separated (delimited) string is written to the CSV (Text) file using the File class.
C#
private void btnExport_Click(object sender, EventArgs e)
{
//Build the CSV file data as a Comma separated string.
string csv = string.Empty;
//Add the Header row for CSV file.
foreach (DataGridViewColumn column in dataGridView1.Columns)
{
csv += column.HeaderText + ',';
}
//Add new line.
csv += "\r\n";
//Adding the Rows
foreach (DataGridViewRow row in dataGridView1.Rows)
{
foreach (DataGridViewCell cell in row.Cells)
{
//Add the Data rows.
csv += cell.Value.ToString().Replace(",", ";") + ',';
}
//Add new line.
csv += "\r\n";
}
//Exporting to CSV.
string folderPath = "C:\\CSV\\";
File.WriteAllText(folderPath + "DataGridViewExport.csv", csv);
}
VB.Net
Private Sub btnExport_Click(sender As System.Object, e As System.EventArgs) Handles btnExport.Click
'Build the CSV file data as a Comma separated string.
Dim csv As String = String.Empty
'Add the Header row for CSV file.
For Each column As DataGridViewColumn In dataGridView1.Columns
csv += column.HeaderText & ","c
Next
'Add new line.
csv += vbCr & vbLf
'Adding the Rows
For Each row As DataGridViewRow In dataGridView1.Rows
For Each cell As DataGridViewCell In row.Cells
'Add the Data rows.
csv += cell.Value.ToString().Replace(",", ";") & ","c
Next
'Add new line.
csv += vbCr & vbLf
Next
'Exporting to Excel
Dim folderPath As String = "C:\CSV\"
File.WriteAllText(folderPath & "DataGridViewExport.csv", csv)
End Sub
Screenshot
![Export DataTable to CSV (Text) File in Windows Forms (WinForms) Application using C# and VB.Net]()
Downloads
