Excel File Integration with Intelligent Structure Recognition
I frequently utilize Linqpad for processing Excel files by reading data through the FileInto method. My workflow typically involves manipulating this data and subsequently storing it in a database. To streamline this process, I propose an enhancement to the user experience with the following capabilities:
Keyboard Shortcut for File Selection: Implement a shortcut key that prompts the user to select an Excel file. This would enable quick and direct access to data files without navigating through menus.
Automatic Structure Discovery: Upon file selection, Linqpad could automatically analyze and ascertain the basic structure of the Excel file. This functionality should include:
Detection of columns and rows
Identification of data types within cells
Recognition of table names and ranges
Intellisense Integration: Leverage the discovered structure to enrich the Intellisense feature. This would allow users to:
Autocomplete column and row references
Preview data types and values on hover
Navigate through tables and ranges efficiently
By incorporating these features, users would benefit from a more intuitive and efficient way to interact with Excel files within Linqpad, greatly enhancing productivity for database-related tasks.
Sample code
FileInfo fi = new FileInfo(@"D:\DataFiles\data.xlsx");
using (ExcelPackage excelPackage = new ExcelPackage(fi))
{
ExcelWorksheet data = excelPackage.Workbook.Worksheets[0];
var start = data.Dimension.Start;
var end = data.Dimension.End;
for (int row = start.Row + 1; row <= end.Row; row++)
{
var column1 = data.Cells[row, 1].Text.Trim();
// do something
}