When working with Excel files, there are times when you need to extract images embedded in the sheets. Whether you’re compiling a report, creating a presentation, or simply organizing data, being able to efficiently extract images can be incredibly useful. In this post, we’ll explore how to accomplish this using the open-source library FileFormat.Cells.

Extract Images from Excel File: A Free and Open Source Solution

Why Use FileFormat.Cells?

FileFormat.Cells is a powerful, open-source library designed to work with Excel files. It’s free to use and provides a wide range of features, making it an ideal choice for developers looking to manipulate Excel files programmatically. Step-by-Step Guide to Extract Images from Excel

Here’s a simple guide to help you extract images from an Excel file using FileFormat.Cells in C#. We will walk through the process with sample code available on GitHub Gist .

Prerequisites:

  • Visual Studio or any C# IDE
  • .NET Framework
  • FileFormat.Cells library

Sample Code

Below is a code snippet to extract images from an Excel file:

Explanation

    1. Load the Excel File: The Workbook class is used to load the Excel file.
    1. Iterate Through Worksheets: We loop through each worksheet in the workbook.
    1. Extract Images: For each worksheet, we iterate through all pictures and convert them to images.
    1. Save Images: The images are then saved to the specified directory.

Benefits of Using FileFormat.Cells

  • Open Source: As an open-source library, FileFormat.Cells allows for customization and community support.
  • Free: There’s no cost involved, making it accessible for all developers.
  • Comprehensive Features: Beyond image extraction, it supports a wide range of Excel manipulations.

Conclusion

Extracting images from Excel files doesn’t have to be a complex task. With FileFormat.Cells, you have a robust, free, and open-source tool at your disposal. Whether you’re handling a few files or automating large-scale data processing, FileFormat.Cells provides the functionality you need. For more detailed examples and documentation, be sure to check out the official FileFormat.Cells documentation.