EasyXLS

How to create conditional formatting in C++

EasyXLS Excel library can be used to export Excel files in C++. The integration varies depending on the project technique, if .NET Framework can be used or not.

EasyXLS using COM+ for projects without .NET Framework

If you opt for the COM+ version of EasyXLS, be sure that you have EasyXLS installed and registered on your machine.

Step 1: Download and install EasyXLS Excel Library for COM+

To download the trial version of EasyXLS Excel Library, press the below button:

Download EasyXLS™ Excel Library for C++

If you already own a license key, you may login and download EasyXLS from your account.

Step 2: Verify if EasyXLS is registered

Check if EasyXLS component is present in Component Services.

Step 3: License file setup

Step required for EasyXLS v9.0 or later.

If you are using a trial, generate a trial license file from EasyXLS trials page. The trial license is valid for 30-days.

If you own a license key, you may login to the account that purchased the license and generate the license file from:
https://www.easyxls.com/my-orders

Setup the license file into your project using these guidelines.

Step 4: Run C++ code that creates conditional formatting in Excel cells

Execute the following C++ code that exports an Excel file and sets conditional formatting to a range. The first step is to set the range where the conditional formatting will be applied, then set the formatting options.

/* -------------------------------------------------------------
 * Tutorial 14
 * 
 * This tutorial shows how to create an Excel file in C++ having
 * a sheet and conditional formatting for cell ranges.
 * ---------------------------------------------------------- */

#include "EasyXLS.h"
#include <conio.h>

int main()
{
    printf("Tutorial 14\n----------\n");

    HRESULT hr;

    // Initialize COM
    hr = CoInitialize(0);

    // Use the SUCCEEDED macro and get a pointer to the interface
    if (SUCCEEDED(hr))
    {
        // Create a pointer to the interface that exports Excel files
        EasyXLS::IExcelDocumentPtr workbook;
        hr = CoCreateInstance(__uuidof(EasyXLS::ExcelDocument),
                              NULL,
                              CLSCTX_ALL,
                              __uuidof(EasyXLS::IExcelDocument),
                              (void**) &workbook);

        if (SUCCEEDED(hr)){

            // Create a sheet
            workbook->easy_addWorksheet_2("Sheet1");

            // Get the table of data for the worksheet
            EasyXLS::IExcelWorksheetPtr xlsTab = (EasyXLS::IExcelWorksheetPtr)workbook->easy_getSheet("Sheet1");
            EasyXLS::IExcelTablePtr xlsTable = xlsTab->easy_getExcelTable();

            // Add data in cells
            for (int i=0; i<6; i++)
            {
                for (int j=0; j<4; j++)
                {
                    if ((i<2)&&(j<2))
                        xlsTable->easy_getCell(i, j)->setValue("12");
                    else
                        if ((j==2)&&(i<2))
                            xlsTable->easy_getCell(i, j)->setValue("1000");
                        else
                            xlsTable->easy_getCell(i, j)->setValue("9");
                    xlsTable->easy_getCell(i, j)->setDataType(DATATYPE_NUMERIC) ;
                }
            }

            // Set conditional formatting
            xlsTab->easy_addConditionalFormatting_5("A1:C3", CONDITIONALFORMATTING_OPERATOR_BETWEEN,
                                   "=9", "=11", true, true, COLOR_RED);

            // Set another conditional formatting
            xlsTab->easy_addConditionalFormatting_9("A6:C6", CONDITIONALFORMATTING_OPERATOR_BETWEEN,
                                   "=COS(PI())+2", "", COLOR_BISQUE);
            xlsTab->easy_getConditionalFormattingAt_2("A6:C6")->getConditionAt(0)->setConditionType(
                                   CONDITIONALFORMATTING_CONDITIONAL_FORMATTING_TYPE_EVALUATE_FORMULA);

            // Export Excel file
            printf("Writing file C:\\Samples\\Tutorial14 - conditional formatting in Excel.xlsx.");
            workbook->easy_WriteXLSXFile("C:\\Samples\\Tutorial14 - conditional formatting in Excel.xlsx");

            // Confirm export of Excel file
            _bstr_t sError = workbook->easy_getError();
            if (strcmp(sError, "") == 0){
                printf("\nFile successfully created. Press Enter to Exit...");
            }
            else{
                printf("\nError encountered: %s", (LPCSTR)sError); 
            }

            // Dispose memory
            workbook->Dispose();
        }
        else{
            printf("Object is not available!");
        }
    }
    else{
        printf("COM can't be initialized!");
    }

    // Uninitialize COM
    CoUninitialize();

    _getch();
    return 0;
}

C++ and .NET Framework
This tutorial is valid for C++ applications that cannot use .NET Framework. It is recommended, for better performances, that if the C++ application already uses or can use .NET Framework to make use of this similar code sample.

Overloaded methods
For methods with same name but different parameters, only the first method overload retains the original name. Subsequent overloads are uniquely renamed by appending to the method name '_2', '_3', etc (method, method_2, method_3), an integer that corresponds to the order of declaration that can be found in EasyXLS.h, a file that comes with EasyXLS installation.

EasyXLS in C++.NET projects using .NET Framework

If you opt for the .NET Framework version of EasyXLS, you need a C++.NET project and to include EasyXLS.dll into project.

Step 1: Download EasyXLS Excel Library for .NET

To download the trial version of EasyXLS Excel Library, press the below button:

Download EasyXLS™ Excel Library for C++.NET

If you already own a license key, you may login and download EasyXLS from your account.

Install the downloaded EasyXLS installer for v8.6 or earlier.

Step 2: License file setup

Step required for EasyXLS v9.0 or later.

If you are using a trial, generate a trial license file from EasyXLS trials page. The trial license is valid for 30-days.

If you own a license key, you may login to the account that purchased the license and generate the license file from:
https://www.easyxls.com/my-orders

Setup the license file into your project using these guidelines.

Step 3: Include EasyXLS library into project

EasyXLS.dll must be added to your project. EasyXLS.dll can be found:
- Inside the downloaded archive at Step 1 for EasyXLS v9.0 or later
- Under installation path for EasyXLS v8.6 or earlier, in "Dot NET version" folder.

Step 4: Run C++ code that creates conditional formatting in Excel cells

Execute the following C++ code that exports an Excel file and sets conditional formatting to a range. The first step is to set the range where the conditional formatting will be applied, then set the formatting options.

/*-----------------------------------------------------------
 | Tutorial 14
 |
 | This tutorial shows how to create an Excel file in C++.NET
 | having a sheet and conditional formatting for cell ranges.
 ----------------------------------------------------------*/

using namespace System;
using namespace System::Drawing;
using namespace EasyXLS;
using namespace EasyXLS::Constants;

int main()
{
    Console::WriteLine("Tutorial 14\n----------\n");

    // Create an instance of the class that exports Excel files having one sheet
    ExcelDocument ^workbook = gcnew ExcelDocument(1);
      
    // Get the table of data for the first worksheet
    ExcelWorksheet ^xlsTab = safe_cast<ExcelWorksheet^>(workbook->easy_getSheet("Sheet1"));
    ExcelTable ^xlsTable = xlsTab->easy_getExcelTable();

    // Add data in cells
    for (int i=0;i<6;i++)
    {
        for (int j=0;j<4;j++)
        {
            if((i<2)&&(j<2))
                xlsTable->easy_getCell(i, j)->setValue("12");
            else
                if((j==2)&&(i<2))
                    xlsTable->easy_getCell(i, j)->setValue("1000");
                else
                    xlsTable->easy_getCell(i, j)->setValue("9");
            xlsTable->easy_getCell(i, j)->setDataType(DataType::NUMERIC);
        }
    }
  
    // Set conditional formatting
    xlsTab->easy_addConditionalFormatting("A1:C3", ConditionalFormatting::OPERATOR_BETWEEN, 
        "=9", "=11", true, true, Color::Red);

    // Set another conditional formatting
    xlsTab->easy_addConditionalFormatting("A6:C6", ConditionalFormatting::OPERATOR_BETWEEN, 
        "=COS(PI())+2", "", Color::Bisque);
    xlsTab->easy_getConditionalFormattingAt("A6:C6")->getConditionAt(0)->setConditionType(
        ConditionalFormatting::CONDITIONAL_FORMATTING_TYPE_EVALUATE_FORMULA);
       
    // Export Excel file
    Console::WriteLine("Writing file C:\\Samples\\Tutorial14 - conditional formatting in Excel.xlsx.");
    workbook->easy_WriteXLSXFile("C:\\Samples\\Tutorial14 - conditional formatting in Excel.xlsx");

    // Confirm export of Excel file
    String ^sError = workbook->easy_getError();
    if (sError->Equals(""))
        Console::Write("\nFile successfully created. Press Enter to Exit...");
    else
        Console::Write(String::Concat("\nError encountered: ", sError, "\nPress Enter to Exit..."));

    // Dispose memory
    delete workbook;

    Console::ReadLine();

    return 0;
}

EasyXLS Excel libraries:

.NET
Excel Library for C++
full COM+ version to import, export or convert Excel files
Excel Writer for C++
COM+ version to create and export Excel files
Download EasyXLS™ Excel Library for C++

File formats:

MS Excel 97 - 2003
MS Excel 2007 - 2019
MS Excel 2021
Office 365
XLSXXLSMXLSBXLS
XMLHTMLCSVTXT