EasyXLS

How to group rows or columns in PHP

EasyXLS Excel library can be used to export Excel files with PHP on Windows, Linux, Mac or other operating systems. The integration vary depending on the operating system or if .NET Framework or Java is chosen:

EasyXLS on Windows using .NET Framework (COM+) with PHP

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 COM+

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

Step 2: Verify if COM and .NET extension is enabled in PHP

Check PHP.ini for [COM_DOT_NET] extension.

Step 3: Verify if EasyXLS is registered

Check if EasyXLS component is present in Component Services.

Step 4: 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 5: Run PHP code that groups data in Excel sheet

Execute the following PHP code that groups data on the first sheet of an Excel file on two outline levels.

<?php

/*===========================================================================
| Tutorial 17
|
| This tutorial shows how to create an Excel file with groups on rows in PHP.
| The Excel file has two worksheets. The first one is full with data and
| contains the data groups.
* ===========================================================================*/

include("DataType.inc");
include("Styles.inc");
include("DataGroup.inc");

header("Content-Type: text/html");

echo "Tutorial 17<br>";
echo "----------<br>";

// Create an instance of the class that exports Excel files
$workbook = new COM("EasyXLS.ExcelDocument");

// Create two sheets
$workbook->easy_addWorksheet_2("First tab");
$workbook->easy_addWorksheet_2("Second tab");

// Get the table of data for the first worksheet
$xlsFirstTable = $workbook->easy_getSheetAt(0)->easy_getExcelTable();

// Add data in cells for report header
for ($column=0; $column<5; $column++)
{
    $xlsFirstTable->easy_getCell(0,$column)->setValue("Column " . ($column + 1));
    $xlsFirstTable->easy_getCell(0,$column)->setDataType($DATATYPE_STRING);
}
$xlsFirstTable->easy_getRowAt(0)->setHeight(30);

// Add data in cells for report values
for ($row=0; $row<25; $row++)
{
    for ($column=0; $column<5; $column++)
    {
        $xlsFirstTable->easy_getCell($row+1,$column)->setValue("Data ".($row + 1).", ".($column + 1));
        $xlsFirstTable->easy_getCell($row+1,$column)->setDataType($DATATYPE_STRING);
    }
}

// Set column widths
$xlsFirstTable->setColumnWidth_2(0, 70);
$xlsFirstTable->setColumnWidth_2(1, 100);
$xlsFirstTable->setColumnWidth_2(2, 70);
$xlsFirstTable->setColumnWidth_2(3, 100);
$xlsFirstTable->setColumnWidth_2(4, 70);

// Group rows and format A1:E26 cell range
$xlsFirstDataGroup = new COM("EasyXLS.ExcelDataGroup");
$xlsFirstDataGroup->setRange_2 ("A1:E26");
$xlsFirstDataGroup->setGroupType ($DATAGROUP_GROUP_BY_ROWS);
$xlsFirstDataGroup->setCollapsed (False);
$xlsAutoFormat = new COM("EasyXLS.ExcelAutoFormat");
$xlsAutoFormat->InitAs($AUTOFORMAT_EASYXLS1);
$xlsFirstDataGroup->setAutoFormat($xlsAutoFormat);
$workbook->easy_getSheetAt(0)->easy_addDataGroup($xlsFirstDataGroup);

// Group rows and format A2:E10 cell range, outline level two, inside previous group
$xlsSecondDataGroup = new COM("EasyXLS.ExcelDataGroup");
$xlsSecondDataGroup->setRange_2("A2:E10");
$xlsSecondDataGroup->setGroupType($DATAGROUP_GROUP_BY_ROWS);
$xlsSecondDataGroup->setCollapsed(False);
$xlsAutoFormat2 = new COM("EasyXLS.ExcelAutoFormat");
$xlsAutoFormat2->InitAs($AUTOFORMAT_EASYXLS2);
$xlsSecondDataGroup->setAutoFormat($xlsAutoFormat2);
$workbook->easy_getSheetAt(0)->easy_addDataGroup($xlsSecondDataGroup);

// Export Excel file
echo "Writing file: C:\Samples\Tutorial17 - group data in Excel.xlsx<br>";
$workbook->easy_WriteXLSXFile("C:\Samples\Tutorial17 - group data in Excel.xlsx");

// Confirm export of Excel file
if ($workbook->easy_getError() == "")
    echo "File successfully created.";
else
    echo "Error encountered: " . $workbook->easy_getError();

// Dispose memory
$workbook->Dispose();
$workbook = null;
$xlsFirstDataGroup = null;
$xlsAutoFormat = null;
$xlsSecondDataGroup = null;
$xlsAutoFormat2 = null;

?>

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 on Linux, Mac, Windows using Java with PHP

If you opt for the Java version of EasyXLS, a similar code as above requires PHP/Java Bridge between PHP and Java.

Step 1: Download EasyXLS Excel Library for Java

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

Download EasyXLS™ Excel Library for Java

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

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: Install PHP/Java Bridge

Download PHP/Java Bridge and follow the PHP/Java Bridge installation guide for directions.

Step 4: Setup EasyXLS library in Tomcat

Copy EasyXLS.jar into Tomcat installation path, lib folder.

Step 5: Run PHP code that groups data in Excel sheet

Execute the following PHP code that groups data on the first sheet of an Excel file on two outline levels.

<?php require_once("http://localhost:8080/JavaBridge/java/Java.inc");

/*===========================================================================
| Tutorial 17
|
| This tutorial shows how to create an Excel file with groups on rows in PHP.
| The Excel file has two worksheets. The first one is full with data and
| contains the data groups.
===========================================================================*/

include("DataType.inc");
include("Styles.inc");
include("DataGroup.inc");

header("Content-Type: text/html");
	
echo "Tutorial 17<br>";
echo "----------<br>";
	
// Create an instance of the class that exports Excel files
$workbook = new java("EasyXLS.ExcelDocument");
	
// Create two sheets
$workbook->easy_addWorksheet("First tab");
$workbook->easy_addWorksheet("Second tab");

// Get the table of data for the first worksheet
$xlsFirstTable = $workbook->easy_getSheetAt(0)->easy_getExcelTable();

// Add data in cells for report header
for ($column=0; $column<5; $column++)
{
    $xlsFirstTable->easy_getCell(0,$column)->setValue("Column " . ($column + 1));
    $xlsFirstTable->easy_getCell(0,$column)->setDataType($DATATYPE_STRING);
}
$xlsFirstTable->easy_getRowAt(0)->setHeight(30);

// Add data in cells for report values
for ($row=0; $row<25; $row++)
{
    for ($column=0; $column<5; $column++)
    {
        $xlsFirstTable->easy_getCell($row+1,$column)->setValue("Data ".($row + 1).", ".($column + 1));
        $xlsFirstTable->easy_getCell($row+1,$column)->setDataType($DATATYPE_STRING);
    }
}

// Set column widths
$xlsFirstTable->setColumnWidth(0, 70);
$xlsFirstTable->setColumnWidth(1, 100);
$xlsFirstTable->setColumnWidth(2, 70);
$xlsFirstTable->setColumnWidth(3, 100);
$xlsFirstTable->setColumnWidth(4, 70);
		
// Group rows and format A1:E26 cell range
$xlsFirstDataGroup = new java("EasyXLS.ExcelDataGroup");
$xlsFirstDataGroup->setRange("A1:E26");
$xlsFirstDataGroup->setGroupType ($DATAGROUP_GROUP_BY_ROWS);
$xlsFirstDataGroup->setCollapsed (False);
$xlsAutoFormat = new java("EasyXLS.ExcelAutoFormat");
$xlsAutoFormat->InitAs($AUTOFORMAT_EASYXLS1);
$xlsFirstDataGroup->setAutoFormat($xlsAutoFormat);
$workbook->easy_getSheetAt(0)->easy_addDataGroup($xlsFirstDataGroup);

// Group rows and format A2:E10 cell range, outline level two, inside previous group
$xlsSecondDataGroup = new java("EasyXLS.ExcelDataGroup");
$xlsSecondDataGroup->setRange("A2:E10");
$xlsSecondDataGroup->setGroupType($DATAGROUP_GROUP_BY_ROWS);
$xlsSecondDataGroup->setCollapsed(False);
$xlsAutoFormat2 = new java("EasyXLS.ExcelAutoFormat");
$xlsAutoFormat2->InitAs($AUTOFORMAT_EASYXLS2);
$xlsSecondDataGroup->setAutoFormat($xlsAutoFormat2);
$workbook->easy_getSheetAt(0)->easy_addDataGroup($xlsSecondDataGroup);
	
// Export Excel file
echo "Writing file: C:\Samples\Tutorial17 - group data in Excel.xlsx<br>";
$workbook->easy_WriteXLSXFile("C:\Samples\Tutorial17 - group data in Excel.xlsx");
	
// Confirm export of Excel file
if ($workbook->easy_getError() == "")
    echo "File successfully created.";
else
    echo "Error encountered: " . $workbook->easy_getError();
		
// Dispose memory
$workbook->Dispose();

?>

EasyXLS Excel libraries:

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

File formats:

Office 365
MS Excel 2021 - 2024
MS Excel 2007 - 2019
MS Excel 97 - 2003
XLSXXLSMXLSBXLS
XMLHTMLCSVTXT