EasyXLS

How to read XLS file in VB6

EasyXLS Excel library can be used to import Excel files in VB6. The library is a COM+ component that works without MS Excel installed.

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 VB6

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: Add reference to EasyXLS (optionally)

Optionally, EasyXLS can be added as reference. Go to menu, select "Project" menu item, choose "References...", then check EasyXLS from the "Available References" list.

add reference vb6

Step 5: Run VB6 code that adds formula to Excel cell

Execute the following VB6 code that imports an XLS file.

'============================================================================
' Tutorial 37
'
' This tutorial shows how to read an Excel XLS file in VB6
' (the XLS file generated by Tutorial 28 as base template), modify
' some data and save it to another XLS file (Tutorial37 - read XLS file.xls).
'============================================================================

VERSION 5.00
Begin VB.Form Form1 
    Caption         =   "Form1"
    ClientHeight    =   4590
    ClientLeft      =   60
    ClientTop       =   345
    ClientWidth     =   6885
    LinkTopic       =   "Form1"
    ScaleHeight     =   4590
    ScaleWidth      =   6885
    StartUpPosition =   3  'Windows Default
    Begin VB.Label Label1 
        AutoSize        =   -1  'True
        Height          =   100
        Left            =   120
        TabIndex        =   0
        Top             =   120
        Width           =   100
    End
End

Attribute VB_Name = "Form1"
Attribute VB_GlobalNameSpace = False
Attribute VB_Creatable = False
Attribute VB_PredeclaredId = True
Attribute VB_Exposed = False

Private Sub Form_Load()

    Me.Label1.Caption = "Tutorial 37" & vbCrLf & "-----------------" & vbCrLf

    ' Create an instance of the class that reads Excel files
    Set workbook = CreateObject("EasyXLS.ExcelDocument")

    ' Read XLS file
    Me.Label1.Caption = Me.Label1.Caption & "Reading file: C:\Samples\Tutorial28.xls" & vbCrLf
    If (workbook.easy_LoadXLSFile("C:\Samples\Tutorial28.xls")) Then
        ' Get the table of data for the second worksheet
        Set xlsSecondTable = workbook.easy_getSheet("Second tab").easy_getExcelTable()

        ' Write some data to the second sheet
        xlsSecondTable.easy_getCell_2("A1").setValue ("Data added by Tutorial37")

        For Column = 0 To 4
            xlsSecondTable.easy_getCell(1, Column).setValue ("Data " & (Column + 1))
        Next

        ' Export the new XLS file
        Me.Label1.Caption = Me.Label1.Caption & vbCrLf & "Writing file C:\Samples\Tutorial37 - read XLS file.xls"
        workbook.easy_WriteXLSFile ("C:\Samples\Tutorial37 - read XLS file.xls")

        ' Confirm export of Excel file
        If workbook.easy_getError() = "" Then
            Me.Label1.Caption = Me.Label1.Caption & vbCrLf & "File successfully created."
        Else
            Me.Label1.Caption = Me.Label1.Caption & vbCrLf & "Error: " & workbook.easy_getError()
        End If
    Else
        Me.Label1.Caption = Me.Label1.Caption & vbCrLf & "Error reading file C:\Samples\Tutorial28.xls" & _
                                                vbCrLf & workbook.easy_getError()
    End If

    ' Dispose memory
    workbook.Dispose
End Sub

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 Excel components:

.NET
Excel Library for VB6
full COM+ version to import, export or convert Excel files
Excel Reader for VB6
COM+ version to read and import Excel files
Download EasyXLS™ Excel Component for VB6

File formats:

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