Quick Start with C++

This section demonstrates a simple use case in C++, showing how to use the oosxl library functions, such as creating an xlsx document, setting cell content, and setting cell formatting.

First, include the oosxl library header file:

#include "oosxl.hxx"

Second, in the main function, use the parameterless create_document() function to create a blank document, or use load_document() to load a document from an existing xlsx file.

Document* doc = create_document(); // Create a blank document
// or
// Document* doc = load_document("path/to/xlsx/file");

If loading a non-existent file, load_document() will return a null pointer. You can handle this as follows:

if (!doc)
{
    std::cout << run_msg() << std::endl;
    //...
}

Note

The oosxl library does not propagate exceptions. To get program errors, use the string output by the run_msg() function to get the corresponding information (an empty string indicates no error). run_msg() outputs the last error or informational message (if any).

The create_document() or load_document() function returns a Document pointer (e.g., doc in the example). The instance pointed to by this pointer implicitly contains a Workbook pointer, which points to the workbook instance within the xlsx document:

Workbook* wb = doc->get_workbook();

Third, create or get a worksheet.

Use add_worksheet() to create a new worksheet:

// Create an auto-named worksheet
Worksheet* ws = wb->add_worksheet();
// Create a worksheet named "My Sheet"
Worksheet* ws = wb->add_worksheet("My Sheet");

Use get_sheet() to get a worksheet, using the 0-based index as the parameter:

// Get the first worksheet
Worksheet* ws = wb->get_sheet(0);

Now, using the returned Worksheet pointer ws, we can interact with the cells in the worksheet instance it points to.

The following is a complete C++ program example demonstrating the usage of the oosxl library:

// Step 1: include the header
#include "oosxl.hxx"

#include <iostream>
#include <vector>

using namespace oo;

int main()
{
    // Step 2: create a document
    Document* doc = create_document();
    if (!doc)
    {
        std::cout << "Error creating document: " << run_msg() << std::endl;
        return -1;
    }

    // Step 3: Get the workbook and worksheet
    Workbook* wb = doc->get_workbook();
    Worksheet* ws = wb->add_worksheet(); // Get the worksheet
    if (!ws)
    {
        std::cout << "Error adding worksheet: " << run_msg() << std::endl;
        doc->release();
        return -1;
    }

    // Set titles
    std::vector<std::string> titles = { "Item", "Units", "Unit Cost", "Total" };
    for (int col = 0; col < titles.size(); ++col)
        ws->set_text(2, col + 2, titles[col].c_str());

    // Set the first column
    std::vector<std::string> column1 = { "Baby doll", "Kite", "Toy guitar" };
    for (int row = 0; row < 3; ++row)
        ws->set_text(row + 3, 2, column1[row].c_str());

    // Set the second column
    std::vector<int> column2 = { 95, 60, 75 };
    for (int row = 0; row < 3; ++row)
        ws->set_num(row + 3, 3, column2[row]);

    // Set the third column
    std::vector<double> column3 = { 1.99, 2.99, 6.99 };
    for (int row = 0; row < 3; ++row)
        ws->set_num(row + 3, 4, column3[row]);

    // Set the fourth column
    ws->set_formula(3, 5, "=C3*D3");
    ws->set_formula(4, 5, "=C4*D4");
    ws->set_formula(5, 5, "=C5*D5");

    // Merge cell(6,2) - cell(6,4)
    ws->merge(6, 2, 6, 4);
    ws->set_text(6, 2, "Total");

    // Set total
    ws->set_formula(6, 5, "=SUM(E3:E5)");

    Style* fmt = wb->make_normal_style();

    // Add borders
    fmt->set_border(BORDERINDEX_EDGE, BORDER_THICK);
    fmt->set_border(BORDERINDEX_INSIDE, BORDER_THIN);
    ws->set_range_style(2, 2, 6, 5, fmt);

    // Set title style
    fmt->unapply_all();
    fmt->set_align_h(HALIGN_CENTER);
    fmt->set_align_v(VALIGN_CENTER);
    fmt->set_pattern_fg_color(0xDDDDDD);
    fmt->set_fill_pattern(PATTERNTYPE_SOLID);
    ws->set_range_style(2, 2, 2, 5, fmt);

    // Save document
    if (!doc->save("example.xlsx"))
    {
        std::cout << "Error saving file: " << run_msg() << std::endl;
        doc->release();
        return -1;
    }

    doc->release();
    return 0;
}

Open the example.xlsx file with the Microsoft Excel application to verify the output: