I am exporting a GridView to Excel file (actually just html table fragment) from my ASP.NET page.  But in one column, there is a DropDownList that has very long item.  So the result .xls(html) file is like this:

<table ...>
  ...
  <tr>
    ...
    <td style="width:1200px;">
      <select>
        ...
        <option value="long item">Extreme long item with 1xxx characters...till end of road</option>
        ...
      </select>
    </td>
    ...
  </tr>
  ...
</table>

And the result is the <select> control will appear very wide in Excel.  That's why I have to make the table cell wider (1200px) to contain the DropDownList.  Is there a way to control the width of the <select> control displayed in Excel (such as using some Office-specific tags)?

Thanks!

yes u can do it try the following links

 How Do I Videos - Office
http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/office/bb496949.aspx

msdn
http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/aa140990.aspx

Thanks, sivakl_2001!  However, I cannot watch the video now because it's been blocked in the office.  I will watch it later.

What is your solution?  Is it to use Excel Add-ins?  If that is the case, I am afraid it's not feasible because I cannot deploy the Add-in to the users' machine from a web application.

Is it possible to just do something in the HTML we are downloading?

Thanks!

Hi blackpuppy,

Have a look at these articles about export controls in GridView to Excel:

http://www.dotnetspider.com/resources/20316-Export-GridView-Excel-File-using-Asp-net.aspx

http://www.c-sharpcorner.com/UploadFile/DipalChoksi/exportxl_asp2_dc11032006003657AM/exportxl_asp2_dc.aspx?ArticleID=000c64fb-8a22-414a-8247-984335aaa0eb

Thanks,

Maybe these two are articles are good generic guidelines on how to export GridView to Excel.  But is it relevant with my specific question?  I cannot find anything in these articles mentioning the width of DropDownList in Excel.  Sorry I don't think they are answer to my question.

Hi blackpuppy,

In this sample: http://www.dotnetspider.com/resources/20316-Export-GridView-Excel-File-using-Asp-net.aspx

You can add a Label control instead of LiteralControl in sample, and set the width of Label. Then add the Label to control.

Thanks,