“Export to Spreadsheet” is a utility for exporting data from an app to a spreadsheet, enabling users to work with the data in common spreadsheet applications. Typical use cases are to mix the data with other sources, perform complex calculations, or change the layout of the data (for example, to present the content differently).

Usage

Use “Export to Spreadsheet” if:

• Users need to work with the data in common spreadsheet applications.
• Exported data should be the same as displayed (for example, taking visible columns, column order, filter, and sort settings into account).
• The amount of data to be exported is limited.

Do not use “Export to Spreadsheet” if:

• You want to export a complete database table. Use custom-built exporters instead.
• You need to export large tables. Use custom-built exporters instead.

Behavior and Interaction

“Export to Spreadsheet” can be used in all cases where the exported data can be represented in a tabular format. The export is independent of the control used to display the data in the app. It can be used not only for tables, but also for all other controls that work internally with tabular or hierarchical data, such as charts.

Content Formatting

The exported file contains only simple read-only text content. Basic data type information can be configured per column, such as text, integer number, floating point number, date, and so on. Since spreadsheet applications provide their own formatting for cell content,  SAPUI5 formatters (for example, for dates, times, and numbers) are not taken into account.

You can combine several data points and display them in one cell, or spread them over several cells.

In the spreadsheet files, tree structures are displayed using the grouping functionality (first seven levels) and double indentation (all levels).

Exporting Readable Texts

By default, the Export to Spreadsheet feature only uses data from the back end. Front-end formatting is not considered. For example, if the back-end database value is “F” and the value displayed in the front end is “Finished”, the exported value is still “F”.

To ensure that the data is exported as it is displayed on the screen, you can define key value pairs to overwrite the back-end values for a given column or columns (such as “F” for “Finished”).

If you opt to use this feature, bear the following in mind:

• The correct translated text must be provided by the application. It isn’t done by the framework.
• The text is just replaced, without additional formatting.

In this example the exported texts for the Enumeration column in the exported file are identical with those shown on the UI, even though the database values are 1, 2, and 3.

Exporting

During the export, a modal progress dialog is displayed. The user can cancel the export at any time.

As soon as the spreadsheet file has been created, it is offered for download automatically.

Guidelines

Menu Button

Provide a menu button for triggering the export (for example, on the toolbar of the corresponding control).

Design the menu button as follows:

1. Clicking the export icon starts the export with default settings.

2. Clicking the drop-down arrow opens a menu with two options:

• Export
  Exports the table with default settings.
• Export As…
  Opens a dialog for specifying the export settings, including:
  • The name of the exported file
  • The file type
  • An option to split cells with multiple values into separate columns. This is helpful if the data is going to be used for calculations and filtering in a spreadsheet application. Not checking this option keeps the nicer formatting, which can be a better option for presentations.
  • An option to include the current filter settings. If the user checks this field, current filter is included on a second sheet in the exported file.

Default Configuration

When you configure the exporter, ensure that your data is converted to a tabular representation. For example, when exporting a list item, configure the exporter to display each data point in a separate column.

For tables export the data as it is displayed on the screen:

• Export all visible columns in the same order.
• Combine data points as they are combined on the screen (for example text and ID in one cell).
• Take the view settings (sort, group, filter, …) into account.
• Use the same column header texts.
• Do not include the filter settings.

When exporting, convert non-text elements to a text-only representation. Non-text elements include icons, images, micro charts, or controls like checkboxes and buttons. Converting them to text ensures that the data is not lost in the exported spreadsheet file.

Resources