In this article I will explain with an example, how to export Grid (Html Table) data from database to Word file in ASP.Net MVC Razor.
First the Grid (Html Table) will be populated from database using Entity Framework and then the records from the database will be exported and downloaded as Word file in ASP.Net MVC Razor.
 
 

Database

Here I am making use of Microsoft’s Northwind Database. You can download it from here.
Download and install Northwind Database
 
 

Entity Framework Model

Once the Entity Framework is configured and connected to the database table, the Model will look as shown below.
Note: For beginners in ASP.Net MVC and Entity Framework, please refer my article ASP.Net MVC: Simple Entity Framework Tutorial with example. It covers all the information needed for connecting and configuring Entity Framework.
 
Export Grid (Html Table) data from database to Word in ASP.Net MVC
 
 

Controller

The Controller consists of following Action methods.

Action method for handling GET operation

Inside this Action method, the Top 10 Customer records are fetched and returned to the View.
 

Action method for handling the Word File Export and Download operation

This Action method is executed when the Export Submit button is clicked.
Note: The following Action method performs File Download using HTTP Response and nothing is returned from the View. Hence the return type is set to EmptyResult.
 
The HTML of the Grid sent from the View is extracted from the GridHtml parameter.
Note: By default, posting of HTML content via input fields which by default is disabled. For more details on enabling it, please refer What is ValidateInput(false) attribute, its Uses and Examples in ASP.Net MVC.
 
The HTML is written to the Output Response and it is exported and download as Word file.
public class HomeController : Controller
{
    // GET: Home
    public ActionResult Index()
    {
        NorthwindEntities entities = new NorthwindEntities();
        return View(from customer in entities.Customers.Take(10)
                    select customer);
    }
 
    [HttpPost]
    [ValidateInput(false)]
    public EmptyResult Export(string GridHtml)
    {
        Response.Clear();
        Response.Buffer = true;
        Response.AddHeader("content-disposition", "attachment;filename=Grid.doc");
        Response.Charset = "";
        Response.ContentType = "application/vnd.ms-word";
        Response.Output.Write(GridHtml);
        Response.Flush();
        Response.End();
        return new EmptyResult();
    }
}
 
 

View

HTML Markup

Inside the View, in the very first line the Customer Entity is declared as IEnumerable which specifies that it will be available as a Collection.
For displaying the records, an HTML Table is used. A loop will be executed over the Model which will generate the HTML Table rows with the Customer records.
There is an HTML Hidden Field element which is used to send the Grid HTML content to the Controller’s Action method.
Finally, there’s an HTML Submit button enclosed inside a Form with the Action method specified as Export.
When this Button will be clicked, first the HTML of the Grid (Html Table) is extracted and set into the Hidden Field element and finally the Form is submitted.
@model IEnumerable<Export_Word_MVC.Customer>
 
@{
     Layout = null;
}
 
<!DOCTYPE html>
 
<html>
<head>
    <meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width" />
    <title>Index</title>
</head>
<body>
    <h4>Customers</h4>
    <hr />
    <div id="Grid">
        <table cellpadding="5" cellspacing="0" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; font-size: 9pt; font-family: Arial">
            <tr>
                <th style="background-color: #B8DBFD; border: 1px solid #ccc">CustomerID</th>
                <th style="background-color: #B8DBFD; border: 1px solid #ccc">ContactName</th>
                <th style="background-color: #B8DBFD; border: 1px solid #ccc">City</th>
                <th style="background-color: #B8DBFD; border: 1px solid #ccc">Country</th>
            </tr>
            @foreach (Customer customer in Model)
            {
                <tr>
                    <td style="width: 120px; border: 1px solid #ccc">@customer.CustomerID</td>
                    <td style="width: 120px; border: 1px solid #ccc">@customer.ContactName</td>
                    <td style="width: 120px; border: 1px solid #ccc">@customer.City</td>
                    <td style="width: 120px; border: 1px solid #ccc">@customer.Country</td>
                </tr>
            }
        </table>
    </div>
    <br />
    <br />
    @using (Html.BeginForm("Export", "Home", FormMethod.Post))
    {
        <input type="hidden" name="GridHtml" />
        <input type="submit" id="btnSubmit" value="Export" />
    }
    <script type="text/javascript" src="https://ajax.googleapis.com/ajax/libs/jquery/3.7.1/jquery.min.js"></script>
    <script type="text/javascript">
        $(function () {
            $("#btnSubmit").click(function () {
                $("input[name='GridHtml']").val($("#Grid").html());
            });
        });
    </script>
</body>
</html>
 
 

Screenshot

Grid (Html Table)

Export Grid (Html Table) data from database to Word in ASP.Net MVC
 

Exported Word File

Export Grid (Html Table) data from database to Word in ASP.Net MVC
 
 

Downloads

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