In this article I will explain with an example, how to export HTML string to Excel file in ASP.Net MVC Razor.
First the Grid (Html Table) will be populated from database using Entity Framework and then the HTML Table will be sent as HTML string to the Controller which ultimately will be exported to Excel 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 HTML string to Excel file in ASP.Net MVC
 
 
Namespaces
You will need to import the following namespace.
using System.Text;
 
 
Controller
The Controller consists of two 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 Excel 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 and hence the return type is set to FileResult.
 
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 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 string is converted into Byte Array using the GetBytes functions of the ASCII class.
Finally it is exported and downloaded as Excel file using the File function.
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 FileResult Export(string GridHtml)
    {
        return File(Encoding.ASCII.GetBytes(GridHtml), "application/vnd.ms-excel", "Grid.xls");
    }
}
 
 
View
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_HTML_String_Excel.Customer>
 
@{
    Layout = null;
}
 
<!DOCTYPE html>
 
<html>
<head>
    <meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width"/>
    <title>Index</title>
    <style type="text/css">
        body {
            font-family: Arial;
            font-size: 9pt;
        }     
    </style>
</head>
<body>
    <h4>Customers</h4>
    <hr/>
    <div id="Grid">
        <table cellpadding="5" cellspacing="0" style="border: 1px solid #ccc;font-size: 9pt;">
            <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="http://ajax.googleapis.com/ajax/libs/jquery/1.8.3/jquery.min.js"></script>
    <script type="text/javascript">
        $(function () {
            $("#btnSubmit").click(function () {
                $("input[name='GridHtml']").val($("#Grid").html());
            });
        });
    </script>
</body>
</html>
 
 
Screenshots
Grid (Html Table)
Export HTML string to Excel file in ASP.Net MVC
 
Exported Excel File
Export HTML string to Excel file in ASP.Net MVC
 
 
Downloads
Download Code