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excelFlash

Since: Buttons 1.0.0

Create and save an Excel XLSX file that contains the data from the table (Adobe Flash - deprecated).
Please note - this property requires the Buttons extension for DataTables.

Deprecated

As of v1.2.0 this feature has been deprecated. This feature has not yet been scheduled for removal, but its use is discouraged and the alternatives discussed below should be used.

As Flash is now being expunged from all browsers, the Flash buttons are only suitable for use in old browsers. As such, they will no longer see new features developed for them after Buttons 1.2.0. They will be removed from the distribution in the next major release.

Description

This button provides the end user with the ability to save the table's data into a locally created Excel XLSX file.

Please note that this button has a number of restrictions:

  • Adobe Flash must be installed.
  • The action for this button cannot be activated using the button().trigger() or key combination methods due to the security restrictions of Flash
  • The created file save dialogue must be shown and the file cannot be automatically opened.
  • The XLSX file cannot contain any styling information. Only the raw data from the table is included.

The excelHtml5 method provides much greater flexibility and thus button is considered to be sunsetted, but is still provided for use with older browsers that do not support the APIs required for the excelHtml5 button type.

Adobe Flash is required for this button to operate. If Flash is not installed, or disabled, in the end user's browser this button will not appear. For a non-Flash alternative please see the excelHtml5 button type. Additionally the excel will automatically select between this button and excelHtml5 depending on the features of the browser.

Customisation

The Excel file that Buttons creates is intentionally quite simple, but you may wish to add additional information or formatting to the document to suit your output requirements. This ability is provided by the customize option of this button type.

Full details of the customize method are available in the excelHtml5 documentation. The customize method for both button types are identical and a function developed for one can be used for the other (or both if you use the grouping excel button type, which will automatically select HTML5 or Flash as required for the browser).

Options

This button can have the following options set in its configuration object to customise its actions and display:

Examples

DataTables initialisation: Use the Flash Excel button:

$('#myTable').DataTable( {
	buttons: [
		'excelFlash'
	]
} );

DataTables initialisation: Use the excel button type to automatically select between the Flash and HTML button options.:

$('#myTable').DataTable( {
	buttons: [
		'excel'
	]
} );

DataTables initialisation: Use the exportOptions to save only the data shown on the current DataTable page:

$('#myTable').DataTable( {
	buttons: [
		{
			extend: 'excelFlash',
			text: 'Save current page',
			exportOptions: {
				modifier: {
					page: 'current'
				}
			}
		}
	]
} );