# excellentexport: Browser Excel and CSV Export from Tables > excellentexport is a TypeScript library for converting browser tables or arrays into Excel, XLSX, or CSV files without a server. It is practical for client-side downloads, with package size and document formatting as the main constraints. **jmaister/excellentexport** — Javascript export to Excel - Repository: https://github.com/jmaister/excellentexport - Stars: 1,478 · Forks: 299 - Language: TypeScript - License: MIT - Published: 2026-10-16 · Updated: 2026-10-16 · Language: en - Canonical page: https://hysenlabs.com/projects/jmaister-excellentexport ## excellentexport browser table conversion excellentexport solves a narrow but common browser problem: turning tabular data into a downloadable spreadsheet without sending it to a backend service. The intended users are JavaScript or TypeScript applications that already display an HTML table and want an Export to Excel or Export to CSV action. The library also accepts arrays according to its version 3.0.0 release notes. The basic documented example passes an HTML table identifier to `ExcellentExport.excel`. The table is read in the page, converted in the browser, and offered as a download. The README explicitly says that no server is required. That makes the project different from a server-side reporting service, but it also means the browser page must contain the data at export time. The library supports XLS, XLSX, and CSV. XLSX support was added in version 3.0.0, together with the `ExcellentExport.convert(...)` API, automatic filename generation, array or HTML-table input, and multiple sheets for XLS and XLSX formats. The API details for array input are not fully shown in the README excerpt, so the table-based call is the clearest documented first integration. ## HTML table IDs and browser download flow The simplest visible data flow begins with an HTML element such as ``. A link or button calls the export function with the relevant table identifier and sheet name. The README example uses an anchor with a `download` attribute and returns the result of `ExcellentExport.excel(...)` from its click handler. The table ID is therefore more than a styling hook. It is the lookup used by the export call. If the ID is missing or does not match the rendered element, the documented pattern cannot identify the intended table. Applications that render tables dynamically should ensure that the element exists before calling the export function. The library has evolved beyond a single basic table handler. The release notes list column removal, filtering rows by value, multiple sheets, and file or sheet-level RTL options. Version 3.9.15 added support for `rowspan` and `colspan`, which matters for tables whose visual structure includes merged cells. The repository also includes examples named `index.filters.html`, `index.format.html`, `index.rtl.html`, and `index.bigtable.html`, indicating that these features are represented in separate browser examples rather than one simple code path. The exact precedence between table markup, configuration callbacks, and sheet options is not documented in the README. This is an area for source-level verification rather than assumption. ## npm installation and a first export The README lists npm installation as follows: ```bash npm install excellentexport --save ``` It also lists Yarn and Bower installation commands: ```bash yarn add excellentexport ``` ```bash bower install excellentexport ``` For a JavaScript or TypeScript application using modules, the README documents an ES6 import: ```javascript import ExcellentExport from 'excellentexport'; ``` The following is a complete first example based on the README's table and link pattern: ```html
100 200 300
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Export to Excel ``` In this example, `datatable` identifies the source table, `Sheet Name Here` supplies the sheet name, and `somedata.xls` supplies the download filename through the anchor. The README also documents direct script inclusion, a jsDelivr URL, RequireJS, and a standalone browser global. Its CDN example references version `3.4.3`, while `package.json` lists version `3.9.16`, so an application should not copy that old version URL into a current dependency-managed build without checking the intended release. ## XLSX size, formats, and transformation options The format choice affects bundle size and spreadsheet capabilities. The README says that XLSX support increases the library by more than 200 KB. Revision 3.8.1 also states that XLSX compression is enabled by default, reducing one large-table example from 18 Mb to 3 Mb and reducing the library from 912 KB to 277 KB. These are project release figures, not an independent performance measurement. The useful conclusion is narrower: XLSX should be selected when spreadsheet-specific behavior justifies its dependency weight. CSV remains relevant when the destination is a delimited text file. The project does not document a universal file-size limit, so applications should not infer one from the large-table example. Cell-level control has also expanded. Version 3.9.0 added cell types and formats, including dates with a format such as `dd/mm/yyyy` and numbers with a format such as `#,##0.00`. Version 3.5.0 introduced `fixValue` and `fixArray` configuration functions. These callbacks provide a place to alter values before export, but the README does not show their complete signatures or explain all mutation rules. TypeScript users should inspect the exported types before relying on edge cases such as null handling, decimal separators, or locale-sensitive values. RTL behavior can be applied to the whole file or to a sheet. That is useful for internationalized interfaces, but the README does not explain how it interacts with cell formatting or mixed-direction text. ## Compatibility constraints and failure cases The README lists Firefox, Chrome, and Internet Explorer 11+ as supported compatibility targets. The release history records a version 3.4.2 change that removed ES6 function syntax to support IE11. This is evidence of a deliberate compatibility adjustment, but it is not a guarantee that every modern browser or embedding context behaves identically. The browser-only design creates several concrete failure cases. If an export control is clicked before asynchronously loaded rows are inserted, the generated file can reflect an incomplete table. If a table uses markup or generated layouts that the converter does not interpret, visual similarity does not guarantee identical spreadsheet structure. The README documents `rowspan` and `colspan` support, but it does not provide a complete specification for every merged-cell arrangement. The library also depends on browser download behavior. The `openAsDownload` option was added in version 3.7.0 so a download can be triggered without an anchor tag. That is useful for button-based interfaces, but browser permissions, embedded webviews, and enterprise policies may affect actual downloads. The README does not document those environments. Applications needing background jobs, server-side permissions, or scheduled reports should choose a different architecture. excellentexport has no documented queue, storage, authentication, or backend component. ## Alternatives and project maintenance The main alternative is a server-side export pipeline. Such a pipeline sends table data to a backend, converts it outside the page, and returns a file. Its advantage is control over execution, permissions, and report generation. Its cost is a network request and additional application infrastructure. excellentexport instead performs the conversion in the browser and explicitly requires no server. That architectural difference should drive the choice. excellentexport is appropriate for an already-loaded table and an immediate user download. A server-side approach is more appropriate when exports must be scheduled, generated for many users, protected by server-side access rules, or produced when no browser page is open. The README does not document how either project category handles file retention or retry behavior, so those concerns must be evaluated separately. Maintenance information comes from the repository record and release history. The repository is not archived, and its last push was on 2026-09-28. Recent releases include `v3.9.16` on 2026-08-27, `v3.9.15` on 2026-06-09, and `v3.9.11` on 2025-12-25. Version 3.9.16 updated npm dependencies to address vulnerabilities. Earlier notes mention dependency cleanup, switching from Coveralls to Codecov, and moving from Coveralls-related tooling. These records support checking package updates regularly, but they do not promise a fixed release schedule. The project uses the MIT license. An adopting organization should read `LICENSE.txt` and review notices for bundled dependencies separately. The package metadata also points `xlsx` to a SheetJS CDN tarball, so dependency provenance and distribution policy deserve review before shipping the package to production. ## Conclusion Adopt excellentexport when the data already exists in the browser and users need a local Excel, XLSX, or CSV download. Do not adopt it for server-side report generation or workloads that cannot depend on browser execution. Verify table structure, merged cells, cell formats, file size, and download behavior before integration. ## FAQ ### How do I install excellentexport in a JavaScript or TypeScript project? The README documents `npm install excellentexport --save` and also lists Yarn and Bower commands. TypeScript applications can import it with `import ExcellentExport from 'excellentexport';`. ### Does excellentexport need a server to export an HTML table? No. The README describes excellentexport as a browser library and states that no server is required for HTML table export. ### Which formats and table features does excellentexport support? It supports Excel and CSV, with XLSX support added in version 3.0.0. The release history also documents multiple sheets, cell types and formats, RTL options, filtering, column removal, and merged cells through `rowspan` and `colspan`. ### Can excellentexport convert array data instead of an HTML table? Yes. The version 3.0.0 release notes list array data as an input supported by the `ExcellentExport.convert(...)` API. The README excerpt does not show the complete array conversion call. ### Which browsers does excellentexport claim to support? The README lists Firefox, Chrome, and Internet Explorer 11+ under compatibility. The release history also notes an IE11 syntax adjustment in version 3.4.2. ## Sources - [Issues](https://github.com/jmaister/excellentexport/issues) - [jmaister/excellentexport on GitHub](https://github.com/jmaister/excellentexport) - [License: MIT](https://github.com/jmaister/excellentexport/blob/master/LICENSE) - [README](https://github.com/jmaister/excellentexport/blob/master/README.md) - [Releases](https://github.com/jmaister/excellentexport/releases) --- Hysen Labs editorial analysis, written from the project's own repository and release notes. Cite the canonical page: https://hysenlabs.com/projects/jmaister-excellentexport