Create the different files with various extensions using FileStream

Question

I want to create the file with customer specified filename with specified extension

ex: sample.xlsx or sample.docx or sample.txt

and need to open it. i have used the below sample code and which is created and open the txt format files as expected but other format files such as (.xlsx,.doc) are created but which throws error

"file cannot open and specified file format and extension is invalid"

while trying to open the created file.

var hyperLink = new Hyperlink();
FileStream file = new FileStream(@Hyperlink.Address,
   FileMode.Create);                                 
hyperLink.NavigateUri = new Uri(file.Name);
file.Close();
if (hyperLink.NavigateUri != null)
    Process.Start(new ProcessStartInfo(hyperLink.NavigateUri.AbsoluteUri));

Your code has (nearly) nothing to do with creating a file. `new FileStream` is enough to create a new file with arbitrary extensions. — DrKoch, Mar 27 '15 at 11:01
Where does the error come from? Which line? which call? (Hint: use the debugger...) — DrKoch, Mar 27 '15 at 11:02
Better title: Can't open empty .docx and .xlsx files with Process.Start() — DrKoch, Mar 27 '15 at 11:28
okay thanks for title suggestion i will follow it and the above posted code works fine for docx format also but its not working for .xlsx file with process.start — krish bala, Mar 27 '15 at 11:42

DrKoch · Answer 1 · 2015-03-27T12:07:18.033

1

You can't open an empty *.docx or *.xlsx file, because such a file must contain valid contents.

Creating such contents is beyond the scope of this answer...

edited Mar 27 '15 at 12:07

answered Mar 27 '15 at 11:04

DrKoch

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thanks,but it is possible to create the docx file with above code why not with xlsx? – krish bala Mar 27 '15 at 11:54
As I said: You need valid contents in any case. Probably zero bytes is (by accident) valid for .docx (but not useful anyway) – DrKoch Mar 27 '15 at 12:08

score 0 · Answer 2 · edited May 23 '17 at 12:22

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You can't create an empty docx and xlsx files as Drkoch told. You must use separate methods for creating xlsx and doc files.

For creating docx file, Please refer the below link: C#: Create and Manipulate Word Documents Programmatically Using DocX

For creating xlsx file, Please refer the below link: Create Excel (.XLS and .XLSX) file from C#

edited May 23 '17 at 12:22

Community

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answered Mar 27 '15 at 11:14

sriman reddy

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Thanks , the posted link for creating xlsx file in the when we have not installed excel in machine. but now i have excel installed in my machine. – krish bala Mar 27 '15 at 11:44
please give some suggestion is it possible with FileStream – krish bala Mar 27 '15 at 11:45
No, you cant manipulate excel file with FileStream. **Mark my answer as accepted, if it is useful.** – sriman reddy Mar 27 '15 at 12:27

score 0 · Answer 3 · answered Mar 27 '15 at 14:56

You can use Open XML to create and manipulate office files without having MS Office installed on the server. https://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/office/bb448854.aspx

sriman reddy is correct that you cannot just create Office files with FileStream. Office files are zip files containing specifically formatted files (mostly xml) that make up the document and it's contents.

Create the different files with various extensions using FileStream

3 Answers3