xlsxwriter installation for C on windows

Question

I am fairly new in C and I am trying to manipulate same data files and export them in an excel file.

Similar to this case Running libxlsxwriter on Windows, I am trying to install libxlsxwriter on windows usingMSYS2.

I have done so far:

1) Installed MSYS2 64 bit along with the installation instructions

2) From MSYS2 terminal pacman -S git gcc make zlib-devel

3) And also:

git clone https://github.com/jmcnamara/libxlsxwriter.git

MichKon@MichKon-PC MSYS ~
$ cd libxlsxwriter

MichKon@MichKon-PC MSYS ~/libxlsxwriter
$ make
make[1]: Entering directory '/home/MichKon/libxlsxwriter/third_party/minizip'
make[1]: Leaving directory '/home/MichKon/libxlsxwriter/third_party/minizip'
make[1]: Entering directory '/home/MichKon/libxlsxwriter/third_party/tmpfileplus'
make[1]: Leaving directory '/home/MichKon/libxlsxwriter/third_party/tmpfileplus'
make[1]: Entering directory '/home/MichKon/libxlsxwriter/src'
make[1]: Leaving directory '/home/MichKon/libxlsxwriter/src'


MichKon@MichKon-PC MSYS ~/libxlsxwriter
$ make install

MichKon@MichKon-PC MSYS ~/libxlsxwriter
$ cc myexcel.c -o myexcel -lxlsxwriter
/usr/lib/../lib/libxlsxwriter.a(zip.o):zip.c:(.text+0x1bc9): undefined reference to `crc32'
/usr/lib/../lib/libxlsxwriter.a(zip.o):zip.c:(.text+0x1bc9): relocation truncated to fit: R_X86_64_PC32 against undefined symbol `crc32'
/usr/lib/../lib/libxlsxwriter.a(zip.o):zip.c:(.text+0x1d1f): undefined reference to `deflate'
/usr/lib/../lib/libxlsxwriter.a(zip.o):zip.c:(.text+0x1d1f): relocation truncated to fit: R_X86_64_PC32 against undefined symbol `deflate'
/usr/lib/../lib/libxlsxwriter.a(zip.o):zip.c:(.text+0x2280): undefined reference to `deflate'
/usr/lib/../lib/libxlsxwriter.a(zip.o):zip.c:(.text+0x2280): relocation truncated to fit: R_X86_64_PC32 against undefined symbol `deflate'
/usr/lib/../lib/libxlsxwriter.a(zip.o):zip.c:(.text+0x238a): undefined reference to `deflateEnd'
/usr/lib/../lib/libxlsxwriter.a(zip.o):zip.c:(.text+0x238a): relocation truncated to fit: R_X86_64_PC32 against undefined symbol `deflateEnd'
/usr/lib/../lib/libxlsxwriter.a(zip.o):zip.c:(.text+0x25e6): undefined reference to `deflateEnd'
/usr/lib/../lib/libxlsxwriter.a(zip.o):zip.c:(.text+0x25e6): relocation truncated to fit: R_X86_64_PC32 against undefined symbol `deflateEnd'
/usr/lib/../lib/libxlsxwriter.a(zip.o):zip.c:(.text+0x2649): undefined reference to `deflateEnd'
/usr/lib/../lib/libxlsxwriter.a(zip.o):zip.c:(.text+0x2649): relocation truncated to fit: R_X86_64_PC32 against undefined symbol `deflateEnd'
/usr/lib/../lib/libxlsxwriter.a(zip.o):zip.c:(.text+0x2e06): undefined reference to `deflateInit2_'
/usr/lib/../lib/libxlsxwriter.a(zip.o):zip.c:(.text+0x2e06): relocation truncated to fit: R_X86_64_PC32 against undefined symbol `deflateInit2_'
collect2: error: ld returned 1 exit status

MichKon@MichKon-PC MSYS ~/libxlsxwriter
$ ./myexcel
bash: ./myexcel: No such file or directory

MichKon@MichKon-PC MSYS ~/libxlsxwriter
$ cc myexcel.c -o myexcel -lxlsxwriter
/usr/lib/../lib/libxlsxwriter.a(zip.o):zip.c:(.text+0x1bc9): undefined reference to `crc32'
/usr/lib/../lib/libxlsxwriter.a(zip.o):zip.c:(.text+0x1bc9): relocation truncated to fit: R_X86_64_PC32 against undefined symbol `crc32'
/usr/lib/../lib/libxlsxwriter.a(zip.o):zip.c:(.text+0x1d1f): undefined reference to `deflate'
/usr/lib/../lib/libxlsxwriter.a(zip.o):zip.c:(.text+0x1d1f): relocation truncated to fit: R_X86_64_PC32 against undefined symbol `deflate'
/usr/lib/../lib/libxlsxwriter.a(zip.o):zip.c:(.text+0x2280): undefined reference to `deflate'
/usr/lib/../lib/libxlsxwriter.a(zip.o):zip.c:(.text+0x2280): relocation truncated to fit: R_X86_64_PC32 against undefined symbol `deflate'
/usr/lib/../lib/libxlsxwriter.a(zip.o):zip.c:(.text+0x238a): undefined reference to `deflateEnd'
/usr/lib/../lib/libxlsxwriter.a(zip.o):zip.c:(.text+0x238a): relocation truncated to fit: R_X86_64_PC32 against undefined symbol `deflateEnd'
/usr/lib/../lib/libxlsxwriter.a(zip.o):zip.c:(.text+0x25e6): undefined reference to `deflateEnd'
/usr/lib/../lib/libxlsxwriter.a(zip.o):zip.c:(.text+0x25e6): relocation truncated to fit: R_X86_64_PC32 against undefined symbol `deflateEnd'
/usr/lib/../lib/libxlsxwriter.a(zip.o):zip.c:(.text+0x2649): undefined reference to `deflateEnd'
/usr/lib/../lib/libxlsxwriter.a(zip.o):zip.c:(.text+0x2649): relocation truncated to fit: R_X86_64_PC32 against undefined symbol `deflateEnd'
/usr/lib/../lib/libxlsxwriter.a(zip.o):zip.c:(.text+0x2e06): undefined reference to `deflateInit2_'
/usr/lib/../lib/libxlsxwriter.a(zip.o):zip.c:(.text+0x2e06): relocation truncated to fit: R_X86_64_PC32 against undefined symbol `deflateInit2_'
collect2: error: ld returned 1 exit status

MichKon@MichKon-PC MSYS ~/libxlsxwriter
$ ./myexcel
bash: ./myexcel: No such file or directory

MichKon@MichKon-PC MSYS ~/libxlsxwriter
$ xdg-open myexcel.xlsx
bash: xdg-open: command not found

MichKon@MichKon-PC MSYS ~/libxlsxwriter
$ cc myexcel.c -o myexcel -I /path/to/libxlsxwriter/include
/tmp/ccp8qMT9.o:myexcel.c:(.text+0x15): undefined reference to `workbook_new'
/tmp/ccp8qMT9.o:myexcel.c:(.text+0x15): relocation truncated to fit: R_X86_64_PC 32 against undefined symbol `workbook_new'
/tmp/ccp8qMT9.o:myexcel.c:(.text+0x2a): undefined reference to `workbook_add_worksheet'
/tmp/ccp8qMT9.o:myexcel.c:(.text+0x2a): relocation truncated to fit: R_X86_64_PC 32 against undefined symbol `workbook_add_worksheet'
/tmp/ccp8qMT9.o:myexcel.c:(.text+0x64): undefined reference to `worksheet_write_string'
/tmp/ccp8qMT9.o:myexcel.c:(.text+0x64): relocation truncated to fit: R_X86_64_PC 32 against undefined symbol `worksheet_write_string'
/tmp/ccp8qMT9.o:myexcel.c:(.text+0x70): undefined reference to `workbook_close'
/tmp/ccp8qMT9.o:myexcel.c:(.text+0x70): relocation truncated to fit: R_X86_64_PC 32 against undefined symbol `workbook_close'
collect2: error: ld returned 1 exit status

MichKon@MichKon-PC MSYS ~/libxlsxwriter
$ ./myexcel
bash: ./myexcel: No such file or directory

MichKon@MichKon-PC MSYS ~/libxlsxwriter
$ cc myexcel.c -o myexcel -I /path/to/libxlsxwriter/lib/libxlsxwiter.a -lz
/tmp/ccgsiylm.o:myexcel.c:(.text+0x15): undefined reference to `workbook_new'
/tmp/ccgsiylm.o:myexcel.c:(.text+0x15): relocation truncated to fit: R_X86_64_PC 32 against undefined symbol `workbook_new'
/tmp/ccgsiylm.o:myexcel.c:(.text+0x2a): undefined reference to `workbook_add_worksheet'
/tmp/ccgsiylm.o:myexcel.c:(.text+0x2a): relocation truncated to fit: R_X86_64_PC 32 against undefined symbol `workbook_add_worksheet'
/tmp/ccgsiylm.o:myexcel.c:(.text+0x64): undefined reference to `worksheet_write_string'
/tmp/ccgsiylm.o:myexcel.c:(.text+0x64): relocation truncated to fit: R_X86_64_PC 32 against undefined symbol `worksheet_write_string'
/tmp/ccgsiylm.o:myexcel.c:(.text+0x70): undefined reference to `workbook_close'
/tmp/ccgsiylm.o:myexcel.c:(.text+0x70): relocation truncated to fit: R_X86_64_PC 32 against undefined symbol `workbook_close'
collect2: error: ld returned 1 exit status

MichKon@MichKon-PC MSYS ~/libxlsxwriter
$ make myexcel
cc     myexcel.c   -o myexcel
/tmp/ccMI33kF.o:myexcel.c:(.text+0x15): undefined reference to `workbook_new'
/tmp/ccMI33kF.o:myexcel.c:(.text+0x15): relocation truncated to fit: R_X86_64_PC32 against undefined symbol `workbook_new'
/tmp/ccMI33kF.o:myexcel.c:(.text+0x2a): undefined reference to `workbook_add_worksheet'
/tmp/ccMI33kF.o:myexcel.c:(.text+0x2a): relocation truncated to fit: R_X86_64_PC32 against undefined symbol `workbook_add_worksheet'
/tmp/ccMI33kF.o:myexcel.c:(.text+0x64): undefined reference to `worksheet_write_string'
/tmp/ccMI33kF.o:myexcel.c:(.text+0x64): relocation truncated to fit: R_X86_64_PC32 against undefined symbol `worksheet_write_string'
/tmp/ccMI33kF.o:myexcel.c:(.text+0x70): undefined reference to `workbook_close'
/tmp/ccMI33kF.o:myexcel.c:(.text+0x70): relocation truncated to fit: R_X86_64_PC32 against undefined symbol `workbook_close'

collect2: error: ld returned 1 exit status make: *** [: myexcel] Error 1

MichKon@MichKon-PC MSYS ~/libxlsxwriter
$

So it doesn't seem to work at the end. There is no exe file created. It seems that the last three commands are ordering a compileing, but something is wrong with the header files...

Thank you for your time

EDIT:

So I have looked deeper into this solution: Running libxlsxwriter on Windows as it seems I have a similar problem as Carl.

Make does not work except if I place the .c file inside one of the predefined files like examples, then through the command window I can compile and run it. But I would like to know if there is anything that can be done in order to be able to compile and run the files normally, like any other C files through Devc++.

I tried adding C:\msys64\usr\bin in user and computer PATH (environment variables) but it doesn't seem to work.

Thank you for your time!

where did it put xlswriter.h? Did you add that directory to your project properties? — bruceg, Apr 05 '17 at 18:37
I didn't do anything with it, I thought it was supposed to be downloaded automatically? — , Apr 05 '17 at 18:53
Did you do the ["install the library"](http://libxlsxwriter.github.io/getting_started.html#gsg_install) step in those instructions? — jmcnamara, Apr 05 '17 at 19:24
You will definitely have to specify the include directory where xlswriter header files live in your project properties. — bruceg, Apr 05 '17 at 20:04
I did a reinstallation and seems it's not going very well. I edited the question — , Apr 05 '17 at 22:54

score 0 · Answer 1 · answered Apr 06 '17 at 11:14

It should work according to the instructions. I re-ran them to check and everything worked:

# Install MYSYS2 from http://www.msys2.org/
# For the example below I used msys2-x86_64-20161025.exe

# Run the MYSYS2 Shell and install the dependencies:
$ cd /tmp
$ pacman -S git gcc make zlib-devel

# Clone, make, and install libxlswriter:
$ git clone https://github.com/jmcnamara/libxlsxwriter.git
$ cd libxlsxwriter/
$ make
$ make install

# Create a sample C test file in another directory:
$ cd ..
$ mkdir mytmp
$ cd mytmp
$ vim myexcel.c
$ cat myexcel.c
#include "xlsxwriter.h"

int main() {
    lxw_workbook  *workbook  = workbook_new("myexcel.xlsx");
    lxw_worksheet *worksheet = workbook_add_worksheet(workbook, NULL);
    int row = 0;
    int col = 0;

    worksheet_write_string(worksheet, row, col, "Hello me!", NULL);

    return workbook_close(workbook);
}

# Compile and run the application:
$ cc myexcel.c -o myexcel -lxlsxwriter -lz
$ ./myexcel.exe

$ ls -ltr
total 1077
-rw-r--r-- 1 jmcnamara Domain Users     313 Apr  6 19:02 myexcel.c
-rwxr-xr-x 1 jmcnamara Domain Users 1093488 Apr  6 19:03 myexcel.exe
-rw-r--r-- 1 jmcnamara Domain Users    5254 Apr  6 19:03 myexcel.xlsx

The issues that you are seeing are due to the header/library not been found so double check your installation stage.

Also, this isn't the same issue as the other SO question that you linked to. In their case they had a mix or 32 and 64bit libraries that was causing link issues. I am the author of libxlsxwriter, btw.

Hey jmcnamara, Thank you for your answer. I tried it again on another computer and it works. An now it is also working on my own computer! Maybe it needed a restart! The library is very nice and even though I haven't fully finished my code yet, seems extremely promising. Is there any way I can make it run through Devc++ though? I tried adding '-lxlsxwriter -lz' in Compiler options under the "Add the following commands when calling the linker:" but it brings me 'C:\Program Files (x86)\Dev-Cpp\MinGW64\x86_64-w64-mingw32\bin\ld.exe cannot find -lxlsxwriter' and the same for -lz — , Apr 07 '17 at 16:27

xlsxwriter installation for C on windows

1 Answers1