Laravel-excel: Cannot change column Format to string

[jpilldev]

Hi.

I'm importing data from a csv, i manage a code with leading zeros, when i pass the data from csv to database, the leading zeros are not catched.
I try to change the format data to take the code as a string, like this:

$excelData = Excel::load($csvFile)->setColumnFormat(array(
                'C' => '@'
            ))->get();

but, i got that the method doesn't exist:

production.ERROR: exception 'Maatwebsite\Excel\Exceptions\LaravelExcelException' with message '[ERROR] Reader method [setColumnFormat] does not exist.' in <laravel>/vendor/maatwebsite/excel/src/Maatwebsite/Excel/Readers/LaravelExcelReader.php:1104

How can i change the format of the column?

Thanks.

[patrickbrouwers]

setColumnFormat is for exporting only.

Have a look at https://github.com/Maatwebsite/Laravel-Excel/issues/324. It describes a solution for an issue similiar to yours.

[jpilldev]

Thanks Patrick,
As you commented, thanks to @devinfd contribution, the fix is in version 1.3.2, so, i update to that version.
I just tested, but the problem persist:
In csv i have data as '000200010012000', so, the lib still treat it like a double, the leading zeros are missing

[patrickbrouwers]

Did you also try the custom value binder? Because it's not included by default, you have to enable it yourself.

[jpilldev]

I just try, but i am missing doing:
Created a new file in Controllers folder with the code

<?php
use PHPExcel_Cell;
use PHPExcel_Cell_DataType;
use PHPExcel_Cell_IValueBinder;
use PHPExcel_Cell_DefaultValueBinder;

class MyValueBinderString extends PHPExcel_Cell_DefaultValueBinder implements PHPExcel_Cell_IValueBinder
{
    public function bindValue(PHPExcel_Cell $cell, $value = null)
    {
        if (is_numeric($value))
        {
            $cell->setValueExplicit($value, PHPExcel_Cell_DataType::TYPE_STRING);

            return true;
        }

        // else return default behavior
        return parent::bindValue($cell, $value);
    }
}

Then, in controller method, before i import the csv file i do:

Excel::SetValueBinder($myValueBinder);
$excelData = Excel::load($csvFile)->get();
...

So, i think i need a little more advise here.

Thanks.

[patrickbrouwers]

Try it like this: (no the camelcase setValueBinder)

$myValueBinder = new MyValueBinderString;
Excel::setValueBinder($myValueBinder)->load($csvFile)->get();

[jpilldev]

I change it, thanks for note.

The error a i get is about the PHPExcel_Cell use stament:

The use statement with non-compound name 'PHPExcel_Cell' has no effect 

[patrickbrouwers]

This block:

use PHPExcel_Cell;
use PHPExcel_Cell_DataType;
use PHPExcel_Cell_IValueBinder;
use PHPExcel_Cell_DefaultValueBinder;

is only needed when you have a namespace defined for the custom class. Else you can leave remove it from the file.

[jpilldev]

Ok, that works, now.

Your help and guidance are very appreciated.

Million Thanks,

[devinfd]

I've bern asleep for the past few hours but it seems you got it worked out. Glad to hear it.

[vadlaprashanth]

my excel has below cells but i am unable to convert to string, it will stored as null while importing. laravel
any help?

TJ GND BRKT AS 04/26/18