I need to write a plugin that exports data both in CSV and XLSX formats. October CMS

Question

I need to write a plugin that exports data both in CSV and XLSX formats*. As a base I follow Vojta's plugin code (1) that uses ImportExport backend behavior.

The main plugin controller DataImportExport inherits a import-export Behavior from the Backend that is located in the ImportExportController.

class DataImportExport extends Controller
   {​​​​​​​
      public$implement = [
            'Backend.Behaviors.ImportExportController', 
      ];
       ...
   }

It's that Behavior that has methods to export data into CSV file. Yet, if I want to export into XLSX file I am supposed to add corresponding methods into that behavior, namely into the exporting controller by overriding some of its existing methods. Yet, as I do that inside DataImportExport controller, it does not work... as I try/test the export process remains the same as it was prior to that with only CSV... One seems to be not able to override/extend the backend behavior, namely modules\backend\behaviors\ImportExportController.php.

For example, at the DataimportExport controller I try to override the exportFromList() method of ImportExportController behavior by adding code for the XLSX export -
Yet, no positive change... as I try it.

class DataImportExport extends Controller
{
    public $implement = [
       'Backend.Behaviors.ImportExportController', 
    ];

public function __construct()
{
    parent::__construct();
        
    BackendMenu::setContext('RainLab.User', 'user', $this->action);
    
    // extending the ImportExportController behavior
    \Backend\Behaviors\ImportExportController::extend(function($model) {
        $model->addDynamicProperty('tagsCache', null);

        $model->addDynamicMethod('writeXLSX', function() use ($model) {
            
        });

        $model->addDynamicMethod('getTagsAttribute', function() use ($model) {
            if ($this->tagsCache) {
                return $this->tagsCache;
            } else {
                return $this->tagsCache = $model->tags()->lists('name');
            }
        });
    });


}    
...

// method to override
public function exportFromList($definition = null, $options = [])
{
    ... 
    $response = Response::make();
    if ($options['export_type'] == 'csv') {
        /*
        * Response CSV
        */        
        $response->header('Content-Type', 'text/csv');
        $response->header('Content-Transfer-Encoding', 'binary');
        $response->header('Content-Disposition', sprintf('%s; filename="%s"', 'attachment', $filename));
        $response->setContent((string) $csv);
    } else {
        // export into xlsx code             
    }
    
    return $response;
   }
}

Note

1. Vojta's plugin exports/imports only into/from CSV files.

Answer 1

maybe you should look at https://octobercms.com/plugin/vdomah-excel where you can import and export CSV and Excel files ? The documentation is very well, and i use it on many projects to import datas and it's working well.

best, Lucas