jucedogi's sandbox: Excel data export

Welcome to Excel data export.

The aim of this module is to provide a simple data export feature in any drupal site. This is accomplished by just having one form to control the process. No extra steps, no extra configuration.

I've found many modules that can help you achieve this. Some require other modules such as views. Others have some confusing configuration settings to work properly and others simply just can't handle large data exports properly. This module just requires you to install it and go to the form it creates to start picking what you want to place onto an excel file.

Installation steps

1. Download the module
2. Place the module in your drupal's module directory
3. Enable the module

Usage instructions

1. Access the form via the management menu: Content->Export content to excel
2. Select the node type that holds the data you want to place on an excel file
3. Select the data fields that you want to place on the excel file
4. Submit the form and patiently wait for the file to be generated. The time it takes is of course relative to the amount of data.
5. Once the file is available it will appear on a list placed on the bottom of the form.

To note

• If possible the module will setup a background process on the server to export the data to the excel file.
• Cases where this cannot be done will be setup with drupal's queue system.
• Spreadsheet management achieved thanks to the PHPExcel library.
• Not every field type out there has been tested nor is supported. As more field types are stumbled upon they will be tested.
• If you decide to use this module and notice that a field type you'd like is not supported don't keep it to yourself.

To do's

• Currently file operations are being done in one of the module's subfolders. This has to be changed to make proper use of drupal's filesystem structure.
• Queue implementation on scenarios where background processes can't be created.
• Mail delivery of created export files.
• Possibly change form access route and add possibility of customized permitions
• Possibly make use of libraries API module so that PHPExcel is located at the libraries folder but not a priority at the moment
• Test the module with as much field types as possible and see how their relevant data could be exported.

Once these to do's are done the functionality I expected from this module will be achieved but that doesn't mean any extra features that improve said functionality won't be considered for implementation.