In today’s data-driven world, the ability to automate tasks like generating charts in Excel is a game-changer. Whether you are a developer, data analyst, or business professional, creating dynamic Excel files programmatically can save time and reduce errors. One of the most powerful tools to achieve this is ExcelJS, a JavaScript library that lets you create and style Excel workbooks—including charts—without relying on Excel itself.
When paired with cloud technology, automating Excel chart generation becomes even more powerful, enabling scalable, serverless reporting solutions that can run in real-time across any environment.
Here is a step-by-step guide to help you generate ExcelJS charts programmatically and integrate them into cloud-based workflows.
🔧 What is ExcelJS?
ExcelJS is a free and open-source JavaScript library used for reading, editing, and generating .xlsx Excel files.It supports cell styling, formulas, data validation, and—most recently—charts, making it ideal for automated reporting tasks.
ExcelJS works seamlessly with modern cloud technology stacks, allowing you to build chart-powered Excel exports in apps hosted on platforms like AWS Lambda, Azure Functions, or Google Cloud Functions.
📦 Step 1: Install ExcelJS
Start by setting up your project:
npm install exceljs
If you plan to deploy this in a cloud technology environment, ensure your setup supports Node.js.
🧩 Step 2: Set Up the Workbook and Worksheet
const ExcelJS = require(‘exceljs’);
const workbook = new ExcelJS.Workbook();
const worksheet = workbook.addWorksheet(‘Sales Report’);
worksheet.columns = [
{ header: ‘Month’, key: ‘month’ },
{ header: ‘Sales’, key: ‘sales’ },
];
worksheet.addRows([
{ month: ‘Jan’, sales: 5000 },
{ month: ‘Feb’, sales: 8000 },
{ month: ‘Mar’, sales: 6000 },
]);
This creates a worksheet with some sample sales data.
📈 Step 3: Add a Chart (Beta Feature)
As of recent releases, ExcelJS charts are still experimental and evolving, but here is a basic example of how you might implement a chart:
worksheet.addChart({
type: ‘bar’,
title: { text: ‘Monthly Sales’ },
legend: { position: ‘bottom’ },
axes: {
majorGridLines: true,
},
series: [
{
name: ‘Sales’,
labels: {
address: ‘A2:A4’,
},
values: {
address: ‘B2:B4’,
},
},
],
});
Note: Chart functionality may require you to use unofficial branches or tools like exceljs-chart add-ons or rely on XML manipulation. Stay updated with the ExcelJS GitHub repo for stable chart support.
☁️ Step 4: Use Cloud Technology for Automation
With cloud technology, you can deploy this script as part of a report generation pipeline. Here is how:
- AWS Lambda: Trigger chart generation based on API requests or schedules.
- Google Cloud Functions: Build a cloud function to create and email Excel reports.
By integrating ExcelJS charts into your cloud technology stack, you can generate Excel reports on demand and distribute them globally—without needing Excel installed anywhere.
💾 Step 5: Save the File
await workbook.xlsx.writeFile(‘sales-report.xlsx’);
Or, if deploying in a cloud function:
const buffer = await workbook.xlsx.writeBuffer();
// Upload buffer to S3, Azure Blob, or return via API
🔍 Real-World Use Cases
- Automated Financial Reports: Finance teams can use ExcelJS with cloud technology to generate real-time dashboards.
- Sales & Marketing Insights: Automatically visualise sales performance by region or campaign.
- Educational Institutions: Generate student performance charts dynamically for each term.
✅ Final Thoughts
Whether you are building serverless apps, automating reports, or delivering BI solutions, combining ExcelJS charts with cloud technology unlocks powerful possibilities. As charting features in ExcelJS mature, we can expect even more flexibility in how Excel files are created and shared—programmatically, reliably, and at scale.
Want help integrating this into your cloud project or SaaS platform? Just ask!
