MNB PHPExcelDeveloper Guide
v2.0.5

Large files examples

Large files Excel examples, explained clearly.

Open a focused example to see the implementation path, copy-ready PHP, expected workbook behavior, and the production boundary that matters.

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5examples in this category
21focused categories
5implementation paths
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01
Analyze an XLSX before importing

Inspect workbook size, rows, columns, risk, server limits, and the recommended normal or streaming import path before processing.

MediumDirect API
MnbExcel::analyzeXlsxForImport()MnbExcel::recommendImportMethod()MnbExcel::autoImportPlan()
analyze-an-xlsx-before-importing.php
<?php

use Mnb\PHPExcel\MnbExcel;

$plan = MnbExcel::autoImportPlan(
    __DIR__ . '/fixtures/large-orders.xlsx',
    [
        'server' => 'shared',
        'memory_limit' => '256M',
        'max_execution_time' => 30,
    ],
    [
        'accurate_row_count' => true,
        'scan_features' => true,
        'time_budget_seconds' => 20,
    ]
);

print_r([
    'method' => $plan['selected_method'],
    'chunk_size' => $plan['chunk_size'],
    'route' => $plan['route'],
    'rows' => $plan['profile']['total_rows'],
    'risk' => $plan['profile']['risk'],
]);
02
Stream a large XLSX in chunks

Process a large worksheet in bounded-memory chunks and persist each chunk immediately instead of collecting the workbook in one array.

MediumDirect API
MnbExcel::largeRead()withHeader()progress()chunk()
stream-a-large-xlsx-in-chunks.php
<?php

use Mnb\PHPExcel\MnbExcel;

$result = MnbExcel::largeRead(__DIR__ . '/fixtures/large-orders.xlsx')
    ->sheet('Orders')
    ->withHeader()
    ->timeBudgetSeconds(25)
    ->memoryGuardRatio(0.80)
    ->progress(static function (array $state): void {
        echo 'Rows delivered: ' . ($state['rows_delivered'] ?? 0) . PHP_EOL;
    })
    ->chunk(1000, static function (array $rows, array $state): void {
        // Validate and insert this chunk here.
        printf("Chunk %d contains %d rows\n", $state['chunks_delivered'], count($rows));
    });

print_r($result);
03
Stream only required columns

Reduce parsing and downstream work by projecting worksheet columns while preserving identifiers and converting Excel dates.

MediumDirect API
onlyColumns()preserveNumericStrings()convertDates()chunk()
stream-only-required-columns.php
<?php

use Mnb\PHPExcel\MnbExcel;

MnbExcel::largeRead(__DIR__ . '/fixtures/large-payments.xlsx')
    ->withHeader()
    ->onlyColumns(['A', 'D', 'G'])
    ->preserveNumericStrings()
    ->convertDates(true, 'Y-m-d')
    ->chunk(2000, static function (array $rows): void {
        foreach ($rows as $row) {
            // Only the projected fields are present.
            processPaymentRow($row);
        }
    });
04
Stream a large XLSX export

Generate a database-sized XLSX from an iterable while reporting progress and avoiding a full in-memory workbook model.

MediumDirect API
MnbExcel::largeExport()withHeader()progress()save()
stream-a-large-xlsx-export.php
<?php

use Mnb\PHPExcel\MnbExcel;

function orderRows(): Generator
{
    for ($id = 1; $id <= 250000; $id++) {
        yield [
            'order_id' => $id,
            'status' => $id % 2 === 0 ? 'paid' : 'pending',
            'amount' => round($id * 1.25, 2),
        ];
    }
}

$result = MnbExcel::largeExport(orderRows())
    ->sheetName('Orders')
    ->withHeader()
    ->freezeHeader()
    ->autoFilter()
    ->progress(static function (array $state): void {
        echo 'Rows written: ' . ($state['rows_exported'] ?? 0) . PHP_EOL;
    }, everyRows: 5000)
    ->save(__DIR__ . '/output/large-orders.xlsx');

print_r($result);
05
Import to SQL with progress and resume

Stream, validate, batch-insert, record failed rows, checkpoint progress, and resume an interrupted large database import.

AdvancedDirect API
MnbExcel::largeImportToSql()MnbExcel::resumeImport()MnbExcel::importStatus()
import-to-sql-with-progress-and-resume.php
<?php

use Mnb\PHPExcel\MnbExcel;

$pdo = new PDO('sqlite:' . __DIR__ . '/storage/imports.sqlite');
$pdo->setAttribute(PDO::ATTR_ERRMODE, PDO::ERRMODE_EXCEPTION);
$pdo->exec('CREATE TABLE IF NOT EXISTS payments (email TEXT, amount REAL)');

$manifest = __DIR__ . '/storage/payment-import.json';

$result = MnbExcel::largeImportToSql(
    __DIR__ . '/fixtures/large-payments.xlsx',
    $pdo,
    'payments',
    [
        'with_header' => true,
        'chunk_size' => 1000,
        'batch_size' => 250,
        'manifest_path' => $manifest,
        'failed_rows_csv' => __DIR__ . '/storage/payment-errors.csv',
        'resume' => true,
        'time_budget_seconds' => 25,
        'rules' => [
            'email' => 'required|email',
            'amount' => 'required|numeric|min:0',
        ],
        'progress' => static function (array $state): void {
            echo 'Rows scanned: ' . ($state['rows_scanned'] ?? 0) . PHP_EOL;
        },
    ]
);

if (($result['status'] ?? '') === 'paused') {
    $result = MnbExcel::resumeImport($manifest, $pdo);
}