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An *Area* object represents a rectangular set of cells.  To create an Area object, call one of the following methods:
* {code}[Worksheet.CreateArea(Int32, Int32, Int32, Int32)]{code}This method takes the 0-based indexes of the area's first row and 	column, and the number of rows and columns to include in the area.
* {code}[Worksheet.CreateArea(String)]{code}This method takes a formula representing the area, for example, 	"=A1:G10".  The formula is relative to the current worksheet.
* {code}[Worksheet.CreateAreaOfColumns(Int32, Int32)]{code}This method creates a range containing one rectangular area. {obsolete}This method has been deprecated in favor of using [Worksheet.GetColumnProperties(Int32)] to get and edit column properties.{obsolete}
* {code}[Worksheet.CreateAreaOfRows(Int32, Int32)]{code}This method creates a range containing one rectangular area. {obsolete}This method has been deprecated in favor of using [Worksheet.GetRowProperties(Int32)] to get and edit row properties.{obsolete}

A *[Range]* is a collection of areas. The areas in a range  may be non-adjacent, and a range can include areas in different worksheets. To create a Range (without a name), call one of the following methods:
* {code}[Workbook.CreateRange(String)]{code}This method takes a formula representing the range, for example  	 "=Sheet1\!A1:G10" defines a range containing one area and  	 "=Sheet1\!B$12:$H$21 Sheet1\!$F$18:$K$29 Sheet1\!D$16:$M$21" defines 	 a range containing three areas.  	 The formula must be three-dimensional (i.e., it 	 must specify the sheet or sheets).
* {code}[Workbook.CreateRange(Area())]{code}This method takes an array of [Area] objects representing the range.
* {code}[Worksheet.CreateRange(String)]{code}This method takes a formula representing the range, for example  	 "=Sheet1\!A1:G10" defines a range containing one area and  	 "=Sheet1\!B$12:$H$21 Sheet1\!$F$18:$K$29 Sheet1\!D$16:$M$21" defines 	 a range containing three areas. The formula must be three-dimensional (i.e., it 	 must specify the sheet or sheets).

A *NamedRange* is stored in ExcelWriter's NamedRanges collections ([Workbook.NamedRanges] and [Worksheet.NamedRanges]) and is accessible after the workbook is saved.  In Excel, named ranges are listed in the name box above the top-left corner of  the worksheet.
\\\ !Ranges.png!\\To create a named range, call one of the following methods:
* {code}[Workbook.CreateNamedRange(String, String)]{code}This method takes a formula representing the range, for example  	 "=Sheet1\!A1:G10", and a name for the range. The formula must be three-dimensional (i.e., it 	 must specify the sheet or sheets).
* {code}[Workbook.CreateNamedRange(Area(), String)]{code}This method takes an array of [Area] objects representing the range and a name for the range.
* {code}[Worksheet.CreateNamedRange(Int32, Int32, Int32, Int32, String)]{code}This method returns a named range that contains one rectangular area.
* {code}[Worksheet.CreateNamedRange(String, String)]{code}This method takes a formula representing the range, for example  	 "=Sheet1\!A1:G10", and a name for the range. The formula must be three-dimensional (i.e., it 	 must specify the sheet or sheets).

h2. Importing Data to an Area


You can use an area as a set of target cells for imported data.  The [Area] object's [ImportData|Area.ImportData] method allows  you to import a block of data from a rectangular array or from an ADO.NET DataTable, DataView, or DataReader.  To import data to an area:
# Create an area in a worksheet.
{code:c#}
ExcelApplication xla = new ExcelApplication();
Workbook wb = xla.Create();
Worksheet ws = wb.Worksheets[0];
Area targetArea = ws.CreateArea(4, 4, 15, 6);
{code}
# Get a rectangular array, DataView, DataReader, or - as in the following example - DataTable to use as the data source.// ADO.NET code to get a DataTable from a query
{code:c#}
DataTable employeeDt = new DataTable();
using(SqlConnection conn = new SqlConnection(connString))
{
	string employeeSQL = "SELECT FirstName + ' ' + LastName As Name " +
	    "FROM Employee";
	SqlCommand cmdEmployee = new SqlCommand(employeeSQL, conn);
	SqlDataAdapter adptEmployee = new SqlDataAdapter(cmdEmployee);
	adptEmployee.Fill(employeeDt);
}
{code}
# Call ImportData to import the data.  The method returns a new area containing the imported values.
{code:c#}
importedValues = targetArea.ImportData(employeeDt);
{code}
For more information, see [Importing Data].

h2. Applying Formatting to Areas and Ranges

Defined styles can be assigned to [cells|Cell.Style], [rows|RowProperties.Style], [columns|ColumnProperties.Style], [areas|Area.SetStyle(Style)], and [ranges|Range.SetStyle(Style)]. To assign a style to a range or area:
# Create a style.
{code:c#}
ExcelApplication xla = new ExcelApplication();
Workbook wb = xla.Create();
Worksheet ws = wb.Worksheets[0];
Style styleTotalRow = wb.CreateStyle();
styleTotalRow.NumberFormat = "$#.##0";
styleTotalRow.Font.Italic = true;
styleTotalRow.Font.Bold = true;
{code}
# Define an area or range, for example:
{code:c#}Area areaTotalRow = ws.CreateArea(24, 0, 1, 3);
{code}
# Set or apply the style.
{code:c#}areaTotalRow.Style = styleTotalRow;{code}

For more information on setting and applying styles,  see [Styles|Styles in ExcelWriter].
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