gistfile1.txt

controller:

  def task_summary
    # Find all the tasks
    tasks = Task.find(:all)

    # Create an IO buffer for the generated excel data
    target_string = StringIO.new

    # Ask for excel data for these tasks to be put in the target_string
    excel_summary( tasks, target_string )

    # Send back just the excel data string and suggest a filename and a MIME type
    send_data( target_string.string, :filename => "my_excel_file.xls", :type => "application/excel" )    
  end



helper / model:


def excel_summary( tasks, target_io )
     workbook = Excel.new( target_io )
     format = Format.new

     worksheet = workbook.create_worksheet
     worksheet.write(0, 0, "ID")
     worksheet.write(0, 1, "Name")

     # Loop over all the tasks and create rows for each
     tasks.each_with_index do |task,row|
         worksheet.write(row, 0, task.id)
         worksheet.write(row, 1, task.Task)
     end

     workbook.close
end