When it comes to seamlessly exporting tables to Excel, the Jquery DataTables Table Tools plugin is the top choice for its cleanliness and simplicity. This plugin provides a grid that efficiently sorts, filters, orders, and pages data with just a few additional lines of code and two small files included. It offers export options to Excel, PDF, CSV, clipboard, and even printer.
All you need is this piece of code:
$(document).ready( function () {
$('#example').dataTable( {
"sDom": 'T<"clear">lfrtip',
"oTableTools": {
"sSwfPath": "/swf/copy_cvs_xls_pdf.swf"
}
} );
} );
The deployment process is quick, there are no browser constraints or server-side language requirements, and most importantly, it's incredibly easy to grasp. A win-win situation overall. However, one aspect where it may fall short is strict column formatting.