# Custom formatting values
By default Laravel Excel uses PHPExcel's default value binder to intelligently format a cells value when reading it. You may override this behavior by passing in your own value binder to suit your specific needs. Value binders must implement PHPExcel_Cell_IValueBinder and have a bindValue method. They may also extend PHPExcel_Cell_DefaultValueBinder to return the default behavior.
use PHPExcel_Cell;
use PHPExcel_Cell_DataType;
use PHPExcel_Cell_IValueBinder;
use PHPExcel_Cell_DefaultValueBinder;
class MyValueBinder extends PHPExcel_Cell_DefaultValueBinder implements PHPExcel_Cell_IValueBinder
{
public function bindValue(PHPExcel_Cell $cell, $value = null)
{
if (is_numeric($value))
{
$cell->setValueExplicit($value, PHPExcel_Cell_DataType::TYPE_NUMERIC);
return true;
}
// else return default behavior
return parent::bindValue($cell, $value);
}
}
$myValueBinder = new MyValueBinder;
$reader = Excel::setValueBinder($myValueBinder)->load('file.xls');
// Reader methods
Available PHPExcel_Cell_DataType's are TYPE_STRING, TYPE_FORMULA, TYPE_NUMERIC, TYPE_BOOL, TYPE_NULL, TYPE_INLINE and TYPE_ERROR
To reset the value binder back to default and/or before calling Laravel Excel after setting a custom value binder you need to call the resetValueBinder method.
Excel::resetValueBinder();