To upload Excel and store it in database?

It sounds like you are using a relational DB (e.g. MySQL, Postgres, etc), which uses fixed column tables.

You should probably use a Document-based DB (e.g. CouchDB, Mongo, etc). This would be the best solution.

But, if you're stuck using a relational DB, you can use an EAV model.

Here is a basic example:

1. Create a table for the entity (excel file): EntityID, ExcelFileName
2. Create a table for the attribute (column info): AttributeID, EntityID, AttributeName
3. Create a table for the value (excel row/column): ValueID, RowNumber, AttributeID, AttributeValue

The downside is that the AttributeValue isn't specifically typed (it's just varchar/text). You can solve this by adding a "AttributeType" to the attribute table that is then used in your code to know what type of data that column should contain. BUT, unless you know the contents/format of the Excel file in advance, you'll probably have to GUESS what the type of a column is...which isn't hard as long as the excel file isn't messed up.

If you're just displaying the data that was imported, this probably isn't a big deal.

There are other (more complex) ways to implement EAV, including one with typed columns, if you have such a need.

Have you tried PHPExcel?

They also have a codeigniter library.

And this post might interest you : how to use phpexcel to read data and insert into database?

You can use PHPExcel of course, but have a look at other data format. Using comma-separated or tab-separated values can help you to solve your problem easily. Excel can save datasheets in these simple formats. Anyway, you cannot save formulas or conditional formatting in you database Moreover, it is much faster and robust and you can import CSV files with LOAD DATA INFILE query.