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# Read from Excel File

> For the full documentation index, see: https://docs.mulesoft.com/llms.txt

Use the _Read from Excel File_ action step to read the contents of an Excel file. The result will be
saved as a string or an array, which you can then use as an Outbound Variable in subsequent action
steps.

The _Read from Excel File_ action step can only be used inside an Excel Session. Specify the source
file in the [Excel Session](https://docs.mulesoft.com/rpa-builder/latest/toolbox-excel-operations-excel-session).

## Properties

**Excel Operation Settings**

- **Column**

  Specifies the column to read. You can enter letters or numbers in this field. If you enter a
  number, this will correspond to the number of the column in the Excel file. For example, instead
  of A for column A, you can enter a 1 for column A, a 2 for column B (instead of the letter B), and
  so on.

- **Range**

  Specifies the read mode to use:

  - **Cell**

    Reads text from a specific cell and outputs the result as a string.

  - **Row**

    Reads text from a complete row and outputs the result as an array.

  - **Column**

    Reads text from a complete column and outputs the result as an array.

- **Row**

  Specifies the cell or row number to read.

- **Sheet name**

  Name of the spreadsheet. Under Properties you can only enter the name directly, unlike in the
  [Wizard](#wizard).

**Troubleshooting settings**

- **Disable recalculation of date formulas**

  Disables the recalculation of cell values formatted as DateTime to prevent RPA Builder from
  becoming unresponsive while it finishes calculating formulas that contain many dependencies.

## Inbound Variables

**Sheet name** Name of the spreadsheet.

**Column** This is where you enter the column that is to be read. You can enter letters or numbers
in this field. If you enter a number, this will correspond to the number of the column in the Excel
file.

**Row** This is where you enter the cell or row number that should be read.

## Outbound Variables

**Read from Excel File.Result** This variable is output as a string. The result will only be shown
to you if you have selected the _Cell_ mode.

If you have selected _Row_ or _Column_ mode, an error message will be displayed and the Workflow
cannot be executed.

**Read from Excel File.ResultAsArray** This variable will be output as an array if you have selected
Column or Row as the mode.

**Read from Excel File.HasContent** (Bool) This is how you check whether a specific cell, row or
column has content. If there is content, the result will be _True_ and if there is no content the
result will be _False_. If in the case of rows or columns only a single cell is populated, the
result is _True_.

## Wizard

The **Sheet name** field is for selecting the spreadsheet from which text should be read. You can
type directly into the input field, select an existing sheet from the drop-down list or connect with
a Pin Variable. The drop-down lists contains all the sheets saved within the Excel file.

In **Excel Mode** you specify via the drop-down list whether to read a cell, a row or an entire
column. You can enter letters or numbers as a value or connect with a Pin Variable.