Excel Read
Read values from an Excel workbook range
Node Type
Action
Category
Microsoft Excel Integration
Icon
Microsoft Excel
Overview
The Excel Read node allows you to read values from Excel workbooks programmatically. This powerful automation tool integrates with Microsoft Graph API to provide intelligent spreadsheet reading capabilities for your workflows.
Key Features
- • Range Reading: Read specific cell ranges using A1 notation
- • Dynamic Workbook Selection: Choose from your OneDrive workbooks
- • Structured Data Output: Returns 2D array of cell values
- • Seamless Integration: Works with other Microsoft Office nodes
- • Error Handling: Built-in success/failure tracking
Prerequisites
Microsoft Account Connection
Must have a connected Microsoft account with appropriate permissions
Excel Workbook Access
Understanding of Excel workbook access and range requirements
Technical Requirements
Technical setup and configuration requirements
Node Configuration
Required Fields
workbookId
ID of the Excel workbook to read from. Use the picker to select from your OneDrive files.
range
A1 notation of the range to read (e.g., Sheet1!A1:D10). Defaults to Sheet1!A1:Z10 if not specified.
Examples & Use Cases
Read Specific Range
Read a specific range of cells from an Excel workbook
{
"workbookId": "01ABC123DEF456",
"range": "Sheet1!A1:C10"
}Reads cells A1 through C10 from Sheet1 of the specified workbook.
Read Entire Sheet
Read all data from a specific sheet
{
"workbookId": "01ABC123DEF456",
"range": "Data!A:Z"
}Reads all data from columns A to Z in the "Data" sheet.
Data Processing Workflow
Complete workflow for automated data processing from Excel
Workflow Structure
Read data from Excel, process each row with AI, and write results back to another system.
Dynamic Range Reading
Use template variables for dynamic range specification
{
"workbookId": "{{workflow.workbookId}}",
"range": "{{workflow.sheetName}}!A1:{{workflow.endColumn}}10"
}Uses template variables to dynamically specify workbook, sheet, and range based on workflow context.
Best Practices
Do's
- • Use descriptive range notation (e.g., 'Sheet1!A1:D10' instead of 'A1:D10')
- • Check the success field before processing the values
- • Handle empty cells appropriately in your downstream processing
- • Use specific ranges rather than entire columns when possible for better performance
- • Store workbook IDs for reuse across multiple operations
- • Consider the data structure when processing the 2D array output
Don'ts
- • Don't read entire workbooks without specific need
- • Avoid using ranges that include empty rows/columns unnecessarily
- • Don't forget to handle authentication errors
- • Avoid hardcoding workbook IDs when dynamic selection is available
- • Don't assume all cells contain data - handle null/empty values
- • Avoid reading the same data multiple times in a workflow
Troubleshooting
Common Issues
Authentication Errors
Symptoms: Node fails with 'User has not connected their Microsoft account' error
Solution: Ensure your Microsoft account is properly connected via OAuth. Check that you have the Files.Read.All scope permission. Reconnect your Microsoft account if necessary.
Workbook Not Found
Symptoms: Node fails with workbook not found error
Solution: Verify the workbook ID is correct and the file exists in your OneDrive. Use the workbook picker to ensure you're selecting a valid file. Check that the file hasn't been moved or deleted.
Invalid Range Format
Symptoms: Node fails with range format errors
Solution: Ensure your range follows A1 notation format (e.g., 'Sheet1!A1:D10'). Include the sheet name if reading from a specific sheet. Avoid special characters in range notation.
Empty Results
Symptoms: Node succeeds but returns empty values array
Solution: Check that the specified range contains data. Verify the sheet name is correct. Consider expanding the range to include more cells. Check if the workbook is protected or has restricted access.
Permission Denied
Symptoms: Node fails with insufficient permissions
Solution: Ensure you have read access to the workbook. Check that the file isn't shared with restricted permissions. Verify your Microsoft account has the necessary OneDrive access.