Copy from Excel

Copy specified cell values from an Excel file and place them into a new or existing variable.

1. Click Browse and navigate to the Excel file from which you would like to copy cell values.

   All other options and fields in the dialog box will be enabled once you have selected a file.

2. If the selected Excel file is password protected, enter the password.

3. Specify the worksheet and cells from which to copy values, either by:

   • selecting them directly in Excel; or

   • entering them manually (this method can be particularly useful when you want to use variable values to select cells).

4. Click Test to display a sample of the data that will be copied based on your selections.

   

5. Select whether to copy the values as Actual Values or Formatted Text.

6. Specify options for saving the data:

   • Enter the name of the variable into which you'd like to place the copied values; and

   • Enter the delimiters to use to separate each column and row in the returned data

7. Instruct the wizard how to handle any errors encountered.

   Read more about error handling.

8. Enable timeout monitoring.

   Read more about Timeout Monitoring.

Should you use Actual Values or Formatted Text as the copy method?

It's important to use the Formatted Text option when the relevant cells are formatted as dates. Otherwise, the values returned will be the serial numbers for the dates of the Excel. (For example: June 21, 2017 = serial number 42907)

For reading all other cells, use the Actual Values option.

Also, Formatted Text provides the exact same text as in the excel. To avoid having fields presented as ####, the columns need to have the proper length - which you can do directly in the excel or by using Macro. You can also use the Run Macro advanced command to perform this action.

You don't need Excel installed to use or to run this command unless you are using 'select range' in the command editor.

Selecting worksheet & cells directly in Excel

1. Click the Select in Excel to invoke the Excel selector.

2. The Excel selector will appear with the selected Excel file open behind it.



3. Click directly in the Excel file and select the worksheet (tab) and cells you want to copy from.

   • The worksheet name and cell range you have selected will appear in the selector window's Current selection fields



If the selector window interferes with viewing or selecting the cells you need, simply drag the window to a more convenient location on the screen.

4. When you are satisfied with your selection, click OK.

5. The main Copy from Excel window will appear, with the Worksheet and Range fields populated by your selections.



6. If you want to make modifications to your selections, you can do so either manually or by repeating the Select in Excel process.

Entering worksheet & cells manually

1. Specify the worksheet (tab) in which the cells you want to copy are located.

2. Choose one of three methods for specifying the cells from which you want to copy:

   1. Range – Designate the range using "standard" Excel format (e.g., the range from Column A Row 1 to Column D Row 8 is designated as A1:D8)

   2. From/To –

      • Designate the starting column and row, using numbers and/or letters (e.g., cell C5 could be designated as Column 3, Row 5 or Column C, Row 5).

      • (Optional) Designate the ending column and row, using numbers and/or letters.

        • If you don't designate an ending column, the robot will copy data from all columns until it detects it has reached the last column in the range (by reading 20 consecutive empty columns).

        • If you don't designate an ending row, the robot will copy data from all rows until it detects it has reached the last row in the range (by reading 20 consecutive empty columns).

   3. Entire worksheet – The robot will copy data from the whole worksheet until it detects it has reached the last row and column in the sheet (by reading 20 consecutive empty rows/columns).