> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://docs.gpmautomate.com/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://docs.gpmautomate.com/automate-en/action-guides/file-and-folder/read-excel-file.md).

# Read excel file

Reading an excel file is the action of extracting the value of a specific data cell in an Excel file (`.xlsx` or `.xls`) based on the specified row and column position, and then storing that value into an output variable.

#### Configuration parameters:

* File Path: The absolute path to the Excel file to read data from on the computer (e.g., `D:\GPM\data.xlsx`).
* Sheet index: The position of the sheet to read in the Excel file, starting from 0 *(The first sheet is `0`, the second sheet is `1`...)*.
* Column Name or Index: The position of the column containing the data to be retrieved. You can specify it in two ways:
  * By letter: `A`, `B`, `C`, `D`...
  * By index number, starting from 1 *(Column A is `1`, Column B is `2`...)*.
* Row Index: The position of the row containing the data to be retrieved, starting from 1 *(The first row is the header row or data row 1 will be `1`, the next row is `2`...)*.
* Output variable: The name of the variable that stores the value read from that Excel cell.

#### Practical example: Reading username and password from an Excel file for login

Suppose you have an Excel file containing a list of accounts located at the path `D:\GPM\accounts.xlsx`. The structure of the first sheet (Sheet index = 0) is as follows:

* Column A (Column 1): Contains Username
* Column B (Column 2): Contains Password

You want to read the account data from row number 2 (the first data row after the header row):

* Configuration to get Username:
  * File Path: `D:\GPM\accounts.xlsx`
  * Sheet index: `0`
  * Column Name or Index: `A` (or enter `1`)
  * Row Index: `2`
  * Output variable: `$username`
* Configuration to get Password: You create another similar action below:
  * The parameters remain the same, only change Column Name or Index to `B` (or enter `2`) and set Output variable to `$password`.

Result: The system will accurately extract the value of cell `A2` into the variable `$username` and cell `B2` into the variable `$password`. You can then pass these two variables into the browser interaction action to perform automatic login.

<figure><img src="/files/5FNm8P3wjd4clex2kxyQ" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure>


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