# Excel Reader Extension
Starting from **ONEWEB version 4.0.19.11**, the platform supports **Custom Extensions** that can be used across both **Process Designer** and **Microflow Designer**.\
In addition to user‑defined extensions, ONEWEB also provides a set of **built‑in extensions**, one of which is the **Excel Reader**.
The **Excel Reader extension** enables Microflows and Process Flows to **read data from Microsoft Excel files** and process that data as part of backend logic or workflow execution.\
This capability is particularly useful for file‑based integrations and batch‑oriented data processing scenarios.
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### Purpose of Excel Reader
The Excel Reader extension is designed to:
* Read structured data from Microsoft Excel files
* Support batch and file‑based data integration
* Enable Excel‑driven workflows and data imports
* Integrate legacy or external Excel data with backend systems
#### Typical Use Cases
* Importing master or reference data from Excel files
* Processing bulk records supplied via spreadsheets
* Reading Excel files from file systems or network‑based locations
Excel Reader helps bridge traditional Excel‑based data exchange with modern automated workflows.
***
### Installing the Excel Reader Extension
Before the Excel Reader can be used, the extension must be **installed and enabled** in the application.
To install the extension:
* Follow the steps described in **Section 6.4.16 – Custom Extensions**
* Install and enable the **Excel Reader** extension for the target application
Once installed:
* The Excel Reader appears in the **diagram palette**
* It can be used like any other standard activity node in Microflow or Process Designer
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### Configuring Excel Reader
After placing the Excel Reader node onto the canvas, users can configure how and from where the Excel file is read.
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#### File Source Configuration
The Excel Reader supports reading Excel files from multiple sources:
* File System
* Network locations
* FTP
* SFTP
* FTPS
Users can:
* Specify file paths and connection details directly, or
* Retrieve file location details from a **Business Object**
This flexibility allows Excel Reader to integrate seamlessly with both **local** and **remote file‑based systems**.
***
#### Reading Data from Multiple Sheets
The Excel Reader supports processing **multiple worksheets** within a single Excel file.
* Sheet names or identifiers can be provided as input
* Sheet‑specific configuration can be mapped using input Business Objects
This capability enables flexible handling of complex Excel files containing multiple datasets.
***
#### Column‑Level and Row‑Level Reading
Excel Reader provides two primary data‑reading modes, configurable per worksheet:
* **Specific Field (Column‑level)**
* Reads values from specified columns only
* **Records (Row‑level)**
* Reads complete rows as records
These options provide fine‑grained control over how Excel data is extracted and processed within a flow.
***
### Best Practices
To ensure reliable and maintainable Excel‑based integrations:
* Use Excel Reader primarily for **batch or file‑driven scenarios**
* Validate Excel file format and structure before processing
* Use Business Objects to define clear input and output data contracts
* Avoid hard‑coding file paths; prefer environment variables where possible
* Combine Excel Reader with Database or Web Service tasks for downstream processing
***
### Summary
The **Excel Reader extension** is a built‑in Custom Extension that allows Microflows and Process Flows to **read and process Excel data**.
With Excel Reader, developers can:
* Read Excel files from local or remote sources
* Process multi‑sheet Excel documents
* Extract data at column‑level or row‑level
* Integrate Excel‑based data into backend workflows and integrations
Excel Reader is a key capability for building **file‑driven integration** and **data‑import workflows** within the ONEWEB platform, especially in enterprise environments where Excel remains a common data exchange format.
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