Fast Excel: Reader
Description
Fast Excel Reader reads data from Excel-compatible spreadsheets in XLSX format with high performance. Use this step when your workflow needs to ingest structured data from Excel workbooks — for example, importing transaction records, configuration lists, or report data. It supports reading specific sheets by name, starting from a configurable row and column, and automatically detecting header rows to map field names. The step can also accept filenames dynamically from a previous step, making it suitable for workflows that process multiple Excel files in sequence.
Notes:
- Fetching the file headers takes a little extra time.
- When you click Get Fields from the Header Row in the Fields tab, If the data type is not appropriate according to your requirement, then select the desired data type for the fields under consideration.
- Standalone Execution: The step can be used as the first step in a workflow without any input.
- Set only valid formats when configuring the fields.
Limitations:
- Column based reading is not supported.
OR
The step reads one sheet per plugin step instance. To read data from multiple sheets in the same workbook, add multiple Fast Excel: Reader steps as needed. - Password Protection: The step cannot read and open the password protected excel files and password protected sheets.
- If the Column Header in an Input Excel file of String data type is written as a date, for example, 08-06-2025 then the FastExcel: Reader step does not fetch the header as a String but as a Number, for example, 45816.
- When configuring fields, enter the format manually for the field type Timestamp.
For example, yyyy/MM/dd HH:mm:ss.SSS, yyyy-MM-dd'T'HH:mm:ss.SSSXXX, HH:mm:ss, HH:mm:ss.SSS and so on.
Configurations
| Field Name | Description |
|---|---|
| Step Name | Specify the unique name for the single workflow. The field is mandatory. |
| File Tab | |
| File | |
| Filename | Specify the filename and location of the Excel file to read. Or Click Browse to browse for a file. The field is mandatory. Note: The step will fail with an error (File Not Found), if the specified file does not exist. |
| Accept Filename from Previous Step | Check Accept Filename from Previous Step to read the file name from the previous step in the workflow. |
| Field in the Input to use as Filename | Specify the field in the input to use as a filename. Notes: • The step will fail with an error File Not Found, if the specified file does not exist. • The field is available if Accept Filename from Previous Step is checked. |
| Result Filename | |
| Add Filename to Result | Check Add Filename to Result to add the downloaded files to the result set and display the download link on AE else disable the checkbox. Default value: Checked |
| Sheets Tab | |
| List of Sheet to Read Table | Displays the sheet names fetched from previous step. |
| Sheet Name | Specify sheet name of excel file to read. Notes: • You can also specify the sheet name as environment variables or static values. • The step will fail with an error (Sheet Not Found), if the sheet name does not exist within the workbook. The field is mandatory. |
| Start Row | Specify a start row in the corresponding sheet to read from. Start Row are zero-indexed, meaning they always start from 0, not from 1. Note: You can specify the start row as environment variables or static values. |
| Start Column | Specify the start column in the corresponding sheet to read. Start Column are zero-indexed, meaning they always start from 0, not from 1. Note: Field supports environment variables or static values. |
| Get Sheet Name(s) | Click Get Sheet Name(s) and the list of available sheet(s) will be seen in Enter list pop-up. Add sheet in Your selection panel and click OK. The selected sheet(s) gets added to table. |
| Fields Tab | Note: While configuring the fields, select the accurate field type, else the value cannot be converted to the specified type (for example, parsing abc as a Number), the resulting exception is caught and suppressed. No error is logged, and the value for that field in the output row remains Null. |
| Name | Specify the name of the field that is mapped to the corresponding field in the Excel file. |
| Type | Select the datatype of the selected field. The following are the available data types: • Number • String • Date • Boolean • Integer • BigNumber • Binary • Timestamp • Internet Address |
| Format | Select the Format for the selected field type. |
| Get Fields from Header Row | Click to fetch the data from selected sheet(s) to the table. |