Read Cell
Description
The Read Cell activity retrieves the value contained in a worksheet cell and stores it for use in subsequent workflow activities.
The cell can be identified using a cell address or by specifying row and column indexes.
Common Capabilities
Process Data Support
This activity supports dynamic configuration using variables from the Process Data drawer.
You can bind values from Model Data, Form Data, System Data, Enterprise Variables, and Activity Outputs.
Learn more → Using Process Data
Design-Time Configuration
Workbook Configuration
This activity requires an Excel workbook.
Learn more → Excel Workbook Configuration
Worksheet Selection
This activity operates on a worksheet within the workbook.
Learn more → Excel Worksheet Selection
Cell Selection
Selects the cell whose value should be read.
The cell can be identified using either a cell address or a combination of row and column indexes.
Learn more → Worksheet Data Selection
Preserve Format
Determines whether the displayed cell format is preserved when returning the cell value.
When enabled, the returned value matches the way the value appears in Excel.
Examples:
| Cell Value | Cell Format | Returned Value |
|---|---|---|
| 1234.5 | Currency | $1,234.50 |
| 0.25 | Percentage | 25% |
| 2026-06-18 | Date | 18-Jun-2026 |
When disabled, the underlying cell value is returned without display formatting.
Default value is True.
Behavior
The activity reads the value stored in the selected cell and returns it as text.
If the cell contains a formula, the calculated result of the formula is returned rather than the formula expression itself.
To retrieve the formula expression, use the Read Cell Formula activity.
Outputs
Cell Value
Returns the value contained in the selected cell.
The returned value is provided as a string.
Wait All Incoming
Controls how this activity behaves when multiple incoming execution paths converge.
Determines whether the activity executes when any incoming path completes, or only after all relevant paths have completed.
Learn more → Execution Control
On Error
Defines how the workflow behaves if this activity encounters a runtime error.
Supported strategies include Fault, Continue, Suspend, and Retry.