> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://docs.visualyze.ai/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://docs.visualyze.ai/rpa-studio/microsoft-office/excel/column/read-column.md).

# Read Column

Read column values from excel sheet.

Reads the values from a column beginning with the cell specified in the Column Name property field, and store it in a variable.

{% hint style="info" %}
This activity can only be used after the [Open Excel File activity.](/rpa-studio/microsoft-office/excel/open-excel-file.md)
{% endhint %}

### Input

* **Input** : [`ExcelHandle Variable`](/getting-started/rpa-studio/variables.md#excelhandle) ![](https://1935494318-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2F-M927xRZSEM57y2sBcm3%2Fuploads%2Fgit-blob-20e90e25afa096ee0833e242a7763776d12b4591%2Fimage.png?alt=media)\
  A variable name that references the opened excel filehandle.
* **Sheet Name** : [`String Argument`](/getting-started/rpa-studio/arguments.md#string)![](https://1935494318-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2F-M927xRZSEM57y2sBcm3%2Fuploads%2Fgit-blob-20e90e25afa096ee0833e242a7763776d12b4591%2Fimage.png?alt=media)\
  The name of the sheet in which the column of data is to be read.
* **Column Name** : [`String Argument`](/getting-started/rpa-studio/arguments.md#string)![](https://1935494318-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2F-M927xRZSEM57y2sBcm3%2Fuploads%2Fgit-blob-20e90e25afa096ee0833e242a7763776d12b4591%2Fimage.png?alt=media)\
  The column name to be read.

{% hint style="info" %}
The column name is specified in `A` format.
{% endhint %}

* **Preserve Format** :
  * `True` - keeps the formatting of the excel column that you want to read.
  * `False` - Read the column without formatting. `Default`

**Output**

* **Column Data**: [`IEnumerable<object>`](/getting-started/rpa-studio/variables.md)

  The variable containing the specified column of data.