(Example) Configure an Excel Read Activity

This example shows how to configure the Excel Read activity to read the data from a Microsoft Excel file from a process-based app.

Background and Setup

Result

This example shows how to add and configure the Excel Read activity in Sales Invoice app and read the data from a Microsoft Excel file.

When you add the Sales Invoice app from the App Store to the App Builder, and open the process, it looks like this:

Sales Invoice Process Model Preview
When you complete this example procedure, the finished process looks like this:

Sales Invoice Process Model Final

When you create the Microsoft Excel file, it looks like this:


Microsoft Excel Template
The fields of the Requester Details section read the data from the Sales Invoice.xlsx template and show in the form.

Sales Invoive Finance Manager Approval eForm

Prerequisites

Good to Know

  • The Sales Invoice app is a process-based app that creates an invoice for a sale.

    For the use case in this example, this app provides a form to enter information for the invoice. The invoice request is then routed to the Excel Read activity, which retrieves customer information from a Microsoft Excel file to use in the app.

  • This example uses the Excel Read activity in the Document tab. There are also versions of the Excel Read and Excel Write activities in the SharePoint tab. In general, examples are not provided for most third-party intergrations, including SharePoint. For information that is specific to the SharePoint versions of these activities, refer to Where Can I Find Information and Examples for Third-Party Integrations?

Step 1: Create a Microsoft Excel Template File

First, create and configure a Microsoft Excel file to read the data to show an eForm.

Good to Know

How to Start

  1. Open Microsoft Excel.
  2. Click Blank workbook.
  3. Save an Excel file with the file name Sales Invoice.xlsx.

Procedure

  1. In the Sales Invoice.xlsx file, enter the column names in this table:
    Column Names
    Account Name
    E-mail ID
    Phone
    Cutomer PO Number
    PO Amount
    Payment Terms

    Sales Invoice Excel Template
  2. Enter the values for each column as shown in this table:
    Column NamesColumn Values
    Account NameBob
    E-mail IDbob@abc.com
    Phone876298651
    Cutomer PO Number4566
    PO Amount2000
    Payment TermsNet30

    Excel Read General Configuration screen
  3. Name the cells that contain the data you want to retrieve to show on the form.

    Each cell from which you want to read data must have a name. For this example, use the names shown in this table.

    Cell ValuesName
    bob@abc.comEmailId
    876298651Phone
    4566CustomerPoNumber
    2000PoAmount
    Net30PaymentTerms
    1. Select the Bob cell.

      Excel Read General Configuration screen
    2. In the Name Box, enter AccountName in name the cell.

      Excel Read General Configuration screen
    3. Repeat these steps for each cell.

Step 2: Configure an Excel Read Activity

Next, add and configure an Excel Read activity.

How to Start

  1. Click App Builder.

    Click App Builder
  2. On the App Builder Home screen, click All Apps.

    Click All Apps
  3. On the All Apps screen, on the Sales Invoice app, click Edit Edit icon.

    Click Edit
  4. On the App Details screen, hover over the Sales Invoice process model, and click Edit Edit icon.

    Click Edit

Procedure

  1. On the Document tab, drag the Excel Read Excel Read icon activity onto your process.

    Sales Invoice Process Model
  2. On the General Configuration screen, in the Display Name field, enter Read Sales Invoice Excel.

    Excel Read General Configuration screen
  3. Click Next.
  4. On the Source Repository screen, select Google Drive.

    Source Repository screen
  5. Click Next.
  6. On the Design Time Template Configuration screen, in the Google Workspace list, select the access token Read Excel Data.

    Design Time Template Configuration screen
  7. In the File Path section, select Choose File Path > Sales Invoice.xlsx.

    As a prerequisite, Sales Invoice.xlsx must exist in Google Drive.


    Design Time Template Configuration screen
  8. Click Next.
  9. On the Runtime Repository screen, select Google Drive.

    Runtime Repository screen
  10. On the Runtime Template Configuration screen, in the Google Workspace list, select Read Excel Data.

    Runtime Template Configuration screen
  11. In the File Path section, select Choose File Path > Sales Invoice.xlsx.

    Runtime Repository screen
  12. Click Next.
  13. On the Excel Read Configuration screen, in the Fields Mapping field, click Schema Mapping Schema Mapping icon.

    Excel Read Configuration screen
  14. On the Schema Mapper screen, map the cells in the Excel file to the entity fields as shown in this table.

    These entity fields are associated with form controls in the Sales Invoice app.

    Excel Template Cell NameForm Fields
    AccountNameAccountName__u
    CutomerPoNumberCutomerPONumber__u
    EmailIdEmailId__u
    PaymentTermsPaymentTerms__u
    PhonePhone__u
    PoAmountPOAmount__u

    Schema Mapper screen
  15. Click Finish.

    The Process Builder shows with Excel Read activity.


    Contact Crisis Management COVID 19 Process Model

Step 4: (Optional) Run the App

Next, run the app.

Procedure

  1. To run the app, refer to My Apps screen.
  2. Complete your Sales Invoice Request form and submit the form.

    Sales Invoice Request Form
  3. On the My Tasks tab, open the Finance Manager Approval task and complete the eForm as necessary.

    When you open the task, the Requester Details section on the Finance Manager Approval form shows the data from these columns specified in the Sales Invoice.xlsx Microsoft Excel file.

    • Account Name
    • E-mail Id
    • Phone
    • Customer PO Number
    • PO Amount
    • Payment Terms

    For more information, refer to Open a Task (Modern Work Center).


    Sales Invoive Finance Manager Approval eForm

How to Get the App

This example is based on the Sales Invoice app from the AgilePoint NX App Store. Use this procedure to get the app.

Prerequisites

Good to Know

  • This procedure is optional. It is provided so you can test the example with an out-of-the-box app.
  • This is part of the Background and Setup procedures, but many users preferred this step to appear after the example, not before it.

Procedure

  1. Click App Store.

    App Store
  2. In the CATEGORY section, click Sales.

    App Store screen
  3. Click the Sales Invoice app.

    Sales Invoice screen
  4. On the Sales Invoice screen, click Add.

    Sales Invoice screen
  5. On the Trust App screen, click Trust it.
  6. Click Return to site.