How to Improve Performance of Modern Design Excel Activities for Reading Data in UiPath"

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How to Boost Performance of Modern Design Excel Activities for Reading Data in UiPath

Overview

This KB article explains the Excel read formatting options in UiPath's "Use Excel File" activity(Modern Design Excel), with a focus on improving performance using the "Raw Value" option.

Excel Read Formatting Options

1. Same as project: Uses the formatting settings defined in the overall project settings.
2. Default: Uses UiPath's standard Excel reading settings.
3. Raw value: Reads data from Excel cells as raw, unformatted values.
4. Display value: Reads data as it appears visually in the spreadsheet, including applied formatting.

Improving Performance

• Use the "Excel file" activity with Read formatting set to "Raw Value".

• Use the "Read range" activity with the property "Read formatting" set to "Raw value" :

Why Choose "Raw Value"

The "Raw Value" option is recommended for improved performance because:

1. It bypasses formatting and display calculations.
2. It directly accesses the underlying data stored in cells.
3. It avoids the overhead of processing cell formatting or formulas.

These factors contribute to faster data reading, especially when dealing with large datasets or complex spreadsheets.

Pros of Using "Raw Value"

1. Significantly reduces process execution time.
2. Ideal for handling large volumes of data.
3. Simplifies data processing by providing unformatted values.
4. Reduces memory usage by not loading unnecessary formatting information.

Cons of Using "Raw Value"

1. Does not preserve cell formatting (e.g., date formats, number formats).
2. May require additional processing if formatted data is needed.
3. Formulas are not calculated; only the last saved value is retrieved.
4. May not be suitable for scenarios where visual representation is important.

Best Practices

1. Always test your process with different options to find the best balance between performance and data requirements.
2. Use "Raw Value" when working with large datasets where formatting is not critical.
3. Consider using "Display Value" when the formatted appearance of data is essential, despite potential performance trade-offs.
4. Implement error handling to manage any unexpected data formats when using "Raw Value".

Note: This article primarily focuses on Modern Excel activities in UiPath. However, users should be aware that Classic Excel activities may be faster in certain scenarios. Additionally, Classic Excel activities could be deprecated in future UiPath versions and may not support some advanced Excel functionalities.