Use Excel File messes up decimal/thousand separator

[outofshape (Gubser, Raphael)]

Dear UiPath Community

I have an SAP export to .xls file that formats number with “,” as decimal separator and “.” for thousands. When I open the .xls file manually with excel the formats are correct, but when I use the “Use Excel File” activity it messes up the formatting and transforms “.” into “,”.

My Excel settings are as follows:

Here’s an example of the file opened manually:

And here after being opened by “Use Excel File” activity:

I’ve tried changing the “Read formatting” options to “Default”, “Raw Value” and “Display value” but the result stays the same.

Any ideas on what could be the cause and how to fix it?

Bests
Raphaël

[Gokul001 (Gokul Balaji)]

HI @outofshape

Can you try to Read the excel file using Workbook activities?

Regards
Gokul

[outofshape (Gubser, Raphael)]

Hi @Gokul001

I tried but I get the error “Read Range: Your stream was neither an OLE2 stream, nor an OOXML stream.”

[Gokul001 (Gokul Balaji)]

Can you share the sample input excel file here @outofshape

[outofshape (Gubser, Raphael)]

The value “12.980” marked in green will be one that get transformed into “12,98” which is wrong.

[outofshape (Gubser, Raphael)]

I also tried using classic activity “Excel Application Scope” and it produces the same effect.

[Gokul001 (Gokul Balaji)]

This value also populating wrongly ?

[outofshape (Gubser, Raphael)]

Yes, this value becomes “5,71” when opened using “Use Excel File” activity.

[outofshape (Gubser, Raphael)]

Update
I found a solution by opening the .xls file using “start process” activity (which simulates a “manual open”) and then saving the file as .xlsx
When later in the process I open the .xlsx file using the “Use Excel File activity” it works fine and does not mess up the separators.