In many automation scenarios, you’ll encounter a spreadsheet that stores multiple keywords or data points across many rows. The goal is to take each row, perform the same operation (such as a search or data extraction), and then write the results back to the same row. This tutorial walks you through a clear, beginner-friendly workflow that converts repetitive manual work into a streamlined automated process.
Launching the file
First, use the Launch Excel or Get active worksheet from Excel commands to prepare your workbook. Once the file is open, you will set up a loop to move through the rows. This loop treats each row as a single unit, allowing you to access all values in that row at once and apply the same actions to every row in sequence.
Configuring the loop scope
Setting the loop’s range is flexible, with Loop through Excel worksheet rows. By default, the loop starts at Row 1 and continues to the very end of your data (indicated by setting the end row to -1). If you only need to process a specific section—such as rows 3 through 6—simply enter those row numbers. This allows you to target specific data without changing your overall automation logic.
Understanding the flow variable
As the loop runs, it creates a variable to represent the "current row" (often named excelRow). Think of this variable as a container or List holding all the column values for that specific row:
Accessing Columns: Use index numbers starting from 0. For example,
excelRow[0]gets the value from Column A, andexcelRow[1]gets Column B.Tracking Position: Use
excelRow.RowNumberto identify exactly which row the automation is currently processing.Checking Width: Use
excelRow.Countto see how many columns are in that row.
Reading, processing, and writing data in each row
Inside the loop, you can mix and match actions based on your specific goal. There are three basic operations:
Read: Extract values from the current row (e.g.,
Set Variable: Keyword = excelRow[0]).Process: Perform an action with that data, such as a web search, a calculation, or data extraction.
Write: Save the result back to the Excel sheet. Use the Write to Excel Cell command, targeting the
excelRow.RowNumberto ensure the result lands in the correct row.
End-to-End Workflow Example
Imagine you are searching for prices online:
Loop starts: It grabs the first row.
Read: It takes the product name from
excelRow[0].Process: It searches the web and finds the price (stored as
Result).Write: It writes the
Resultinto Column B at the positionexcelRow.RowNumber.Repeat: The loop moves to the next row and repeats until finished.
This approach creates a clean read-process-write cycle that mirrors how you’d manually work through the sheet, but with the speed and reliability of automation.
Why This Pattern Matters
The Loop through Excel command is the foundation of scalable automation. By following the Read-Process-Write pattern, you mirror how a human works—row by row—but with the speed and precision of a machine. This ensures consistent results across thousands of rows while drastically reducing manual labor.