The Excel source node allows Modeler to read data directly from Microsoft Excel:

When using the Excel source node, you will first need to specify the type of Excel file that you are importing in the File type section. The filename and directory can be specified using the Import file list button. There are many other options in this dialog (descriptions of these options are presented in the following list). In our experience, the On blank rows option can be tricky because the default option specifies that once an empty row is encountered, Modeler will stop reading in data. This can be problematic because we have seen some datasets where there are blank rows (again, when a blank row is encountered, the data after the blank row is not read), or datasets where field names are in the first row. This is followed by a blank row, and then on the third row the data begins (in this case, we would only be reading in the field names).

Modeler only allows you to bring in one worksheet at a time (obviously, you can bring in other worksheets using additional Excel source nodes and then combine the files). The Use named range, Choose worksheet, and Range on worksheet options allow you to control this:

• Use named range specifies a named range of cells as defined in the Excel worksheet.
• Choose worksheet lets you specify which worksheet you want to import. Individual worksheets can be referred to either by name or index number. Index numbering begins with zero for the first worksheet, one for the second worksheet, and so forth.
• Range on worksheet lets you import an explicit range of cells in situations when you do not want to import the whole spreadsheet. With this option, you can either import the data beginning with the first non-blank row or specify an explicit range of cells.
• First row has column names indicates that the first row contains the names you want to use as field names. If not selected, field names will be generated automatically.

The Filter, Types, and Annotations tabs are the same in all source nodes, so we will not review these here.