What happens if you use the Excel Read Range activity to read a .xlsx file that is already opened?

When using the Excel Read Range activity in an RPA tool to read data from an already opened .xlsx file, the operation generally succeeds without any issues. This is because RPA tools typically utilize a type of automation that can interact with Excel applications, enabling them to access and read data from a worksheet that is currently open.

The ability of the Read Range activity to interact with the opened document allows for seamless extraction of data regardless of the file being open or closed. As a result, the activity reads the contents in a manner similar to how a user could manually access the file when it is open.

In some contexts or applications, the opened state of the Excel file might not pose a restriction on reading operations, thus allowing users to retrieve data without encountering access conflicts or failures. This makes it important to know that the design and functionality of Excel automation tools are typically optimized for user convenience, allowing them to extract necessary data efficiently.