Problem to import data from Excel to Matlab

Hello, I've a problem to import data from excel file to Matlab. I'm using xlsread function in the following way:

[num,text]=xlsread('myxlsfile.xls')

then I receive this warning message:

"Warning: XLS File contains unrecognized string header - skipping remaining text - (1027:0x20 57307)"

and the 'text' matrix result truncate. I've tried to copy and paste the data in an other xls file, but the problem persist. My xls file is approximately 20MB.

Is it too large? Could anyone help me?

Thank you

Maddalena

[Kaustubha Govind]

What versions of MATLAB and Excel are you using?

[Walter Roberson]

Also, which operating system? Some xlsread() features are only supported on Windows systems that have Excel installed.

[Maddalena Mandarà]

I use Matlab R2011 and Microsoft Excel 2011 and my operation system is Windows 7. I hope that it isn't system problem. Which other way I can use to import data from excel to Matlab? Thank you

[Walter Roberson]

Does the same thing happen if you tell it which cells to read?

Is it a text file or a binary file? If it is a binary file, could you export it as a text file?

[Image Analyst]

Well there's your problem - you installed Excel 2011 on your Windows 7 computer. I didn't even know you could do that since that's a Apple Macintosh product. The latest Excel for Windows is 2010, while for the Macintosh it's 2011. Try installing Office 2010 for Windows instead. ;-)

Can you open that file in any version of Excel on any platform? It seems if it's a corrupt workbook with a corrupt header that even Excel wouldn't open it.

[Maddalena Mandarà]

Sorry, I've type Excel 2011 instead of Excel 2010. Anyway I tried to open my file on Excel 2008 on Macintosh system on an other platform, and there wasn't problem.

Unfortunately, my xls file contains numeric and text data, then I can not save it as a binary file and import it as a text file.

I've just try to import a selected range of my xls file, then I've type the command: [num,text]=xlsread('myxlsfile.xls','a1:bv5000') but the warning on 'unrecognized string header' appears. I've use this range because Matlab detective the problem at the row 4813 of the "text" matrix. Then

I've try to type the command: [num,text]=xlsread('myxlsfile.xls','a1:bv50') where the range don't include the row 4813.

The warning message persist because Matbal tell me that "Range cannot be used in 'basic' mode. The entire sheet will be loaded. ' Thank you for your help! Maddalena

Answer 1

[Kaustubha Govind]

On Windows machine, MATLAB opens Excel as a COM server to read data from Excel files. On other platforms, xlsread operates in what is called a 'basic' mode, which doesn't support some file formats. From the warning message that you receive: "Range cannot be used in 'basic' mode. The entire sheet will be loaded.", it seems that MATLAB is somehow unable to start-up Excel as a COM server. So the best path of resolution to your issue is to first resolve any errors occurring while starting Excel as a COM server.

Try executing the following command to see if you receive an error:

   e = actxserver('Excel.Application')

[Maddalena Mandarà]

When I execute the command

e = actxserver('Excel.Application')

I receive this error message

"??? Error using ==> actxserver at 91

Server creation failed. Invalid ProgID 'Excel.Application'"

How can I procede to solve this problem?

[Kaustubha Govind]

Could you verify if you have 32-bit Excel on 64-bit Windows (if yes, I think you should also have 32-bit MATLAB)? Also, perhaps your system administrator can help determine why the ProgID corresponding to Excel has not been registered on your machine correctly.

Here is a relevant thread from Microsoft Answers: http://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/office/forum/office_2010-customize/problem-with-com-objects-with-office-2010/b6003b67-2050-4683-a660-18f1156fe388

[Maddalena Mandarà]

I use 32-bit Excel on 64-bit Windows, but I have 64-bit Matlab. Is it a problem? How can I install 32-bit Matlab?

[Kaustubha Govind]

Yes, this is very likely the problem. See this solution for help on installing 32-bit MATLAB on win64: http://www.mathworks.com/support/solutions/en/data/1-579TVF/index.html?solution=1-579TVF

[Eric]

I use 32-bit Excel from 64-bit Matlab all of the time. Only 32-bit COM objects defined in DLLs are inaccessible, not those defined in 32-bit EXEs.

See

http://www.mathworks.com/support/solutions/en/data/1-35LZ4G/

and

http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/aa384231(VS.85).aspx

-Eric

[Kaustubha Govind]

Ah! Thanks for the information Eric - I wasn't aware of that.

@Maddalena: Perhaps you should check your Excel installation to ensure that the Excel ProgID is registered.

[Maddalena Mandarà]

Thank you for your answers! I'll try to unistall and install Excel in order to verify the correct registration of ProgID. I'll get you know!

[Maddalena Mandarà]

I contacted my system administrator and he confirmed the corrected installation of Excel 2010, but the problem persist. Do you have other ideas to solve this problem? Thank you!

[Kaustubha Govind]

Maddalena: If you're familiar with VBA, could you try starting the Excel COM server from outside MATLAB to see if you are able to do so? This well help you isolate the issue to either MATLAB or Excel.

Another thing that I would try is to run MATLAB as Administrator and then try actxserver, to see if UAC is causing any restrictions.

Besides this, you could try contacting MathWorks Technical Support to see if they have any other tricks.

[Maddalena Mandarà]

I solved the problem with the help of MathWorks Technical Support. I used an Excel's vitualized version and this was the gap. Now, I use an Excel's application version and xlsread work very well.

Thank you to all

Maddalena

[Kokalz]

Could you give a full discription on the problem solving steps that your performed? Thank you!

Answer 2

[Guido Travaglini]

Make sure the path shown in the "Current Folder" window is the same where your XLS file resides.

[Maddalena Mandarà]

Yes, the Current Folder windoew is the same where my xls file resides. Anyway I've type the path in the argument of xlsread function.

Thank you!

Maddalena

Answer 3

[Kokalz]

Could you give a full discription on the problem solving steps that your performed? Thank you!

[Maddalena Mandarà]

Sure! I simply installed Excel using the CD, and not by downloading it from its website. If you need other informations, let me know.

[Kokalz]

How did you find out you were using the virtualized version of Excel?