How to Read an Excel in C#?

This article will help you understand reading an excel file in C#. This is often required when developing applications. Create an excel file named "Test.xls" in the C Drive. The sample excel file will look like:
For interacting with an excel file you will have to include the following COM assemblies:

• Microsoft Excel 12.0 Object Library
• Microsoft Office 12.0 Object Library

Following code will be used to read the excel file and display the values in a Console application:

// Add Reference
using System;
using Excel = Microsoft.Office.Interop.Excel;
using Microsoft.Office.Core;
using Microsoft.Office.Interop.Excel;

namespace ReadExcel
{
    /// <summary>
    /// This class will be used to read the excel and 
    /// display it in a console.
    /// </summary>
    class ReadExcelApplication
    {
        /// <summary>
        /// The main entry point for the application.
        /// </summary>
        [STAThread]
        static void Main(string[] args)
        {
            // Path for the test excel application
            string Path = @"c:\test.xls";
            // Initialize the Excel Application class
            Excel.ApplicationClass app = new ApplicationClass();
            // Create the workbook object by opening the excel file.
            Excel.Workbook workBook = app.Workbooks.Open(Path,
                                                         0,
                                                         true,
                                                         5,
                                                         "",
                                                         "",
                                                         true,
                                                         Excel.XlPlatform.xlWindows,
                                                         "\t",
                                                         false,
                                                         false,
                                                         0,
                                                         true,
                                                         1,
                                                         0);
            // Get the active worksheet using sheet name or active sheet
            Excel.Worksheet workSheet = (Excel.Worksheet)workBook.ActiveSheet;

            // This row,column index should be changed as per your need.
            // i.e. which cell in the excel you are interesting to read.
            int index = 1;
            object rowIndex = 1;
            object colIndex1 = 1;
            object colIndex2 = 2;
            
            try
            {
                while (((Excel.Range)workSheet.Cells[rowIndex, colIndex1]).Value2 != null)
                {
                    // Read the Cells to get the required value.
                    string firstName = ((Excel.Range)workSheet.Cells[rowIndex, colIndex1]).Value2.ToString();
                    string lastName = ((Excel.Range)workSheet.Cells[rowIndex, colIndex2]).Value2.ToString();
                    Console.WriteLine("Name : {0},{1} ", firstName, lastName);
                    index++;
                    rowIndex = index;
                }
            }
            catch (Exception ex)
            {
                // Log the exception and quit...
                app.Quit();
                Console.WriteLine(ex.Message);
            }
        }

    }
}

Hope this helps! Your comments are always welcome!