Editing Processing an input file in Excel

First, you need to include Excel in your project's references.  I prefer to use Microsoft.Office.Interop.Excel Version 12.0.0.0.

Then you need to add this Import statement at the top of your file:

    Imports Microsoft.Office.Interop

Don't include Excel on the Imports statement; force yourself to use Excel as a qualifier.  Then add a sub that accepts a path to a file:

    Sub ImportDataFile(ByVal FilePath As String)
        Dim xlApp As Excel.Application = Nothing
        Try
            LogAction("Starting Staff Survey import...")
            LogAction("Selected file: " & FilePath)
            LogAction("Launching Excel and opening file...")
            xlApp = New Excel.Application
            xlApp.Workbooks.Open(FilePath, [ReadOnly]:=True)
            'Do processing here...
            LogAction("Closing file and Excel...")
            xlApp.Workbooks(0).Close()
        Catch ex As Exception
            LogAction("Error processing with Excel: " & ex.Message)
        End Try
        xlApp.Quit()
        xlApp = Nothing
    End Sub

See also [[Open File Dialog]]