This document summarizes two methods for reading Excel files in R. The first method uses the gdata package to read Excel files with the read.xls function after setting the working directory. The second method uses the xlsx package to read a specific worksheet from an Excel file stored in the package folder with read.xlsx after loading the package. Both methods allow importing Excel data into R for analysis.

1. R Language using Excel Files
INTRODUCTION:
This document highlights the process of reading excel files using R language. There are several
ambiguous suggestions already prevailing in the web. So, we have tried to figure out 2 best
possible ways to solve the ambiguities. Here, they are described in brief:
READING EXCEL FILES:
1ST SOLUTION:
install.packages("gdata") [ It can be done manually too. Go to Packages at the
top. Select any location, preferably USA (CA 1).
Then select gdata from the list. ]
library(gdata) [ Use of Library for reading an Excel file. ]
setwd("D:/R Statistics") [ Set working directory ]
y=read.xls("iris.xls") [Read the .xls/.xlsx file that is present in the working
directory. ]
y [ Print the contents of the excel file. ]

2. 2ND SOLUTION:
install.packages("xlsx") [ It can be done manually too. Go to Packages at the
top. Select any location, preferably USA (CA 1).
Then select xlsx from the list. ]
require(xlsx) [ Ask for xlsx functionalities. ]
file=system.file("tests","test_import.xlsx",package ="xlsx")
[ “tests” is the name of folder where the xlsx file is
saved. “test_import.xlsx” is the xlsx file belonging
to the package “xlsx”. Folder, file and package
name may be other than these. ]
a=read.xlsx(file,1) [ We have to read the file , at the same time mention
its sheet no , i.e. 1,2,3…… ]
a [ Print the contents of the excel file. ]
CONCLUSION:
The above mentioned 2 ways are really worth reading an Excel file using R. Writing in an Excel
file using R is still under supervision.