title: How to read data from Excel spreadsheet?
body: <p>In a project I'm working the client has asked at the last minute that I add functionality to import data from an Excel spreadsheet. The examples he's sent me have an .xlsx extension so I'm assuming they are from Excel 2010, but I'd like to support all versions if possible. Is there a quick and easy way to open and read data from an Excel spreadsheet from a C program?</p>
  
  <p>The only idea I can think of is to connect to the spreadsheet as if it were a database and SELECT the information I need from it. Is this a good approach? How do I connect to an Excel spreadsheet through C? I'd like to use the Windows API as much as possible.</p>