# Importing data from excel **URL:** \ **Category:** Revit\ **Created:** [July 29, 2017, 8:44pm UTC](https://forum.dynamobim.com/t/importing-data-from-excel/13556 "2017-07-29T20:44:49Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![ksultanahamed](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/7feea3/32.png) [@ksultanahamed](https://forum.dynamobim.com/u/ksultanahamed)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2017, 8:44pm UTC](https://forum.dynamobim.com/t/importing-data-from-excel/13556/1 "2017-07-29T20:44:49Z")
![importexcel](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex022/uploads/dynamobim/original/3X/c/8/c89d8c8de01eba336a4ab5ad2959bc90ee499eee.JPG) Dear all, I am successful exporting data from revit to excel, but could’nt do it while importing from excel into revit. From the previous posts I understand that i have to add GUID, but dont know how!!. I am getting error message as **"Warning: Element.SetParameterByName operation failed. The Parameter’s storage type is not a string"** Please see the screen shot and help me out. Thanks in Advance. Sultan Ahamed ---
**Author:** ![Joe.ashton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/7993a0/32.png) [@Joe.ashton](https://forum.dynamobim.com/u/Joe.ashton)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2017, 9:38pm UTC](https://forum.dynamobim.com/t/importing-data-from-excel/13556/2 "2017-07-29T21:38:24Z")
Hi, My understanding of that is the parameter that you are trying to change is not in a form of a string, e.g trying to change a length value ( 13000 ) into a word ( Thirteen thousand) ; it won’t accept it. So you are trying to change type mark? Look into that parameter is it stored as a number, string or maybe its link up to another element. Good luck ---
**Author:** ![Marcel\_Rijsmus](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex022/user_avatar/forum.dynamobim.com/marcel_rijsmus/32/8539_2.png) [@Marcel\_Rijsmus](https://forum.dynamobim.com/u/Marcel_Rijsmus)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2017, 9:47pm UTC](https://forum.dynamobim.com/t/importing-data-from-excel/13556/3 "2017-07-29T21:47:44Z")
@ksultanahamed The parameter will only take a number as input, convert it with a node called String.toNumber As for the GUID, in a non workshared file youre good with the ID i think. In a workshared file ID will work if you are the only one working in the file, in all other cases use UniqueID. Changing to a new workset-set will change the ID’s. And some other cases aswell i believe. To be sure use GUID. ElementBy.ID and Element.ByUniqueID are your designscript keywords here. ![b4f0d3ee681c27cd62a4464409ea8b4725562c1b](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex022/uploads/dynamobim/original/3X/2/8/288668fb5a6b8ac34b82dc75266d8af2a95ca6b2.png) Edit: dont know why the word ElementBY.ID turned into a blue hyperlink like word. And use ElementSelector.ByUniqueId(Id, true) for comparison getting the data back in. > **[Taking a Return Trip From Revit to Excel Using Dynamo](https://www.revit.com.au/1564/)** > > Last week I wrote about using note block schedules to create specification sheets and I explained how you can use addins such as BIMLink, custom macros or C# addins or Dynamo to get the data out to… credits for the picture go to @Kulkul Marcel ---
**Author:** ![ksultanahamed](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/7feea3/32.png) [@ksultanahamed](https://forum.dynamobim.com/u/ksultanahamed)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2017, 5:29am UTC](https://forum.dynamobim.com/t/importing-data-from-excel/13556/4 "2017-07-30T05:29:16Z")
Thanks all. Let me give a try using the GUID & parameter whether it is number, string? ---
**Author:** ![ksultanahamed](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/7feea3/32.png) [@ksultanahamed](https://forum.dynamobim.com/u/ksultanahamed)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2017, 8:17am UTC](https://forum.dynamobim.com/t/importing-data-from-excel/13556/5 "2017-07-30T08:17:00Z")
![Capture](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex022/uploads/dynamobim/original/3X/e/c/ec18b86f1b7ab4f4aadb0e46fc919adc0a8ee0ce.JPG) For me the **ElementSelector.ByUniqueId(id)** is not working. I get an error " Dereferncing a non-pointer". where i am going wrong!! ---
**Author:** ![ksultanahamed](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/7feea3/32.png) [@ksultanahamed](https://forum.dynamobim.com/u/ksultanahamed)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2017, 8:24am UTC](https://forum.dynamobim.com/t/importing-data-from-excel/13556/6 "2017-07-30T08:24:26Z")
![Capture](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex022/uploads/dynamobim/original/3X/2/f/2f0de0c38d4f5e1c42c41ba053187e3abd42204d.JPG) Is it ok to use **“Element.ByID-Clockwork”** but I am getting an error; “Warning: Element.SetParameterByName operation failed. The Parameter’s storage type is not a string” ---
**Author:** ![Marcel\_Rijsmus](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex022/user_avatar/forum.dynamobim.com/marcel_rijsmus/32/8539_2.png) [@Marcel\_Rijsmus](https://forum.dynamobim.com/u/Marcel_Rijsmus)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2017, 9:06am UTC](https://forum.dynamobim.com/t/importing-data-from-excel/13556/7 "2017-07-30T09:06:20Z")
@ksultanahamed ElementSelector.ByUniqueID is not working if you have certain packages installed i think. Try Revit.ElementSelector.ByUniqueId(Id, true) And use String.ToNumber to convert a text to a number. Marcel PS. These questions have all been answered before in the forum, try the search button at the top of your screen.