Hi,

I am working with an Excel file where one of the columns
is set up as a drop-down list validated by data from a
second worksheet. I am using VB (.NET) to read the data
in the Excel file, using code similar to:

    Dim xlApp as New Excel.Application()
    Dim xlWB as Excel.Workbook
    Dim str1, str2 as String

    xlWB = xlApp.Workbooks.Open(filename)
    str1 = xlWB.Worksheets(1).Cells(1,1).Text
    str2 = xlWB.Worksheets(1).Cells(1,2).Text

Cell 1,1 (A1) is not validated, and the program pulls the
value just fine. Cell 1,2 (B1) is validated, and after
the above command is executed str2 is set to "" even
though an item from the drop-down list has been selected
in the cell.

How do I access the value displayed in that cell?

Thanks in advance

As an alternative you might try

    str2 = xlWB.Worksheets(1).Cells(1,2).Value

rather than

    str2 = xlWB.Worksheets(1).Cells(1,2).Text

Just a thought.