What causes DF-Excel-InvalidWorksheetConfiguration?

A worksheet name is specified in the dataset but the workbook does not contain a sheet with that exact name (including case and spaces). A worksheet index is specified and the workbook has fewer sheets than the index value (e.g. index 3 on a 2-sheet workbook). Both a sheet name and a sheet index are specified simultaneously, creating an ambiguous configuration

How do I fix DF-Excel-InvalidWorksheetConfiguration?

Open the Excel source dataset in ADF Studio and go to the 'Connection' tab — check the 'Sheet' field for the configured worksheet name or index.. Open the Excel workbook and verify the exact name of the target sheet — names are case-sensitive and must include any spaces.. If using a sheet index, count the sheets in the workbook starting from 1 and confirm the index is within range.. Remove any redundant configuration — use either sheet name or sheet index, not both.. Save the dataset, republish the data flow, and run a Debug data preview to verify ADF reads the correct sheet.

Medium severitydata flow

Power BI Refresh Error:
DF-Excel-InvalidWorksheetConfiguration

What does this error mean?

The ADF Excel dataset specifies a worksheet configuration (sheet name, index, or a combination of sheet and range) that is invalid — for example, a sheet name that doesn't exist, a sheet index that is out of range, or conflicting configuration settings.

Common causes

1A worksheet name is specified in the dataset but the workbook does not contain a sheet with that exact name (including case and spaces)
2A worksheet index is specified and the workbook has fewer sheets than the index value (e.g. index 3 on a 2-sheet workbook)
3Both a sheet name and a sheet index are specified simultaneously, creating an ambiguous configuration

How to fix it

1Open the Excel source dataset in ADF Studio and go to the 'Connection' tab — check the 'Sheet' field for the configured worksheet name or index.
2Open the Excel workbook and verify the exact name of the target sheet — names are case-sensitive and must include any spaces.
3If using a sheet index, count the sheets in the workbook starting from 1 and confirm the index is within range.
4Remove any redundant configuration — use either sheet name or sheet index, not both.
5Save the dataset, republish the data flow, and run a Debug data preview to verify ADF reads the correct sheet.

Frequently asked questions

Are worksheet names case-sensitive in ADF?

Yes — the sheet name in the ADF dataset must exactly match the Excel file, including capitalization, spaces, and special characters.

Can I use a sheet index instead of a sheet name?

Yes — specify the worksheet by its 1-based index position. However, if the workbook structure changes (sheets added or reordered), an index reference may break. Sheet names are more resilient.

How do I dynamically specify the worksheet name at runtime?

Use a dataset parameter for the sheet name and pass it via pipeline parameters. Set the sheet field in the Excel dataset to a parameter expression like @dataset().sheetName.

Official documentation: https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/data-factory/data-flow-troubleshoot-guide