HEY! CC! Don't be so judgemental. Be more Chilly.
First, it works. So even if it's problematic it isn't wrong. Second, the reason I prefer this method is that it allows you to read spreadsheet files that have text as well as numbers.
As for OBN's question of how to replace the DBL array with a string one - after you double-click the read VI, find the 2D DBL array on the right, right-click one of the controls and from the pop-up menu select replace and select a string control instead. Just remember (very important) to save the file under another name so that you don't overwrite NI's VI.
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Try to take over the world!