diff --git a/c302/W_SpreadsheetDataReader.py b/c302/W_SpreadsheetDataReader.py
index dd01ba8b..a0f9bf56 100644
--- a/c302/W_SpreadsheetDataReader.py
+++ b/c302/W_SpreadsheetDataReader.py
@@ -6,6 +6,7 @@
 
 spreadsheet_location = os.path.dirname(os.path.abspath(__file__))+"/data/"
 
+
 from c302 import print_
 
 def read_data(include_nonconnected_cells=False, neuron_connect=False):
@@ -14,15 +15,17 @@ def read_data(include_nonconnected_cells=False, neuron_connect=False):
         conns = []
         cells = []
         filename = "%switvliet_2020_8_adult.xlsx"%spreadsheet_location
-        rb = load_workbook(filename)
+        wb = load_workbook(filename)
+        sheet = wb.worksheets[0]
         print_("Opened the Excel file: " + filename)
+        
 
-        for row in range(1,rb.sheet_by_index(0).nrows):
-            pre = str(rb.sheet_by_index(0).cell(row,0).value)
-            post = str(rb.sheet_by_index(0).cell(row,1).value)
-            syntype = rb.sheet_by_index(0).cell(row,2).value
-            num = int(rb.sheet_by_index(0).cell(row,3).value)
-            synclass = 'Generic_GJ' if 'EJ' in syntype else 'Chemical_Synapse'
+        for row in sheet.iter_rows(min_row=2, values_only=True):  # Assuming data starts from the second row
+            pre = str(row[0])
+            post = str(row[1])
+            syntype = str(row[2])
+            num = int(row[3])
+            synclass = 'Generic_GJ' if 'electrical' in syntype else 'Chemical_Synapse'
 
             conns.append(ConnectionInfo(pre, post, num, syntype, synclass))
             if pre not in cells:
@@ -36,19 +39,20 @@ def read_data(include_nonconnected_cells=False, neuron_connect=False):
         conns = []
         cells = []
         filename = "%switvliet_2020_8_adult.xlsx"%spreadsheet_location
-        rb = load_workbook(filename)
+        wb = load_workbook(filename)
+        sheet = wb.worksheets[0]
 
         print_("Opened Excel file..: " + filename)
 
         known_nonconnected_cells = ['CANL', 'CANR', 'VC6']
 
 
-        for row in range(1,rb.sheet_by_index(0).nrows):
-            pre = str(rb.sheet_by_index(0).cell(row,0).value)
-            post = str(rb.sheet_by_index(0).cell(row,1).value)
-            syntype = rb.sheet_by_index(0).cell(row,2).value
-            num = int(rb.sheet_by_index(0).cell(row,3).value)
-            synclass = rb.sheet_by_index(0).cell(row,4).value
+        for row in sheet.iter_rows(min_row=2, values_only=True):
+            pre = str(row[0])
+            post = str(row[1])
+            syntype = str(row[2])
+            num = int(row[3])
+            synclass = 'Generic_GJ' if 'electrical' in syntype else 'Chemical_Synapse'
 
 
             conns.append(ConnectionInfo(pre, post, num, syntype, synclass))
@@ -70,23 +74,22 @@ def read_muscle_data():
     muscles = []
 
     filename = "%switvliet_2020_8_adult.xlsx"%spreadsheet_location
-    rb = load_workbook(filename)
+    wb = load_workbook(filename)
+    sheet = wb.worksheets[0]
 
     print_("Opened Excel file: "+ filename)
 
-    sheet = rb.sheet_by_index(1)
-
-    for row in range(1,sheet.nrows):
-        pre = str(sheet.cell(row,0).value)
-        post = str(sheet.cell(row,1).value)
-        syntype = 'Send'
-        num = int(sheet.cell(row,2).value)
-        synclass = sheet.cell(row,3).value.replace(',', 'plus').replace(' ', '_')
+    for row in sheet.iter_rows(min_row=2, values_only=True):
+            pre = str(row[0])
+            post = str(row[1])
+            syntype = str(row[2])
+            num = int(row[3])
+            synclass = 'Generic_GJ' if 'electrical' in syntype else 'Chemical_Synapse'
 
-        conns.append(ConnectionInfo(pre, post, num, syntype, synclass))
-        if pre not in neurons:
+    conns.append(ConnectionInfo(pre, post, num, syntype, synclass))
+    if pre not in neurons:
             neurons.append(pre)
-        if post not in muscles:
+    if post not in muscles:
             muscles.append(post)