title: How to import excel data into R using column name and row name
body: <p>I am a R novice and was wondering how to import excel data into R using row names and column names.
  Specifically i require a subset of the data in a number of worksheet within one excel file.  Can i use row names and column names to identify and extract certain cells of data to R ?</p>
  
  <pre><code>Worksheet 1
  ----------
  * X Y Z 
  A 1 2 2
  B 1 1 1
  C 1 3 4
  D 4 2 2
  E 2 2 2 
  ----------
  Worksheet 2
  ----------
  *  X Y1 Z1 
  A 1  2  2
  B 1  2  3
  C 1  3  4
  D 4  1  1
  E 2  1  1 
  </code></pre>
  
  <p>For example in the above spreadsheet 
  how could i extract the data (2,2,2,2) using the row and column names (D,Y) (D,Z) (E,Y) (E,Z) in worksheet 1 </p>
  
  <p>how could i extract the data (1,1,1,1) using the row and column names (D,Y1) (D,Z1) (E,Y1) (E,Z1) in worksheet 2 ? </p>
  
  <p>Thanks for any help provided</p>
  
  <p>Barry </p>