Connect External Data To Excel In 5 Steps
Save yourself some time when it comes to work and presentations by making it quick to access external information when you need to. Here’s how you can make things convenient by connecting your external data to Excel in 5 steps:
- Important Tips
When you create a connection to external data, it provides the additional security that you will always have up to date data to work with. However, you must make sure that the connections to external data aspect on your computer is enabled. You must have data connections in order to open the workbook and you can do so by either placing your Excel workbook file in trusted locations or by enabling the connection through the use of a Trust Center bar. To get started with linking external data, you will need to locate your data tab and choose Get External data.
- From Access Database
Choose the From Access option and be led to the Select Data Source menu box. You can then browse and locate your access database. You will then be able to choose the tables/queries you require. Choose ok when you are done and hit finish or next to change connection details. You will then be led to the import data menu. This is where you choose to place your data in your Excel workbook. Select properties if you want to set advanced properties for the external connection.
- From Website
Form an external connection to website pages and use the information from the tables inside your excel workbook file by choosing the From Web option. You will then be prompted for the address box- type in the website address where you want the data to be connected. Once you see an arrow indicator, you will be able to click it and import the data.
- From Analysis Service
You can also connect external connections to SQL Server Analysis Services and have your data imported into Excel in the form of a table or PivotChart. Using the data tab, choose Other Sources and look for From analysis services. This will lead you to the data connection wizard, where you will then have to enter your server names and log on information and choose which database to work with. Choose either a cube, perspective or a table and then hit finish. You can then safely designate where you want the data imported.
- From XML Data Import
Making use of the data tab, choose the other sources option again. This time round, you look for XML import instead and browse to the file you desire before choosing to open. Excel will create a schema in your stead if the XML file has no schema reference. Once you have selected the file, choose okay and designate where the import goes.