Data Source Connection

Transcription

1 Data Source Connection Microsoft Excel Jump To Enterprise Professional (Cloud) Enterprise Prerequisites Download and install the appropriate Microsoft ODBC driver for your version of Microsoft Excel. This driver should be installed on your idashboards server. For Excel 2013, download and install the 32 bit Microsoft Access Database Engine 2010 Redistributable from here: For versions of Excel prior to 2013, download and install the 32 bit Microsoft 2007 Office System Driver: Data Connectivity Components from here: idashboards requires that at least one named range be defined in your Excel file before it may be used as a data source. A named range in an Excel file is viewed by idashboards similar to how it views a table in a database. To create a named range in your Excel file, highlight the data that you wish to be used in idashboards and type a name in the Name Box (circled in red in the following screenshot). Once you have created your named range, make sure to save your file. You can modify and add additional named ranges using the Name Manager under the Formulas tab. Creating a Data Source using the Excel Autodirectory When a Microsoft Excel file is opened, a lock is created on the file which prevents any other users from accessing it. This locking feature can prevent dashboards connected to an Excel file from loading, and users from editing Excel files while a dashboard is loading. To prevent this, it is recommended that the

2 idashboards Excel Autodirectory feature be used. The Autodirectory is an easy to use upload tool in the idashboards Admin Application that creates a copy of an Excel file and places it onto your configured Excel Autodirectory folder. By default, this folder is located in your ivizgroup home directory on your idashboards server. Important: The file size limit for uploading Excel files to idashboards is 10 MB To add an Excel data source using the Autodirectory, follow these steps: 1. Log on to your idashboards Admin Application and click on the Data Sources tab. 2. Click the Excel Autodirectory button. 3. In the Excel Autodirectory page, click Choose File to select your Excel file that you wish to upload and then click Upload Excel File. 4. You should now see your Excel file listed under Data Sources in the User Application s Chart Designer. The named ranges that you defined in your Excel file will be listed under Select a Table or View.

3 Creating a Data Source using a direct ODBC Connection It is also possible to connect idashboards directly to an Excel file using an ODBC connection. This method of connection is not recommended, as it will cause file locking issues as explained in the Overview. If a direct ODBC connection to your Excel file is required, follow these steps to make the connection: 1. Create a 32 bit ODBC connection to your Excel file. To create a 32 bit connection, use the following tool on your idashboards server: C:\Windows\SysWOW64\odbcad32.exe 2. In the 32 Bit ODBC Data Source Connector, select System DSN, and then click Add 3. Select the Microsoft Excel Driver (*.xls) 4. Browse to your Excel file to create your ODBC connection 5. Log on to your idashboards Admin Application and click on the Data Sources tab 6. In the (new) dropdown menu, select Generic ODBC and click Add Data Source 7. In the Add Data Source screen, enter a Data Source Name (for reference in idashboards only) and the DSN that matches the name you gave your ODBC connection earlier. Select Allow Custom Queries if you wish to write your own SQL queries when building your charts. Click Save. Your new data source is now available

4 Professional (Cloud) Prerequisites idashboards requires that at least one named range be defined in your Excel file before it may be used as a data source. A named range in an Excel file is viewed by idashboards similar to how it views a table in a database. To create a named range in your Excel file, highlight the data that you wish to be used in idashboards and type a name in the Name Box (circled in red in the following screenshot). Once you have created your named range, make sure to save your file. You can modify and add additional named ranges using the Name Manager under the Formulas tab. Uploading an Excel File to idashboards Professional (Cloud) To upload an Excel file to your idashboards account, first make sure that your file has at least one Named Range (explained in Prerequisites). You can then upload the file from Cloud Admin. Important: The file size limit for uploading Excel files to idashboards is 10 MB 1. Log on to your idashboards Cloud Admin application with your Cloud Administrator user a. Professional: b. Professional Evaluation: 2. Click the Data Sources tab and then Upload Excel File 3. Click Choose File to select your Excel file and then Upload Excel File. 4. Your Excel file data is now available in your idashboards data repository. In the User Application, you can access your data in the Chart Designer by selecting Data Repository in Select a Data Source. In Select a Table or View, each Excel file you have uploaded will be organized as folders with each folder containing that files Named Ranges. You can select a named range to begin building a chart.

5