Using Excel as a Data Source?

building reports webintelligence
1

Hello all-

I am using WebI 4.0 SP05

Can anyone point me in the right direction to solve this issue?

I have a data source in excel, can I use that excel file as a WebI data source and if so, where can I find some good directions on how to do that?

If I cannot use Excel directly as a data source, can anyone point me towards directions showing how to import this data into my warehouse and create a static table from it? Then I can add it to a universe and create my report.

Thanks in advance-
Patti

pattinyc :us: (BOB member since 2008-09-09)

2

With 4.0.x only with the WebI Rich Client.
With WebI 4.1.x you can use Excel as a data source.

BUDJO :switzerland: (BOB member since 2013-01-10)

3

Interesting! Thanks :slight_smile:
Patti

pattinyc :us: (BOB member since 2008-09-09)

4

You can also create a universe in both 3x and 4x, based on an Excel datasource.

To be honest you are better with the database option you alluded to earlier.

Mak 1 :uk: (BOB member since 2005-01-06)

5

I’m agreeing with Mak here. If importing the data into the database is an option, it is BY FAR the best option. It will be easier to implement. It will be easier to maintain. It will be easier to write reports on. It will be easier to join with other data.

As to how to do it, it’s fairly simple. However the exact steps depend on what type of database you are using. If you contact your DBA team, they should be able to do it with minimal fuss. (Well, as much fuss as adding a table to a production database causes in your organization.)

Lugh (BOB member since 2009-07-16)

6

Hahaha! Very funny, I AM the database team.

Not funny to live it though.

I have learned a lot about SQL Server 2008 R2 in the past few years and I do a pretty good job for a one person shop. Thank you for all the comments so far. The Rich client will get me through today’s task (very slowly, but through) and I will do some more research on importing the data source into SQL.

If anyone has any good explanatory links, they would still be appreciated.

Thanks-
Patti

pattinyc :us: (BOB member since 2008-09-09)

7

This is probably as good a place as any to get started:

It’s not actually very complicated.

Lugh (BOB member since 2009-07-16)

8

Has anyone have BO reports with excel DP in BO4.1 created in BI Launch Pad? It looks like a maintenance nightmare. To create DP in BI Launch Pad in webi you need to first upload excel to cms and then create a report on top of it. Each time a new version of excel is required you need to upload the file to CMS again, overwrite existing one and refresh DP. I don’t think users would like it. What’s even more troublesome there is no way to edit excel in your DP, button to change path and excel name is gone once you define your DP. Any ideas?

Marfi :poland: (BOB member since 2006-12-18)

9

Thanks Lugh! I will check it out.
I appreciate the short cut, I was having trouble getting the exact search criteria to narrow it down.

Patti

pattinyc :us: (BOB member since 2008-09-09)

10

Hi Marfi are you using Windows or Linux as BO Server ?
Cheers,
Rogerio

rgoulart :brazil: (BOB member since 2011-08-21)

11

Win Server 2008

Marfi :poland: (BOB member since 2006-12-18)

12

Okay,
in BOXI 3.1, windows server, we used to make perdonal DP based on Excel in the following way :
1 - With Rich Client, create a Document linked to an Excel DP (important . the Excel file must be located in a folder in which the user hqas access, in order vto schedule the document, the BO Server must have access to it);
2 - Export the document to CMS;
3 - Run the document.
Cheers,
Rogerio

rgoulart :brazil: (BOB member since 2011-08-21)