Connect to Excel (Microsoft OneDrive)

You can use Microsoft Excel spreadsheets stored in Microsoft OneDrive as a dynamic data source for label objects or form objects. Before you manually set up a database connection, open Dynamic Data Manager. This dialog enables the label designer to manage the variable data sources for label and form objects.

1. Click the Database Connections button in the Dynamic Data Manager ribbon and select Excel (Microsoft OneDrive) as your database type.

   

2. New Database Connection Properties window opens. Click Sign in with Microsoft.

   

3. Your web browser opens with Microsoft account options.

   

   Pick your account that will connect to your Microsoft OneDrive.

   Note

   Some companies have restricted access to corporate OneDrive accounts. In this case, you'll have to get the administrator's permission to connect to Excel with your account. The following window opens:

   

   If the security risk is too high, you can use or create a personal Microsoft account and use OneDrive from that account.

4. Allow Loftware Desktop Designer to access your OneDrive data.

   

5. Confirmation messages about successful connections appear in your browser and Desktop Designer. Close the confirmation window in Desktop Designer.

6. Select your Excel Spreadsheet, then click OK.

   

   Important

   If you share your label or solution with other clients, enable sharing of your Excel spreadsheet in OneDrive so other clients can log in with their credentials.

   There are two types of Microsoft accounts: personal accounts and work/school accounts. You can share only Spreadsheets from the same type of account. You can share spreadsheets from one personal account to another. You can share spreadsheets from one work/school account to another, but only within the same organization (or joined organizations). You can't share a spreadsheet between personal and school/work accounts or between work/school accounts from different organizations.

   Loftware will prompt other clients for Microsoft login when opening labels/solutions.

   In the current Desktop Designer:

   • You can create a new label or solution only with your own Excel (Microsoft OneDrive) files.

   • You can't create a new label or solution connected to shared Excel (Microsoft OneDrive) files.

   • You can open and print existing labels or solutions connected to shared Excel (Microsoft OneDrive) files.

   Note

   Microsoft doesn't support .xls files in Excel OneDrive edition.

   Test Connection button starts a connection testing procedure It shows if a connection with the selected Excel Spreadsheet has been established successfully. A confirmation or error message appears depending on the connection status.

7. Your Excel spreadsheet is now connected to your printing solution. Add the table(s) you would like to use to the Selected tables.

   

8. Columns from your selected table(s) appear in the list of your Dynamic Data Sources. Click OK.

   

You can now connect data from your Excel (Microsoft OneDrive) to your label objects.