Connect to Microsoft Excel File

Microsoft Excel databases can be used as a dynamic data source for label objects or form objects. Before you manually set up a database connection, open the Dynamic Data Manager. This dialog enables the user to manage the variable data sources for label and form objects.

Click Database Connections button in the Dynamic Data Manager ribbon and select Microsoft Excel as the preferred database type. New database connection properties window opens.

To manually connect to an Excel file database, complete the below-listed steps.

Step 1: Connection Setup

Connection type group allows you to define the type of database connection.

Connection Information group defines database file details.

  • File name: defines the database file to be used in the connection.

  • Advanced Setup: opens the Data Link Properties window. This window allows you to define the connection properties. Data Link Properties is a Windows system dialog – read more about its properties here.

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

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Click OK when done. Database properties window appears.

Database Connection group defines the connection name and describes it.

  • Connection name: defines the name for the connected database file. By default, it displays the filename of the connected file. Insert a new name to make it easy to be found in the Desktop DesignerDynamic Data Explorer.

  • Description: allows adding additional information and suggestions for the connected database.

  • Connection: identifies the currently connected database file. To replace the currently connected file, click the Connection Setup button. New Database Connection Properties window reappears – repeat step 1 to connect to an alternative database file.

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Step 2: Database Table Selection

Tables group allows you to select which tables of the connected database should be used as a data source.

  • Available tables: available tables in the selected database.

  • Selected tables: tables that are used as a data source.

Click Add > or < Remove buttons to add or remove the tables from the Selected fields.

Note

When editing an existing database, a table cannot be removed if used in a script, function, action, or connected to a label or form object.

Click OK when done.

Step 3: Configuration of Database Tables and Fields

Read about how to configure the connected table here.

Read about how to configure the database fields here.

Click OK when done.