Set Up a Link to Your Database

The first time you get the external data, you need to open a new workbook and set up a connection to your database: Starting with a blank worksheet, click Create New Query (Data menu, Get External Data submenu) to define your database as a data source. A data source can be a database file, a Microsoft Excel workbook, or a text file. When you name a new data source, you associate your database with one of the ODBC drivers installed on your machine.

In the Choose Data Source dialog box, make sure the Use the Query Wizard to create/edit queries check box is selected. Select New Data Source, click OK, and then go through the four steps in the Create a New Data Source dialog box.

Important   Each data source has different requirements. For example, your data source might require you to enter a password. For information on these requirements, contact the manager of the database.

Run Web queries   Gather information from locations on the World Wide Web, or from your company’s intranet. Click Run Web Query (Data menu, Get External Data submenu).

Need to Get Data from Different Databases?

You can work with just about any popular mainframe or microcomputer database format. You can open dBASE .dbf files directly into Microsoft Excel worksheets. Or, by using the method described in this topic, you can use ODBC drivers to tap databases like Microsoft Access, SQL Server, FoxPro, and Paradox.

Missing the driver you need?   Check with Microsoft, because new ones frequently become available. Your database vendor also might know about additional drivers. If you have Internet access, you can check the Microsoft Web site by clicking Microsoft on the Web (Help menu).

When all else fails   See whether you can get a text-only version of the data. Import the text file into Microsoft Excel by clicking Open (File menu) and then selecting Text Files from the Files of type list.

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Want to know more?   Look up Getting Results - Get Sales Information in Help.