Excel Integration

From a DSP Development perspective, Excel Integration is a Page Property that enables users to download and import DSP page data using Excel. New data can be uploaded and existing data can be downloaded, modified, deleted and uploaded.

The use of Excel Integration is the same regardless of what page it is used on. To perform Excel Integration, the feature must be enabled on the page.

The user can create an Excel spreadsheet based on the current DSP page by either downloading an empty Excel spreadsheet containing the columns on the page or by downloading an Excel spreadsheet containing the columns and data on the page.

Once downloaded, data can be entered or modified on the spreadsheet and then uploaded to the page.

The contents of the downloaded Excel spreadsheet default to the columns in the Horizontal view registered to the page. When columns have Column Properties of the All Views View Type and the Control Status is Disabled, they will not be downloaded to the Excel Spreadsheet. There is an additional View Type called Excel that applies specifically to the Excel Integration. If a column has Excel as the View Type and the Control Status is Disabled or Hidden, they will be disabled or hidden in the Excel Spreadsheet only.

Excel File Configuration

An Excel Template can have up to four column header rows. The first two column headers Original Field Name and Translated Name are static.

Configuring the header rows provides two additional headers containing the following information:

• Row three - Data type and length details for each column
• Row four - Text-only representation of the column's help text without HTML markup

The third and fourth rows, column data type and help text are configurable. The additional configurations are optional.

Configuring the colors for the column headers and backgrounds is a user preference. The color of the column headings can be changed at any time. The default colors for the first four rows are blue-grey background and white text.

To Add Excel Integration to a Page:

1. Click the Enable Excel Integration check box in the Advanced Properties tab in the Vertical View of a webapp page. A new tab appears called 'Excel.' Configure instructions and specify column colors in this tab.
   
   
2. It is recommended that Bulk Execution is enabled as well. Bulk Execution is the ability to run an event on a page for all records or a subset of those records. Without Bulk Execution, each record would need to be validated individually. Open the vertical view for a page's OnValidate Event. In the Advanced Properties tab, enable Support Bulk Execution.
   
   
3. When a user selects Excel Integration in the More Actions menu (located next to help at the top right portion of a page). An excel file is downloaded based on that page's data. Users add, update or delete data in the Excel spreadsheet as needed. The spreadsheet is imported via DSP. Bulk Execution takes place to validate all rows in the spreadsheet, assuming validation rules have been set up for the page. Upload completes with a report of how many rows were integrated, and how many failed (if any).

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