Connect to Excel Files

The Freeform SQL and Query Builder reporting features enable you to create reports using data from Excel files. The connection process to Excel files involves the following steps:

• To connect to Excel file data, you must first prepare the Excel file as a valid data source and create a data source name for the Excel file. The steps to perform these configurations are included in Appendix A: Connecting to Databases of the Installation and Configuration Help.
• Create a Database Instance for an Excel File

Create a Database Instance for an Excel File

To use an Excel file as a data source, you must create a database instance in MicroStrategy. This database instance is used to connect to the Excel file. Follow the steps below to create a database instance for an Excel file.

To Create a Database Instance for the Excel File

1. In MicroStrategy Developer, create a new database instance that points to the DSN for the Excel file.

   It is recommended that you use Microsoft Excel as the Data Connection Type for the database instance. For more information on setting up a database instance, see the Installation and Configuration Help.

2. Right-click a project and select Project Configuration.
3. Expand Database instances > SQL Data warehouses.
4. Select the check box for the Excel file database instance.
5. Click OK.

For details on how to create a Freeform SQL report to access your Excel file, see Access and Analyze Multiple Data Sources with Freeform SQL.

For details on how to create a Query Builder report to access your Excel file, see Access and Analyze Multiple Data Sources with Query Builder.