Access Live CSV Data in Excel (Desktop) through Connect Spreadsheets
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Your Connect AI account includes Connect Spreadsheets, so you can use the instructions below. You can expect minor differences when referencing the Connect Spreadsheet platform, but the principles still apply!
Microsoft Excel is a widely used spreadsheet software application, primarily used for tasks related to data management, analysis, and visualization. When combined with Connect Spreadsheets by CData, you gain immediate access to CSV data directly within Excel, facilitating data analysis, collaboration, calculations, and more. This article shows how to connect to CSV in Connect Spreadsheets and access live CSV data in Excel spreadsheets.
Connect Spreadsheets is the easiest way to get all your live data into Microsoft Excel and Google Sheets - no more downloading, wrangling, and uploading files again. Just connect to your data, select the dataset you'd like to see, and import it into your spreadsheet.
This setup requires a Connect Spreadsheets account and the Connect Spreadsheets Add-In for Excel. To get started, sign up a free trial of Connect Spreadsheets and install the free Connect Spreadsheets Excel Add-In.
Configure CSV Connectivity for Excel
Connectivity to CSV from Excel is made possible through Connect Spreadsheets. To work with CSV data from Excel, we start by creating and configuring a CSV connection.
- Log into Connect Spreadsheets, click Connections and click Add Connection
- Select "CSV" from the Add Connection panel
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Enter the necessary authentication properties to connect to CSV.
Connecting to Local or Cloud-Stored (Box, Google Drive, Amazon S3, SharePoint) CSV Files
CData Drivers let you work with CSV files stored locally and stored in cloud storage services like Box, Amazon S3, Google Drive, or SharePoint, right where they are.
Setting connection properties for local files
Set the URI property to local folder path.
Setting connection properties for files stored in Amazon S3
To connect to CSV file(s) within Amazon S3, set the URI property to the URI of the Bucket and Folder where the intended CSV files exist. In addition, at least set these properties:
- AWSAccessKey: AWS Access Key (username)
- AWSSecretKey: AWS Secret Key
Setting connection properties for files stored in Box
To connect to CSV file(s) within Box, set the URI property to the URI of the folder that includes the intended CSV file(s). Use the OAuth authentication method to connect to Box.
Dropbox
To connect to CSV file(s) within Dropbox, set the URI proprerty to the URI of the folder that includes the intended CSV file(s). Use the OAuth authentication method to connect to Dropbox. Either User Account or Service Account can be used to authenticate.
SharePoint Online (SOAP)
To connect to CSV file(s) within SharePoint with SOAP Schema, set the URI proprerty to the URI of the document library that includes the intended CSV file. Set User, Password, and StorageBaseURL.
SharePoint Online REST
To connect to CSV file(s) within SharePoint with REST Schema, set the URI proprerty to the URI of the document library that includes the intended CSV file. StorageBaseURL is optional. If not set, the driver will use the root drive. OAuth is used to authenticate.
Google Drive
To connect to CSV file(s) within Google Drive, set the URI property to the URI of the folder that includes the intended CSV file(s). Use the OAuth authentication method to connect and set InitiateOAuth to GETANDREFRESH.
- Click Create & Test
- Navigate to the Permissions tab in the Add CSV Connection page and update the User-based permissions.
With the connection configured, you are ready to connect to CSV data from Excel.
Access Live CSV Data in Excel
The steps below outline connecting to Connect Spreadsheets from Excel to access live CSV data.
- Open Excel, create a new sheet (or open an existing one).
- Click Insert and click Get Add-ins. (if you have already installed the Add-In, jump to step 4).
- Search for Connect Spreadsheets and install the Add-in.
- Click Data and open the CData Connect Spreadsheets Add-In.
- In the Add-In panel, click "Log in" to authenticate with your Connect Spreadsheets account
- In the Connect Spreadsheets panel in Excel, click Import
- Choose a Connection (e.g. CSV1), Table (e.g. Customer), and Columns to import
- Optionally add Filters, Sorting, and a Limit
- Click Execute to import the data and opt to overwrite the existing sheet or create a new one.
Live Access to CSV Data from Spreadsheet Apps
New, you have a direct, cloud-to-cloud connection to live CSV data from your Excel workbook. You can add more data to your workbook for calculations, aggregations, collaboration, and more.
Try Connect Spreadsheets and get real-time data access to hundreds of SaaS, Big Data, and NoSQL sources directly from Microsoft Excel.