How to update Sybase from Excel

The CData Excel Add-In for Sybase enables you to edit and save Sybase data directly from Excel. This article explains how to transfer data from Excel to Sybase. This technique is useful if you want to work on Sybase data in Excel and update changes, or if you have a whole spreadsheet you want to import into Sybase. In this example, you will use the Products table; however, the same process will work for any table that can be retrieved by the CData Excel Add-In.

Establish a Connection

If you have not already done so, create a new Sybase connection by clicking From Sybase on the ribbon.

To connect to Sybase, specify the following connection properties:

• Server: Set this to the name or network address of the Sybase database instance.
• Database: Set this to the name of the Sybase database running on the specified Server.

Optionally, you can also secure your connections with TLS/SSL by setting UseSSL to true.

Sybase supports several methods for authentication including Password and Kerberos.

Connect Using Password Authentication

Set the AuthScheme to Password and set the following connection properties to use Sybase authentication.

• User: Set this to the username of the authenticating Sybase user.
• Password: Set this to the username of the authenticating Sybase user.

Connect using LDAP Authentication

To connect with LDAP authentication, you will need to configure Sybase server-side to use the LDAP authentication mechanism.

After configuring Sybase for LDAP, you can connect using the same credentials as Password authentication.

Connect Using Kerberos Authentication

To leverage Kerberos authentication, begin by enabling it setting AuthScheme to Kerberos. See the Using Kerberos section in the Help documentation for more information on using Kerberos authentication.

You can find an example connection string below: Server=MyServer;Port=MyPort;User=SampleUser;Password=SamplePassword;Database=MyDB;Kerberos=true;KerberosKDC=MyKDC;KerberosRealm=MYREALM.COM;KerberosSPN=server-name

Retrieve Data from Sybase

To insert data into Sybase, you will first need to retrieve data from the Sybase table you want to add to. This links the Excel spreadsheet to the Sybase table selected: After you retrieve data, any changes you make to the data are highlighted in red.

1. Click the From Sybase button on the CData ribbon. The Data Selection wizard is displayed.
2. In the Table or View menu, select the Products table.
3. In the Maximum Rows menu, select the number of rows you want to retrieve. If you want to insert rows, you need to retrieve only one row. The Query box will then display the SQL query that corresponds to your request.
4. In the Sheet Name box, enter the name for the sheet that will be populated. By default the add-in will create a new sheet with the name of the table.

Insert Rows to Sybase

After retrieving data, you can add data from an existing spreadsheet in Excel.

1. In a cell after the last row, enter a formula referencing the corresponding cell from the other spreadsheet; for example, =MyProductsSheetInExcel!A1.
2. After using a formula to reference the cells you want to add to Sybase, select the cells that you are inserting data into and drag the formula down as far as needed. The referenced values you want to add will be displayed on the Products sheet.
3. Highlight the rows you want to insert and click the Update Rows button.

As each row is inserted, the Id value will appear in the Id column and the row's text will change to black, indicating that the record has been inserted.