Managing Connections

The Manage Connections form is available from the XLCubed > Connections ribbon or menu item. It allows you to view, edit and delete existing connections for the workbook, and to create new connections when required.

Connecting to your data

One workbook can support multiple connections to different cubes or databases. Whenever XLCubed detects you require a connection to a cube or database, you will have the opportunity to select an existing one or to create one as described below.

Cube Connections

• To make a connection select XLCubed > Connections and press Add

• The display shows any recent connections, which can quickly be re-used by selecting and pressing OK

• For a new connection, select the New Connection tab, choose the server type and specify the appropriate detail as below:

Analysis Services Server: Type the server name

Analysis Services Server 2000: Type the AS2000 server name

Analysis Services Cube file: Browse to locate the local cube file

XLCubed Connection: Type the URL of the XLCubed Web Edition server to connect to

• Once connected, select the required database on the left, then select relevant cube on the right to add the connection.

• Add additional connections to the workbook as required.

Custom Properties

If you right click a connection you can set custom properties which will be applied in the connection string when the connection to the server is opened. You can also set up the query timeout from here to prevent long running queries from causing Excel to hang. This is applied to all grid and formula queries which use the connection.

Database Connections

From Version 8, you can centrally manage relational database connections using this form.

• To make a new relational connection select XLCubed > Connections, switch to the Database Connections tab and select Add
• Select the server type from the first dropdown, then enter the server name in the next box (or select the file for Access connections)
• If necessary, enter the log in details, then click the Connect button
• Select the database from the list

Custom OLEDB and ODBC connections

• Follow the instructions above, but select either Custom OLEDB Connection or Custom ODBC Connection from the first dropdown as appropriate
• Either type in a connection string or choose the Excel range which contains the connection string
• Click the Connect button
• Select the database from the list

From Version 9, grids can be built from any supported datasource using a Pivot View

• Additional datasources supported in v9:
  • Microsoft SQL Server
  • Oracle Server
  • Google BigQuery
  • Amazon Redshift
  • PowerBI Cloud
  • PowerBI Desktop
  • HDInsight
  • Teradata
  • QlikSense Desktop
  • Vertica