Managing Connections/Version 8

This article refers to a previous version of XLCubed. For the latest version, see Managing Connections

The Manage Connections form is available from the XLCubed > Connections ribbon 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.

To create a new connection open the Connection Manager from XLCubed > Connections and selectAdd. Any connection you have made recently will be displayed for easy access.

Alternatively, select the New Connection tab to create a new connection. Here, choose the server type and provide the appropriate detail.

Continue to add as many connections as needed.

Cube Connections

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 and relevant cube.

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

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.