Getting Data from External Sources

Abstract

Excel data can come from a variety of sources. If the data you want to analyze is available in another file or electronic format, you may be able to import it directly into Excel. For example, perhaps you want to view a subset of data from a large database in Excel, or you want to evaluate some of the enormous wealth of raw data that is available on the Web. Data sources that can be used with Excel include text files, Microsoft Access, Microsoft SQL Server Analysis Services (for OLAP databases), Microsoft Visual FoxPro, dBASE, Oracle, and Paradox. Excel 2007 has simplified the process of obtaining data from other sources and of managing the connections to these sources with most of the relevant commands available on the Data tab of the Ribbon. This chapter will show you how to import data from other sources like Access or the Web so that you can work with it in Excel.