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SPREADSHEET
Guide Section: Interacting With Excel Spreadsheets | EASAP Tree: SPREADSHEET LIST branch
SPREADSHEET specifies the name of the Excel workbook (*.xls, *.xlsx, *.xlsm) file.
Avoid the following characters in an Excel filename <nodisp> as they are known to cause problems with macro exeuction: </nodisp>
| \ | / | * |
| [ | ] | : |
| ? | - | . |
. or <PERIOD> is allowed in the normal position between the filename prefix and the extension suffix (myfile.xls, myfile.xlsm, etc….)
'Two consecutive spaces' or a prohibited <PERIOD> character in an Excel spreadsheet name removes the ability to re-open an EASAP run from the Results folder, so should be avoided.
$ or <DOLLAR SIGN> should not be used in the name of an Excel sheet, Excel dependency calculations will fail.
A sheet name in an Excel spreadsheet must not end with a space.
Before an EASAP can be connected to a spreadsheet file, the file must first be uploaded into the EASAP. The file can then be selected using the File: parameter within the SPREADSHEET.
The File: parameter must be unique across multiple SPREADSHEET's.
No named range in an Excel Client spreadsheet may have the prefix prop_ nor any combination of this sequence using captial letters, please rename any of these named ranges.
EASA requires that the Windows 'List separator' field remain the Windows default value of a <COMMA>, this setting must remain its default value.
- For example for Windows 7 check,
- Control Panel→Clock, Language, Region→Formats→Additional settings→List separator
 SPREADSHEET |
|
|---|---|
| Essential Parameters: | |
| File: | Select spreadsheet .xls file. |
| Optional Parameters: | |
| Desktop: | Enable an Excel Client interface to initialize, modify and store named ranges to a database, default→FALSE |
| Password: | Password used to open password protected spreadsheet files. |
| Excel Server Type: | Select the type of EXCEL SERVER on which this spreadsheet should run. The types are set up by the EASA administrator. If unset any EXCEL SERVER may be used. |
| Author Excel Server Type: | Select the type of EXCEL SERVER on which this spreadsheet should run. The “types” are set up by the EASA administrator. If unset any EXCEL SERVER may be used. |
| Exclude Formulas: | Cells containing formulas will be ignored in dependency calculations. |
| Simplify Formulas: | Select types of Excel formulas to simplify in dependency calculations. Effect is to ignore cells in the tabular data searched. Use when no referenced cells are found or referenced within the look up data. We recommend to simplify OFFSET, VLOOKUP, HLOOKUP |
| Exclude Sheets: | Select SHEET's to exclude from dependency calculations. Only select worksheets that do not contain cells referenced in any cell reference parameters |
| On Parse Error: | When an Excel reference cannot be parsed set it will have ALL_CELL dependencies, in some cases an Author may wish to set NO_CELL here and enter dependent cells manually. |
| Batch Only: | Sets the spreadsheet to be opened only on submission, default→FALSE |
| Calculate Dependencies: | Specifies when to calculate dependencies (default→Never, If Unset, Force). |
| File Choice: | Select a FILE CHOICE to specify a spreadsheet to upload and run after the EASAP has already been started. Available when Batch Only:→TRUE |
| When Desktop: → TRUE | |
| Excluded Sheets: | Exclude sheets based on one or more prefix strings listed here (ie. create a 'blacklist') |
| Included Sheets: | Include sheets based on one or more prefix strings listed here (ie. create a 'whitelist') |
| Filter: | Allows named ranges that match the prefix(es) listed here to be stored and retrieved via the Excel Client functionality. |
Calculate Dependencies:
Dependencies may be calculated in advance to optimize some Excel-EASAP interactions. Below are the parameter options for Calculate Dependencies:
- Never→By default dependencies are not calculated
- If Unset→Dependencies are calculated once at first Save
- Force→Dependencies are calculated each time an EASAP is saved
- →should be done prior to Publishing, once Authoring has been completed to use resources efficiently
Desktop: and Batch Only:
There are four ways to utilize an Excel spreadsheet from an EASAP.
- For a SPREADSHEET:
- Keep the default Batch Only:→FALSE
- Excel-linked implicit objects update in real time
- Excel-linked explicit objects update via EVENT' s and ACTION's
- Set Batch Only:→TRUE
- Excel-linked objects update when the PROCESSES branch is run
- Set File Choice: to a FILE CHOICE (with Batch Only:→TRUE)
- Allows the User to specify a spreadsheet (or version) prior to a PROCESSES branch run
- Set Desktop:→TRUE (keeping the default of Batch Only:→FALSE)
- Allow an Excel Client instance to open with this spreadsheet