Import Excel files easily into reporting tool

Background
As Excel is easy to use, a great number of end users like to make report, save and submit data with it. Therefore, before involving a web reporting tool or starting an information project, users may have had a lot of Excel files. Then, it will be helpful if the report styles and data of these Excel files can be imported into web reporting tool.

Accordingly, the requirement should be divided in two:
(1) Import the report style of Excel file into web reporting tool.
(2) Import the data of Excel file into web reporting tool.

Difficulty
1. Import the report style of Excel file into web reporting tool.

As the purpose is to reduce the workload of redesigning web report style, imported report style must be exactly the same with that in Excel file. Or else, users have to re-modify it, and the function is meaningless.

For most web reporting softwares, the design mode is a combination of control (drag and drop) and band, rather than Excel-like mode. Therefore, the design interface is different with Excel, and it is usually impossible to import the report style of Excel file directly.

What about importing report style by programming?

For the design interface of common reporting softwares is divided into several regions by bands, and programmers can’t get the dynamical relations between the content of Excel file and bands, programmers have to import all the content into only one band. Then, it is impossible to use the characteristics of band.

Then, someone may wish to use the characteristics of band by writing several programs for reports of different styles, and fixing the number of rows for each region. However, with the powerful mergence cell of Excel, there may be innumerable report styles, and only a few of them fit band style. Consequently, it is also infeasible.

2. Import the data of Excel file into reporting tool as input web report.

It means to import the data of Excel file into report, and submit the data to database. Then, the requirements are as follows:

1. Report can submit the data to database.

2. Report can match cells with database fields and records freely.

3. There is a one-to-one relationship between report cell and the data of Excel file.

4. Check data validity and user rights before submitting data to database.

Moreover, even for a simple manifest web report, it is difficult to import the data of an Excel file with uncertain number rows. Programmes have a lot of problems to answer. How to import the data into html input interface? How to update newly additive rows to database? How to establish the relation with database? Although it can be realize by programming, the workload will be huge and the commonality must be bad.

Solution
As a real Excel-like web reporting tool, [L=RAQ Report]http://www.raqsoft.com/raq-report/raq-report/[/L] provides a perfect solution for users. With wonderful Excel-like design mode, its report style is compatible with Excel naturally, and can be imported seamlessly. Combined with the free connection technique for database and report, users can easily import the data of Excel file into RAQ Report, and then submit the data to database after checking data validity and user rights.

Easy operation
1. Import the report style of Excel file.

2. Set Input type as Input Report, and define the logic of Update and Validation.

3. Release the report on web.

4. Import the data of Excel file and save the report.

For an Excel file with uncertain number of rows, users just need to set Report style as Row report.

Graphic Illustration

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This post is from [L=freezea's blog]http://freezea.blogspot.com/2009/02/import-excel-files-easily-in-reporting.html[/L]. You are welcome to cc it anywhere, and please indicate the source.

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