Excel 2008 can retrieve information from database servers, such as a computer that is running Microsoft SQL Server or other external databases by using third-party Open Database Connectivity (ODBC) drivers. After you download and install the ODBC drivers, you can use database queries to retrieve the data. The following table describes each of the query types.
Query type | Description |
|---|---|
FileMaker query | A FileMaker query is used to retrieve data from the FileMaker server. To interact with a FileMaker database, users must have the FileMaker Pro application installed on their client computers. |
Web query | A Web query is used to query data from a specific Internet or intranet site and display the information directly in an Excel 2008 spreadsheet. Note Web queries are handled by Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) connections. For more information about how to create Web queries, see
XL98: How to Create Web Query Files (KB178870) |
Database query | A database query is used to request information from database servers, such as a computer that is running Microsoft SQL Server. To use Microsoft Query in Excel 2008, users must first install compatible ODBC drivers on their computers so that they can retrieve the data from the database. For information on how to import data from a database, see Excel 2008 Help. |
Text query | A text query is used to query the contents of a text file in Excel 2008. |
Plan a strategy to control access to workbooks
As an administrator, you must assign the appropriate permissions to the user accounts that will be connecting to the databases. Users must then provide their account information when they connect to the external data source network (DSN) by using third-party ODBC drivers.
To connect to an external DSN, on the Data menu, click Get External Data.
If users have permissions that are too broad in scope, they might be able to modify queries in Microsoft Query to add, delete, or modify data that is stored on the server or to delete databases and tables.
To prevent unauthorized users from modifying queries and then saving them in the database, make sure that all users have the correct permissions assigned to them at the database server level. For example, you can restrict users who have permission to view snapshots of workbooks from altering any of the data in the workbooks, or prevent them from altering the query that is used to retrieve data. Users can still open, interact with, refresh, and recalculate workbooks that have read restrictions; but they cannot save any modifications to the workbook on the server. They can save revisions only locally.
