XLS format

You can import data for process instance-independent data rows from Excel files into the PPM system. For importing in XLS format, the following special features apply:

Implicit positioning

In principle, the data format corresponds to that in CSV format. The information in the worksheet is expected in the following order:

Example: File extract from MS Excel with default positioning

s_ppm_tr_xml_csv1

Explicit positioning

The name of the data series is specified in cell A1. In cell B1, the area is specified that contains the import data structure information, and cell C1 specifies the area that contains the actual import data. The positioning has the general format
<Position of start cell>[:<Position of end cell>]

If you only specify the position of the start cell, e.g. C8, the data from all subsequent columns will also be imported. In this case, the specification corresponds to an infinite area of the table.
If you specify the same row number when specifying the position of the range of import data to be extracted, e.g. C9:E9, the specified columns are extracted to the end of the worksheet and an unlimited number of data rows is thus imported. To import a precisely limited range of values, you must specify the first and last data row, e.g., C9:E10. 

Example: File extract from MS Excel with explicit positioning

s_ppm_tr_xml_csv2

The import data structure of the process instance-independent data series PC_CUSTSAT is specified in cells C8 to E8, and the actual values to be imported are specified in cells C9 to E10.

You can use the remaining Excel table area for comments, etc. This area is ignored during the import.

Warning

To use explicit positioning, you must observe the basic sequence: You must specify the row for the import data structure before the rows containing the data values.

Relative starting point

The name of the data series is specified in a position different from the implicit position (cell A1). The position of the cell in the worksheet is specified by the sheet parameter and the name of the worksheet. The syntax is
-sheet <Worksheet name>:<Cell>.

Example 1: File extract from MS Excel with relative starting point and implicit positioning

s_ppm_tr_xml_csv3

Example 2: File extract from MS Excel with relative starting point and explicit positioning

s_ppm_tr_xml_csv4

For both examples, the data is imported using the following command:

runpikidata -user <username> -password <password> -mode import -format XLS -file excelpikidata.xls -sheet 2006:B3