Frequently Asked Questions About XLhub
- What are the prerequisites for using XLhub?
- How does XLhub work?
- What size tables can XLhub handle?
- Why has my XLhub ribbon disappeared, and how do I get it back?
- How do I check which version of XLhub I am using?
- Why am I blocked from entering certain data?
- How much content can I enter in each cell when I am using XLhub?
- I can see the group icon for my hub in the XLhub ribbon but it isn’t active. What should I do?
- I have received a shared XLhub hub but I can’t save or retrieve any data. How can I fix this?
- I have more questions or comments about XLhub. How can I contact someone about XLhub?
- Why can’t I enter an integer in to date column type? And why does the year of the date change to 1900?
- What should I do if a data type is changed in the file?
- Why can’t I hub my table?
Answers to Frequently Asked Questions
- What are the system requirements for using XLhub?
Before you can use XLhub, you need to make sure your computer meets the following:
- Windows XP, Windows Vista or Windows 7
- Microsoft Excel 2007 or Excel 2010
- Local Administrator Permission for installing XLhub on your machine
- How does XLhub work?
XLhub establishes a two-way connection between Microsoft Excel and a SQL Server database. Data that is in an Excel table can then be saved to the database. Data already in the database can be retrieved into an Excel file and combined with data that originated in Excel.
Top - What size tables can XLhub handle?
There is no theoretical limit as to the size of an Excel table that can be connected using XLhub. We have tested the performance using tables as large as 100 columns and 100,000 rows. The smallest table XLhub can connect to a database is 1 row and 1 column wide.
Top - Why has my XLhub ribbon disappeared, and how do I get it back?
If your XLhub ribbon has disappeared, there can be a few possible explanations:
- You have changed your Excel Options Add-in settings.
To check the Add-in settings:
- In Excel, click on the Microsoft Office Icon in the upper left corner of the screen.
- At the bottom of the drop down menu, click Excel Options.
- On the left, click Add-Ins.
- Scroll to the bottom of the window and check for XLhub under the disabled hub add-ins. Double click XLhuband enable it.
- Save the setting, close and re-open Excel. Your XLhub ribbon should be restored.
- How do I check which version of XLhub I am using?
To check which version of XLhub you are currently using, open Excel and click on the XLhub ribbon. Click the Help button in the Admin group. The version number should be displayed.
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- Why am I blocked from entering certain data?
XLhub will prevent text from being entered into a cells defined as Number or Date and Time. To ensure that your data is consistent and stored accurately in a SQL database XLhub performs data validation. For example, this ensures that a user does not enter text in a number column or attempt to exceed a maximum text length.
Top - How much content can I enter in each cell when I am using XLhub?
XLhub can hub tables with cells with as much content as Microsoft Excel allows. It can handle numbers with up to 15 digits, and character entries with up to 32,000 characters. The limit for formulas is currently 8,000 characters. However, once a table becomes an XLhub hub its maximum length (for text entries) becomes fixed. This maximum length is determined as part of the hubbing process and default to the maximum length of the longest entry in for each column at the time when the table is “hubbed”. If necessary the maximum length for a column can be adjusted in the column definition dialog that appears during the hubbing process.
Once the table is hubbed it will block all entries that exceed the maximum precision or length for each column. Any entries exceeding the pre-specified maximum length will be reverted to the cell’s original value. XLhub imposes this restriction to ensure that your data is consistent and stored accurately in our database.
Top - I can’t see send or receive buttons for my hub. What should I do?
Sometimes XLhub is unable to retrieve some information about your hub from your Excel file and the send and receive buttons for your hub will not be displayed. This issue can be remedied by opening the file with your hubbed table and clicking the Connect to Hub button under the Table Management menu of the Admin group of your XLhub ribbon.
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- I have received a shared XLhub hub but I can’t save or retrieve any data. How can I fix this?
XLhub could be missing some necessary information about your hub. Open the file containing the shared table, and click the Connect to Hub button under Workbook Management in the Admin group of your XLhub ribbon. When you save, close and reopen excel, you should be able to save and retrieve.
Top - I have more questions or comments about XLhub. How can I contact someone about XLhub?
We welcome your comments, suggestions, and questions. Here is our contact information:
Send an email to xlhub@metricx.com
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You may also call us at 1-248-690-5250 - Why can’t I enter a number into a date column? And why does the year of the date change to 1900?
Excel stores all the dates in number format and counts all the dates from 01/01/1900. Hence, when you enter a number in a column with the data and time data type, Excel calculates it as the number of days since 01/01/1900.
For example,if you enter the number 21 in the date column type, Excel calculates it as the number of days since 01/01/1900 and displays 01/21/1900
Top - Why are number cells appearing as dates?
If a date is entered in a cell, Excel formats that cell as a date. If a number is entered in the cell, Excel will continue to display the number formatted as a date. The solution to this is:
- Select the cell you want to change the data format for in the file
- Click on the Home Ribbon
- Select the desired format in the Number group
Now Excel will allow you to enter a number again.
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- Why can’t I hub my table?
If you cannot hub a table please check the following:
- The range has been converted to a table.
- The tablename provided has not been used for any of your other hubs
If none of the above work, please contact your Administrator or Metric-X for troubleshooting.
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