Entering Data from Within Excel
You can enter data into a PowerOLAP database using an Excel worksheet. This has great applicability in forecasting, planning and budgeting systems that use PowerOLAP®. All data entered into a worksheet is automatically updated using one of PowerOLAP’s functions (OLAPTable has been shown here), each of which maintains a “bi-directional, dynamic spreadsheet connection” between PowerOLAP® and Excel.
To enter data via an Excel worksheet:
1. Select a cell at the intersection of Detail members, such as cell F9, which is the cell at the intersection of April, Net Sales.
2. Type 100000.
3. Press Enter, and then press F9 key (if Excel is set to Manual calculation) to recalculate the worksheet. The worksheet appears as below:
4. Return to the PowerOLAP Accounts by Months slice (showing Canada as the Page Member).
5. Press F9 to update PowerOLAP.
The Slice appears as follows:
Important
The strength and power of the spreadsheet connection to PowerOLAP cubes are central to the use of the product: PowerOLAP® “disburdens” Excel of its calculation tasks—hierarchies/ Aggregate weights/formulas are calculated in PowerOLAP’s engine, across specifiable multidimensional data ranges; further, PowerOLAP® relieves users/organizations of the difficulties of maintaining hundreds or more linked spreadsheets.