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dashboard using excel XML map as source does not introduce any new data

Former Member
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I am on engage 2008 sp1 and I have dashboards set up based on data coming from an excel 2003 xml map that I've exported to an HTML file. The problem I am seeing is that the dashboard only displays data for the number of rows that were in the excel spreadsheet when I created the dashboard.

For example, my xml data is basically monthly totals. If I had 3 months of data on my spreadsheet when I created my dashboard, I will only ever see 3 months of data on my dashboard. If I put data into my source that is after the 3 months that was in when I created the dashboard, I don't see it. If I put data into my source that is before the 3 months that was in when I created the dashboard, I lose the last of the 3 month's data off my dashboard. What I have to do is refresh the data with engage to get the data onto my spreadsheet, then export the dashboard out to an html file. I do have a refresh data connection button in my dashboard that is hooked to my excel xml map and is set to refresh on load, and it seems to work just fine if I change any existing data. I think that part is working.

I do have my dashboard set to look at a much larger range of cells then the data being filled into the spreadsheet. My intent for all of this was to not have to maintain these dashboards - that the dashboard would be able to read in any new data and report on it. What am I missing?

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Former Member
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I think I understand the issue.

When you setup your XML mapping you need to make sure that the blue box in Excel extends far enough to encompass the maximum number of rows that your xml map will recieve back from the web service.

For example your 3 months that you used to set it up may give you back 30 rows of data in excel. But you may need to drag the blue box much larger - possibly 120 rows or more - in case your web service sends back that many rows.

You will probably have a good idea of the maximum number of rows that will ever come through the webservice - you just have to use experience to judge this.

Then you set your dashboard components to look at the full 120 rows of cells in the model (and check the box to ignore blank values.)

Most of the time you won't be using up all 120 rows with results so ignorning the blanks will be important.

This way both your xml mapping and your xcelsius model are able to use an adequate number of rows to see all possible results.

Former Member
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Blake,

Thank you for your response. I tried this and I still do not get new data. I right-clicked in my xml list in excel, chose List, resize list and resized it to 60 rows (5 years). I then added a new row in my sql table and refreshed and didn't get my new data.

Former Member
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It would be necessary to isolate where the failure is occuring before i could offer any other help.

You might be able to test to determine whether this is an Excel problem or if its a problem in Xcelsius.

When working with the xml map in Excel, are you able force the data to appear and show the new row of data from your database?

In the Excel menu the command to force the results to appear can be found at:

Data > XML > Refresh XML data

If the new row of data does not appear in the results in Excel, then that would point to the xml mapping not pulling updated data (or possiblyt he web service not providing refreshed data.)

You could also run your web service to a browser window to check the results and determine if the new row is present in the results.

Former Member
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Yes, when I refresh my XML data in excel, the new row appears and it then gets used in my dashboard.