Importing Data

Importing Data from Databases and Files

You can import data to Excel from most data sources by pointing to Import External Data on the Data menu, clicking Import Data, and then choosing the data you want to import in the Select Data Source dialog box.

Importing Data with Microsoft Query

In most cases, you can import data by using the Import Data command as described in the section above. Use Query or another program only if you need to perform specialized query tasks such as the following:

Filter rows or columns of data before they are brought into Excel.

Create a parameter query.

Sort data before it is brought into Excel.

Join multiple tables.

Importing Data from the Web

You can import data originating from a Web page by pointing to Import External Data on the Data menu and clicking New Web Query. You must have access to the World Wide Web (World Wide Web (WWW).

Import a Text File

1. Click the cell where you want to put the data from the text file.
2. To ensure that the external data does not replace existing data, make sure that the worksheet has no data below or to the right of the cell you click.
3. On the Data menu, point to Import External Data, and then click Import Data.
4. In the Files of type box, click Text Files.
5. In the Look in list, locate and double-click the text file you want to import as an external data range.
6. To specify how you want to divide the text into columns, follow the instructions in the Text Import Wizard, and then click Finish.
7. In the Import Data dialog box, click Properties to set formatting and layout options for the imported data.
8. In the Import Data dialog box, do one of the following:
9. To return the data to the location you selected, click Existing worksheet, and then click OK.
10. To return the data to a new worksheet, click New worksheet, and then click OK. Microsoft Excel adds a new worksheet to your workbook and automatically puts the external data range in the upper-left corner of the new worksheet.