How to update IBM Informix from Excel

The CData Excel Add-In for IBM Informix enables you to edit and save IBM Informix data directly from Excel. This article explains how to transfer data from Excel to IBM Informix. This technique is useful if you want to work on IBM Informix data in Excel and update changes, or if you have a whole spreadsheet you want to import into IBM Informix. In this example, you will use the Books table; however, the same process will work for any table that can be retrieved by the CData Excel Add-In.

Establish a Connection

If you have not already done so, create a new IBM Informix connection by clicking From IBM Informix on the ribbon.

Set the following properties to connect to IBM Informix

• Server: Set this to the name of the server running IBM Informix.
• Port: Set this to the port the IBM Informix server is listening on.
• Database: Set this to the name of the IBM Informix database.
• User: Set this to the username of a user allowed to access the database.
• Password: Set this to the password of a user allowed to access the database.

Retrieve Data from IBM Informix

To insert data into IBM Informix, you will first need to retrieve data from the IBM Informix table you want to add to. This links the Excel spreadsheet to the IBM Informix table selected: After you retrieve data, any changes you make to the data are highlighted in red.

1. Click the From IBM Informix button on the CData ribbon. The Data Selection wizard is displayed.
2. In the Table or View menu, select the Books table.
3. In the Maximum Rows menu, select the number of rows you want to retrieve. If you want to insert rows, you need to retrieve only one row. The Query box will then display the SQL query that corresponds to your request.
4. In the Sheet Name box, enter the name for the sheet that will be populated. By default the add-in will create a new sheet with the name of the table.

Insert Rows to IBM Informix

After retrieving data, you can add data from an existing spreadsheet in Excel.

1. In a cell after the last row, enter a formula referencing the corresponding cell from the other spreadsheet; for example, =MyBooksSheetInExcel!A1.
2. After using a formula to reference the cells you want to add to IBM Informix, select the cells that you are inserting data into and drag the formula down as far as needed. The referenced values you want to add will be displayed on the Books sheet.
3. Highlight the rows you want to insert and click the Update Rows button.

As each row is inserted, the Id value will appear in the Id column and the row's text will change to black, indicating that the record has been inserted.