From a spreadsheet's Connections panel or Data toolbar, you can connect its sheets as sources to Wdata tables. When you create outgoing connections from a spreadsheet to tables, you can push and refresh data from its sheets to ensure their destination tables have the latest.
Connect a sheet to Wdata table
A sheet's Owner can connect the sheet as a source for a Wdata table they have permissions to edit. For example, if you manage dimensional data—such as account hierarchy mappings—in a sheet, you can create an outgoing connection to keep a dimension table up-to-date with its values. When you connect a sheet to a table, its data appears on the table as a connected dataset, which you can refresh from the table or spreadsheet.
Tip: You can connect a sheet to multiple destinations, but only once to each table. You can also add a sheet as a connected dataset from the table.
- In the spreadsheet, open the sheet to connect to the table.
- Add the connection from the Connections panel or Data toolbar:
- From the Connections panel, under Outgoing , click Add Connection.
- From the Data toolbar, click Add Connection , Outgoing Connection , Wdata Table .
- From the Connections panel, under Outgoing , click Add Connection.
- Search for and select the table to connect to, and click Next.
- In Dataset name, enter the name for the sheet's new connected dataset on the table.
- Map the table's columns to the sheet's.
- To include any metadata your organization tracks about the dataset, such as source or version, select the tags and values to apply.
- Click Finish.
Refresh outgoing connections
To update a sheet's connected tables with the latest data, refresh its outgoing connections from the Connections panel or Data toolbar. You can refresh multiple connections at the same time.
Note: To refresh an outgoing connection, you need either Owner or Editor permissions to both the sheet and its connected table.
- To refresh a specific connection, from the Connections panel, under Outgoing, click its Refresh Connection.
- To refresh all outgoing connections for a sheet, open the sheet in the spreadsheet, and click Refresh, Outgoing Connections on the Data toolbar.
Filter connections
To ease working with the Connections panel, click Filter , and select which connections to view:
- To view all connections in the spreadsheet, select Entire document.
- To view only the current sheet's connections, select Current section.
Create a new connection between a sheet and table
After you connect a sheet to a table, you can create a new connection between the two to append a dataset based on the sheet's latest data. For example, if you roll forward financial data on an annual basis, you can create a new connection each year for a dataset based on each period.
When you create a new connection between an already-connected sheet and table:
- The existing connection remains on the table as a static dataset, which you can no longer update. If you no longer need this dataset, you can remove it from the table.
- The new connection appears on the table as its own connected dataset. You can refresh this connection from either the spreadsheet or table for the latest data.
To create a new connection between a table and its connected sheet:
- From the Connections panel, under Outgoing, select Create new connection from the existing connection's menu.
- In New dataset name, enter a unique name to help identify the new connection's dataset on the table.
- Click Create connection.
Open an outgoing connection's sheet or destination
From the Connections panel, you can quickly open an outgoing connection's sheet or table from its menu:
- To open the connection's sheet in the spreadsheet, select Go to sheet .
- To open the connection's table in Wdata, select Open destination .
Disconnect an outgoing connection
To retain a snapshot of the source sheet's current data in its connected table, disconnect their connection. When you disconnect an outgoing connection, the sheet's data remains in its connected table, but you can no longer refresh the connection for the latest data.
To disconnect an outgoing connection from the Connections panel, under Outgoing, select Disconnect from the connection's menu.
Outgoing connections and permissions
A sheet's Owner can connect the sheet to only tables they have Owner or Editor permissions to.
If you collaborate on a spreadsheet with others, their access to its outgoing connections depend on their permissions to the sheet and table.
Sheet | Table | Connection access |
---|---|---|
Viewer, Owner, or Editor | Viewer | Locked |
Editor | Editor or Owner | Refresh connection |
Owner | Owner | Full access |