Excel

Time for some smoke & mirrors ..

Excel is a widely used data source and target in Pentaho Data Integration. Here's a summary of its use:

1. Data Input:

   • PDI can read data directly from Excel files (.xls and .xlsx formats)

   • The "Microsoft Excel Input" step allows users to specify worksheets, cell ranges, and handle multiple sheets

2. Data Output:

   • PDI can write data to Excel files using the "Microsoft Excel Output" step

   • Supports creation of new files or appending to existing ones

3. Template-based Reporting:

   • Excel templates can be used as a base for generating reports

   • Data from various sources can be injected into predefined Excel templates

4. Data Transformation:

   • Excel formulas can be replicated using PDI's calculation steps

   • Complex Excel-based business logic can be translated into PDI transformations

5. Metadata Extraction:

   • PDI can extract metadata from Excel files, including sheet names, column headers, and data types

6. Error Handling:

   • Provides options for handling Excel-specific errors like empty cells or formula errors

Workshops

First Tab

Steel Wheels intends to automate their half-yearly Sales and Expenses Report. The process for extracting, transforming, and loading (ETL) data has been delineated into several workflows. Upon the completion of these workflows, data will be automatically populated into a predefined Excel template.

Second Tab