When upgrading to IBM i Access for Windows 6.1 or 7.1 (formerly System i for Windows, Client Access for Windows, etc), IBM changed the technology used for the Excel data transfer add-in. And that change could break your Excel-to-IBM i data transfers.
In System i Access for Windows V5R4M0 and below, IBM used the Excel Software Development Kit (SDK) to provide the transfer technology between Excel and IBM i machines. With IBM i Access 6.1/7.1, that technology has been updated to use Component Object Model (COM) technology instead of the SDK. Per IBM, “COM is the interoperability standard for Windows-based applications and it allows users to upload data from many Excel instances simultaneously.”
The thing to beware of is that depending on how you install IBM i Access for Windows 6.1/7.1, you may find that the Excel add-in no longer works. This is because the newer packages use a different add-in file, which is an .XLL file rather than a .DLL file. If you don’t have the right file installed and configured, your Excel add-in transfers can suddenly and unexpectedly break.
If that happens to you, IBM has a Web site that explains the issue and how to load the new CWBTXFLA.XLL file into your Excel and IBM i access configuration. The site is well-written and fairly easy to follow (though at one or two points, I had to puzzle out how to get to the next step). The site has instructions for loading the new COM-based add-in to Excel 2002/2003, Excel 2007, and Excel 2010.
So if you run into an issue when trying to run an IBM i Excel data transfer, check out IBM’s site for the solution.
Special thanks to Scott Williams (Master Technician Scott) for alerting me to this issue and its’ fix.
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Follow Joe Hertvik on Twitter @JoeHertvik. You can also add Joe to your professional network on LinkedIn by clicking here.
About Joe Hertvik
Joe is the owner of Hertvik Business Services, a service company providing written marketing content to computer industry companies. He is also a contributing editor for IT Jungle and has written the Admin Alert column for the past ten years.
Follow Joe Hertvik on Twitter
@JoeHertvik.
Email
Joe for a free quote on white papers, case studies, brochures, or other marketing materials.
IBM i QuickTip: Fixing the Excel Add-in for IBM i Access 6.1/7.1
When upgrading to IBM i Access for Windows 6.1 or 7.1 (formerly System i for Windows, Client Access for Windows, etc), IBM changed the technology used for the Excel data transfer add-in. And that change could break your Excel-to-IBM i data transfers.
In System i Access for Windows V5R4M0 and below, IBM used the Excel Software Development Kit (SDK) to provide the transfer technology between Excel and IBM i machines. With IBM i Access 6.1/7.1, that technology has been updated to use Component Object Model (COM) technology instead of the SDK. Per IBM, “COM is the interoperability standard for Windows-based applications and it allows users to upload data from many Excel instances simultaneously.”
The thing to beware of is that depending on how you install IBM i Access for Windows 6.1/7.1, you may find that the Excel add-in no longer works. This is because the newer packages use a different add-in file, which is an .XLL file rather than a .DLL file. If you don’t have the right file installed and configured, your Excel add-in transfers can suddenly and unexpectedly break.
If that happens to you, IBM has a Web site that explains the issue and how to load the new CWBTXFLA.XLL file into your Excel and IBM i access configuration. The site is well-written and fairly easy to follow (though at one or two points, I had to puzzle out how to get to the next step). The site has instructions for loading the new COM-based add-in to Excel 2002/2003, Excel 2007, and Excel 2010.
So if you run into an issue when trying to run an IBM i Excel data transfer, check out IBM’s site for the solution.
Special thanks to Scott Williams (Master Technician Scott) for alerting me to this issue and its’ fix.
**************************************************
Follow Joe Hertvik on Twitter @JoeHertvik. You can also add Joe to your professional network on LinkedIn by clicking here.
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About Joe Hertvik
Joe is the owner of Hertvik Business Services, a service company providing written marketing content to computer industry companies. He is also a contributing editor for IT Jungle and has written the Admin Alert column for the past ten years. Follow Joe Hertvik on Twitter @JoeHertvik. Email Joe for a free quote on white papers, case studies, brochures, or other marketing materials.