Import Excel table or cells into MadCap table

This forum is for all Flare issues related to importing files or projects.
Post Reply
sds
Propeller Head
Posts: 48
Joined: Tue Jun 26, 2018 11:29 am
Location: Tucson

Import Excel table or cells into MadCap table

Post by sds »

Maybe there's a better way to do this. I'm given software release notes in an Excel doc that's part of a larger organizational document. Was hoping to just copy or import the two columns I need into a table on a Topic that I keep for this purpose. I'm sure there's a more modern way of doing this but this is what I'm working with right now. Updates are quarterly so it's not too bad but it's a pain in the neck when I need to do it.
robdocsmith
Sr. Propeller Head
Posts: 247
Joined: Thu May 24, 2018 3:11 pm
Location: Queensland, Australia

Re: Import Excel table or cells into MadCap table

Post by robdocsmith »

I don't know a straighforward way to do it. Though I do import data regularly into Flare documents from Excel using external scripts. Python is my scripting language of choice and it can be used to grab data from spreadsheets, reformat into HTML and create an HTML file ready for use. There are plenty of online resources to help develop simple scripts to do this and other repetitive tasks.

Cheers,
Rob
devjoe
Sr. Propeller Head
Posts: 337
Joined: Thu Jan 23, 2014 1:43 pm

Re: Import Excel table or cells into MadCap table

Post by devjoe »

If Flare could copy a table of data from an outside application into a table within a topic neatly it would be nice, but I find it usually just pastes as text. So I usually try to get it as an HTML page first, with some workaround like paste just the data I want into a new Excel sheet, save that sheet as HTML, and open that within Flare. Then I can copy the table where I want it within Flare. Usually I have to wipe all the formatting because Excel saves it with about 100 attributes on every single cell.
Nita Beck
Senior Propellus Maximus
Posts: 3667
Joined: Thu Feb 02, 2006 9:57 am
Location: Pittsford, NY

Re: Import Excel table or cells into MadCap table

Post by Nita Beck »

It's quite easy to copy cells out of Excel (or some other spreadsheet format) and paste them into Flare..

1. Copy the cells in Excel.
2. In Flare in a topic or snippet, add a blank paragraph and then Paste. Then, look for the little clipboard icon at the lower right of what was just pasted. It's a drop-down. Select Paste Table.
3. Format the table as you usually would.

That's it.

Read more about this and other paste options: https://help.madcapsoftware.com/flare20 ... ograms.htm
Nita
Image
RETIRED, but still fond of all the Flare friends I've made. See you around now and then!
Post Reply