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Re: Changing excel table with Wolfram Mathematica

• To: mathgroup at smc.vnet.net
• Subject: [mg121575] Re: Changing excel table with Wolfram Mathematica
• From: "Hans Michel" <hmichel at cox.net>
• Date: Tue, 20 Sep 2011 06:10:24 -0400 (EDT)
• Delivered-to: l-mathgroup@mail-archive0.wolfram.com
• References: <201109191106.HAA19601@smc.vnet.net>

Every once in a while someone asked this question.

No is the answer to your constrained question:  using Mathematica Built-In
functions to update just a few Excel worksheet cells in an Excel workbook
without overwriting the file on using Export.

Without your constraints you can Import the entire worksheet, make changes
to the values you need, Export the entire worksheet out. OR

You can use DatabaseLink. Treat Excel file as a database. You would use a
JDBC (ODBC) connection to the Excel worksheet. Then using Excel's SQL-like
language you can Update the required cells.

It is very hard to provide details of using DatabaseLink in this way,
because depending on platform and user's skill set and level of experience
using ODBC it is a painful process to explain and work through. 

But this is where I would point you towards to start:

http://reference.wolfram.com/mathematica/DatabaseLink/tutorial/DatabaseConne
ctions.html#27756

In "Setting Up the Connection" section the image of the ODBC Datasource
Administrator (depending on your system)

"Excel Files" is a choice. So one can connect to an Excel file.

If the poster pursues the DatabaseLink route, I would advise the poster to
first make a successful ODBC connection to an Excel file and do an update of
a cell and close the connection. Do this if time permits using external
tools Java program. When you get familiar with the concept and its use I
would say then you are ready to use DatabaseLink. Otherwise there will be a
barrage of questions stemming from rookie mistakes such as ("Now I can't
open my Excel file?" Did you close the connection.)
("It is not working?" Do you have the correct ODBC-JDBC Driver for the
application your are connecting.)

If you understand what I am pointing towards then go ahead and jump right
into DatabaseLink.


Hans


-----Original Message-----
From: Kuba [mailto:drazen.kubatovic at zg.htnet.hr] 
Sent: Monday, September 19, 2011 6:06 AM
To: mathgroup at smc.vnet.net
Subject: [mg121575] Changing excel table with Wolfram Mathematica

    I would like to change some cells in Excel table with Mathematica. I 
know that can be done with "Mathematica link for Excel", but is any way how 
can I change this with Mathematica built-in functions? For example:

    Table from A1 to D4

1 1 1 1
1 1 1 1
1 1 2 2
1 1 2 2

I wont change cells from C3 to D4, to set new value. For example 2 becomes 
3.
It is important that all other cells stay untouched.
Thank you very much. 

• References:
  • Changing excel table with Wolfram Mathematica
    • From: "Kuba" <drazen.kubatovic@zg.htnet.hr>