Excel Add-in

Question

Hi,

In several blog posts I have read that Microsoft has created / is creating a new Excel add-in which can be used as a user interface for handling master data.

• Can this Excel add-in be used for SQL Server 2008 R2 MDS?
• Which version of Excel is required?
• Is this Excel add-in already available (CTP) or when will it be available?
• Can this Excel add-in be used for free (like PowerPivot) eventually?
• Does this Excel add-in "replaces" the Explorer functionality of MDS? Does it trigger business rules when data is updated? Does the user only sees the data he/she is responsible for (permissions)?

Thank you.

Regards,

Johan Machielse

Answer 1

Hi All,

There was a webcast on PASS sometime back on this. Is this add-in released for usage? Where can I find this add in?

Answer 2

When it is planned for release?

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Lolita Broka

Answer 3

A new pre-release CTP version (CTP3) of SQL Server Denali is now available. The corresponding MDS Excel Add-in is available here: http://www.microsoft.com/download/en/details.aspx?displaylang=en&id=26725. This is free for download and use as long as you have a Denali CTP3 MDS server you can point it to.

Answer 4

The Denali CTP3 version of the add-in is available here: http://www.microsoft.com/download/en/details.aspx?displaylang=en&id=26725.

 

* MDS for Denali CTP3 can work against SQL Server 2008 R2 databases however the database itself must be upgraded using the config tool that ships with MDS

* The add-in is compatible Excel 2007 or later. See the link for details

* The add-in is free to download. Of course you will need to have an MDS server to point it at.

* No, the add-in does not replace the Explorer functionality but is an additional way to approach master data and to import/manage a large number of records. Yes, it does trigger business rules when data is updated. Yes, it fully supports permissions.