Spreadsheet-Based Decision Support Systems
Chapter 21: Working with Large Data Re-Visited
Prof. Name
Position
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Overview
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21.1 Introduction
21.2 Creating Pivot Tables with VBA
21.3 Using External Data
21.4 Exporting Data
21.5 Applications
21.6 Summary
2
Introduction

Creating pivot tables using VBA

Importing data from text files or webpages using VBA

Importing data from databases

Creating basic queries using the SQL programming language

Exporting data using VBA

An application which allows a user to query a database from Excel
3
Creating Pivot Tables with VBA

In Chapter 6, we learned how to create pivot tables and pivot charts
using the Pivot Table Wizard in the Excel Data menu.

We will now learn the properties and methods in VBA that will allow us to
perform these tasks dynamically.
4
Creating Pivot Tables with VBA (cont)

The main pivot table object is PivotTables.

Pivot tables are used similar to the Chart and Shape objects in that we
must use the ActiveSheet object before specifying a PivotTables object.
ActiveSheet.PivotTables(“PivotTable1”)
5
Creating Pivot Tables with VBA (cont)

From this PivotTables object, we can further specify PivotFields, and
from PivotFields we can specify PivotItems.
ActiveSheet.PivotTables(“PivotTable1”).PivotFields(“Days to Arrive”)
ActiveSheet.PivotTables(“PivotTable1”).PivotFields(“Days to
Arrive”).PivotItems(“4”)
6
Creating Pivot Tables with VBA (cont)

The ActiveSheet object’s main method is the PivotTableWizard method.

The PivotTableWizard method has several arguments:
– SourceType argument specifies if our pivot table data is from the spreadsheet
(xlDatabase), an external source (xlExternal), multiple ranges
(xlConsolidation), or another pivot table (xlPivotTable).
– SourceData argument is used to specify the specific data from this source
type.
– TableDestination argument specifies a range where the table should be
placed.
– TableName argument can be used to give a name to this table, such as
“PivotTable1”.
ActiveSheet.PivotTableWizard SourceType:=xlDatabase,
SourceData:=Worksheets(“Data-Shipping”).Range(“B3:E27”),
TableDestination:=Worksheets(“Pivot-Shipping”).Range(“A3”),
TableName:=“PivotTable1”
7
Creating Pivot Tables with VBA (cont)

The AddFields method is used to specify the pivot table layout.
– This method is used to set row fields, column fields, and page fields of the
pivot table.
– Each field is an optional argument of the method: RowFields,
ColumnFields, and PageFields.
– If there is more than one field for a particular argument, then use the Array
function to specify them.
– The AddToTable argument takes True/False values to determine if these
new fields should be appended to the current table or replace existing fields,
respectively.
ActiveSheet.PivotTables(“PivotTable1”).AddFields RowFields:= Array(“Max
Weight, lbs”, “Days to Arrive”), ColumnFields:=”Shipping Company”
8
Creating Pivot Tables with VBA (cont)

For the PivotTables object, there are several other properties and
methods to discuss.

The RowGrand and ColumnGrand properties specify whether or not
grand totals should be calculated for row or column fields, respectively.
– The possible values for these properties are True or False.
ActiveSheet.PivotTables(“PivotTable1”).RowGrand = True
9
Creating Pivot Tables with VBA (cont)

Another property that may be used often is the Format property.
– This can be used to apply a pre-defined report or table format to your pivot
table.
– The values for this property can be an xlReport value or xlTable value.
ActiveSheet.PivotTables(“PivotTable1”).Format xlReport10
ActiveSheet.PivotTables(“PivotTable1”).Format xlTable2
10
Creating Pivot Tables with VBA (cont)

A useful method of the PivotTables object is the RefreshData method.
– This method is equivalent to pressing the exclamation point icon on the Pivot
Table Toolbar.
– If any changes are made to the data from which the pivot table was created,
refreshing the data will update the pivot table data.
ActiveSheet.PivotTables(“PivotTable1”).RefreshData
11
Creating Pivot Tables with VBA (cont)

One last useful method of the PivotTables object is GetPivotData.
– This method has the same functionality as the GETPIVOTDATA function
defined in Chapter 6.
– For a specific item in a given row or column field, this method will find the
corresponding value from the data field.
ActiveSheet.PivotTables(“PivotTable1”).GetPivotData(“DataFieldName”,
“RoworColumnFieldName”, “ItemName”)
12
Creating Pivot Tables with VBA (cont)

There are some other useful properties of the PivotFields object.

The Orientation property sets the data fields of a pivot table.
– This property takes the values xlDataField, xlRowField,
xlColumnField, and xlPageField or the respective fields.
ActiveSheet.PivotTables(“PivotTable1”).PivotFields(“Cost”).Orientation =
xlDataField

There is another possible value for the Orientation property which is
xlHidden.
– This will hide all of the values of the specified field.
– This property can be useful not only to set the data field, but also to change
any previously set fields to be different field types or to be removed from the
pivot table all together.
13
Creating Pivot Tables with VBA (cont)

There are two properties which can be used to make calculations (sum,
average, min, max, etc).
– These are the Function property and SubTotals property.

The Function property is used for data fields.
– To use this property simply specify the type of calculation you want to be
made on the named field.
ActiveSheet.PivotTables(“PivotTable1”).PivotFields(“Cost”).Function = xlMin
14
Creating Pivot Tables with VBA (cont)

The SubTotals property is used for non-data fields.
– With this property you must specify an index number, or numbers, which
represent the type of sub totals you want to show for the given field.
– These index values are






2 = sum
3 = count
4 = average
5 = max
6 = min
others
ActiveSheet.PivotTables(“PivotTable1”).PivotFields(“Max Weight,
lbs”).SubTotals(6)
15
Creating Pivot Tables with VBA (cont)

There is one main property that is used often with the PivotItems object
which is the Visible property.
– Using this property is similar to clicking on the drop-down list of values for a
field in a pivot table and checking or un-checking the values which you want
to be displayed.
– The values for this property are True and False, much like we have seen in
uses of the Visible property with other objects.
ActiveSheet.PivotTables(“PivotTable1”).PivotFields(“Days To
Arrive”).PivotItems(“1”).Visible = True
ActiveSheet.PivotTables(“PivotTable1”).PivotFields(“Days To
Arrive”).PivotItems(“8”).Visible = True
16
Creating Pivot Tables with VBA (cont)

One last useful property is the ShowPivotTableFieldList property which
is used with a Workbook object.
– This property has True or False values which can be set to show or hide the
pivot table field list of the pivot tables in the workbook.
ActiveWorkbook.ShowPivotTableFieldList = True
17
Figure 21.3

One complete pivot table code example
18
Using External Data

Importing Data
– Text Files and Webpages
– Databases

Performing Queries with SQL
19
Importing Data

We will first describe how to import data from text files and web
addresses in VBA.

We will use an object called QueryTables.

This object is referred to using a Worksheet object.
ActiveSheet.QueryTables
20
Importing Data (cont)

To import data, we will simply add a QueryTable object using the Add
method.

The Add method has two arguments:
– Connection requires the type of data being imported and the actual location
of the data.
– Destination argument is the location on the spreadsheet where you would
like to place the imported data.
21
Importing Data (cont)

The Connection argument enables us to clarify if we are importing data
from a text file or a webpage.

If we are importing data from a text file, we would define the Connection
argument as follows.
Connection:= “TEXT; path”

Here, the path is the actual location of the text file on your computer
given by some string value.
22
Importing Data (cont)

The path value can also be given dynamically by prompting the user for
the path value and storing the path name in a string variable.

This path value would have to be concatenated with the TEXT
specification.
Dim UserPath As String
UserPath = InputBox(“Enter path of text file.”) Connection:= “TEXT; “ &
UserPath & “
23
Importing Data (cont)

In creating dynamic imports, you may prefer to let the user browse for a
file rather than enter the path.

To display an explorer browse window, we use the GetOpenFilename
method associated with the Application object.
– This method presents the user with a browse window and allows them to
select a file.
– The name of the file is returned as a string value.
Application.GetOpenFilename(FileFilter, FilterIndex, Title, ButtonText,
MultiSelect)
24
Importing Data (cont)

The FileFilter argument gives you the option of limiting the type of file
the user can select.
– “Text Files (*.txt), *.txt”

The Title argument allows you to give a title to the browse window that
will appear.

The MultiSelect has the values True or False to determine if a user can
select more than one or only one value, respectively.
Dim UserPath As String
UserPath = Application.GetOpenFilename("Text Files (*.txt), *.txt", , "Select a file
to import.", , False) Connection:= “TEXT; “ & UserPath & “
25
Importing Data (cont)

If we are importing data from a webpage, we would define the
Connection argument as follows:
Connection:= “URL; actual URL”

Here, the actual URL is the URL of the website.

Again, this value could be taken from the user dynamically.
26
Importing Data (cont)

The Destination argument value is simply a range.

Columns and rows will be created for the data appropriately.

The output range for the entire table of data will begin in the Destination
range.
Destination:=Range(“A1”)
27
Importing Text Code

The necessary properties for importing a text file basically describe how
the text is organized in the file so that the values are imported correctly.
With ActiveSheet.QueryTables.Add
(Connection:=“TEXT;C:\MyDocuments\textfile.txt",
Destination:=Range("A1"))
.Name = "ImportTextFile"
.FieldNames = True
.RowNumbers = False
.TextFileStartRow = 1
.TextFileParseType = xlDelimited
.TextFileTextQualifier = xlTextQualifierDoubleQuote
.TextFileCommaDelimiter = True
.Refresh BackgroundQuery:=False
End With
28
Figures 21.4, 21.5, and 21.6

An example text file imported to Excel using VBA
29
Importing Webpage Code

To import a webpage, there are a few new properties needed.
With ActiveSheet.QueryTables.Add
(Connection:=
"URL;http://www.webpage.com",
Destination:=Range("C1"))
.Name = “WebpageQuery1"
.FieldNames = True
.RowNumbers = False
.WebSelectionType = xlSpecifiedTables
.WebFormatting = xlWebFormattingNone
.WebTables = "1"
.WebPreFormattedTextToColumns = True
.WebConsecutiveDelimitersAsOne = True
.Refresh BackgroundQuery:=False
End With
30
Figures 21.7, 21.8, and 21.9

An example webpage imported to Excel using VBA
31
Importing Databases

There are two main objects used to import data
– Connection
– Recordset

The Connection object establishes the communication to a particular
database.

There are two main methods used with this object
– Open method uses a ConnectionString argument to define the path to the
database.
– Close method does not have any arguments.

A Connection should be opened and closed every time a query or import
is made from the database.
32
Importing Databases (cont)

To define a Connection object variable, we use a data type called
ADODB.Connection.

We declare the variable as an ADODB.Connection data type and then
use the Set statement to define the connection value of our variable.

We define our connections to be new connections using the New
statement.
Dim cntMyConnection As ADODB.Connection
Set cntMyConnection = New ADODB.Connection
33
Importing Databases (cont)

Now, we need to define the data provider, or database type, and data
source, or filename, of this connection.
– These values will be given to the ConnectionString argument of the Open
method.
– The data provider we will usually use can be defined as:
“Microsoft.Jet.OLEDB.4.0”.
– The data source should be the filename of the database plus the path of the
file.
Dim dbMyDatabase As String
dbMyDatabase = ThisWorkbook.Path & “\MyDatabase.mdb”
34
Importing Databases (cont)

Now we have the data provider and data source; we can either assign
these values directly to the ConnectionString argument or we can use a
String variable.

The ConnectionString argument value has two sub arguments named
Provider and Data Source for the data provider and data source,
respectively.
Dim CnctSource As String
CnctSource = “Provider=Microsoft.Jet.OLEDB.4.0; Data Source=” &
dbMyDatabase & “;”
35
Importing Databases (cont)

The complete code to open a connection is:
Dim cntMyConnection As ADODB.Connection, dbMyDatabase As String,
CnctSource
Set cntMyConnection = New ADODB.Connection
dbMyDatabase = ThisWorkbook.Path & “\MyDatabase.mdb”
CnctSource = “Provider=Microsoft.Jet.OLEDB.4.0; Data Source=” &
dbMyDatabase & “;”
cntMyConnection.Open ConnectionString:=CnctSource
36
Importing Databases (cont)

After closing a Connection, we clear the Connection value by setting it to
Nothing.

The complete code to close a connection is:
cntMyConnection.Close
Set cntMyConnection = Nothing
37
Importing Databases (cont)

The Recordset object is used to define a particular selection of data from
the database that we are importing or manipulating.
– We will again use a variable to represent this object throughout the code; to
define Recordset object variables, we use the ADODB.Recordset data type.
– We again use the Set statement to assign the value to this variable as a New
Recordset.
Dim rstFirstRecordset As ADODB.Recordset
Set rstFirstRecordset = New ADODB.Recordset
38
Importing Databases (cont)

The arguments for the Open method of the Recordset object are
– Source
– ActiveConnection

The Source argument defines the data that should be imported.
– The Source value is a string which contains some SQL commands.
– Similar to the data source value and ConnectionString value discussed
above, we can use a String variable to define these SQL commands to use
as the value of the Source argument
Dim Src As String
Src = “SELECT * FROM tblTable1”
39
Importing Databases (cont)

The ActiveConnection argument value is the name of the open
Connection object you have previously defined.
rstFirstRecordset.Open Source:=Src; ActiveConnection:=cntMyConnection

To copy this data to the Excel spreadsheet, we use the Range object and
a new method: CopyFromRecordset.
– This method only needs to be followed by the name of the Recordset variable
you have just opened.
Range(“A1”).CopyFromRecordset rstFirstRecordset
40
Importing Databases (cont)

In each procedure where we are importing or manipulating data from a
database, we type the following.
Dim rstFirstRecordset As ADODB.Recordset, Src As String
Set rstFirstRecordset = New ADODB.Recordset
Src = “SELECT * FROM tblTable1”
rstFirstRecordset.Open Source:=Src; ActiveConnection:=cntMyConnection
Range(“A1”).CopyFromRecordset rstFirstRecordset
41
Importing Databases (cont)

When we are done using this Recordset, we should clear its values; we
do this using the Set statement with the value Nothing.
Set rstFirstRecordset = Nothing
42
Importing Databases (cont)

In applications where you plan to make multiple queries to a database,
we recommend creating a function procedure which can be called for
each query.
Function QueryData(Src, OutputRange)
dbUnivInfo = ThisWorkbook.Path & "\UniversityInformationSystem.mdb"
Set cntStudConnection = New ADODB.Connection
CnctSource = "Provider=Microsoft.Jet.OLEDB.4.0; Data Source=" &
dbUnivInfo & ";“ cntStudConnection.Open ConnectionString:=CnctSource
Set rstNewQuery = New ADODB.Recordset
rstNewQuery.Open Source:=Src, ActiveConnection:=cntStudConnection
Range(OutputRange).CopyFromRecordset rstNewQuery
Set rstNewQuery = Nothing
cntStudConnection.Close
Set cntStudConnection = Nothing
End Function
43
Performing Queries with SQL

Structured Query Language (SQL) is the code used to perform queries,
or filter the data which is imported.

SQL commands are used to define the Source argument of the Open
method with the Recordset object.

You can define the Source to be all values in a particular database table
or pre-defined query or you can create a query as the value of the
Source argument.
44
SQL (cont)

The basic structure of SQL commands is
1. A statement which specifies an action to perform;
2. A statement which specifies the location of the data on which to perform the
action;
3. A statement which specifies the criteria the data must meet in order for the
action to be performed.

Some basic action statements are
– SELECT
– CREATE
– INSERT
45
Figure 21.10

Consider a table from a University System database.

This table, called tblStudents, contains student names, IDs, and GPAs.
46
SQL (cont)

The SELECT statement selects a specific group of data items from a
table or query in the database.

The phrase appearing immediately after the SELECT statement is the
name or names of the fields which should be selected.
SELECT StudentName FROM tblStudents
47
SQL (cont)

To select everything in a table, that is all fields, use the asterisks mark (*)
after the SELECT statement.

We must also specify the location of this field, that is the table or query
title from the database.

We do this using the FROM statement.
48
SQL (cont)

We can also include a criteria filtering in the query.

The most common criteria statement is WHERE.

The WHERE statement can use sub statements such as
– <, >, = for value evaluations.
– BETWEEN, LIKE, AND, OR, and NOT for other comparisons.
SELECT StudentName FROM tblStudents WHERE GPA > 3.5
49
SQL (cont)

Other criteria statements include
– GROUP BY
– ORDER BY

ORDER BY can be used with the WHERE statement to sort the selected
data; this data can be sorted in ascending or descending order using the
statements ASC or DESC respectively.
SELECT StudentName, GPA FROM tblStudents WHERE GPA > 3.0 ORDER
BY GPA DESC
50
SQL (cont)

In a SELECT statement, we can also perform simple aggregate
functions.

Simply type the name of the function after the SELECT statement and list
the field names which apply to the function statement in parenthesis.

One common function statement is COUNT.
– Using SELECT COUNT will return the number of items (matching any given
criteria) instead of the items themselves.
SELECT COUNT (StudentName) FROM tblStudents WHERE GPA > 3.5
51
SQL (cont)

Other functions include
– MIN
– MAX
– AVG
SELECT AVG (GPA) FROM tblStudents
52
SQL (cont)

In VBA, SQL statements always appear as a string; that is, they are
enclosed by quotation marks.

If your criteria checks for a particular string value, you must use single
quotation marks to state that value.
=”SELECT GPA FROM tblStudents WHERE StudentName = ‘O. Peterson”
53
SQL (cont)

Now suppose instead of specifying our own criteria, we want the user to
determine which name to search for.
– We can use an Input Box and a variable, in this example called StudName, to
prompt the user for this value.
– Then we can include this variable in place of the criteria value in the SQL
statement.
=”SELECT SSN FROM tblStudents WHERE StudentName = ‘” & StudName &”
’”

Note that we have to include the single quotation marks around the
criteria value; therefore, we have concatenated the variable name
followed by the ending single quotation mark.
54
SQL (cont)

Now let us incorporate these SQL statements into our database query
code.
– As mentioned in the previous section, we will use a string variable to assign
the value of the SQL commands.
– We will then use this variable in the Source argument of the Open method of
the Recordset object.
Dim StudName As String
StudName = InputBox(“Please enter name of student whose GPA you want.”
Src = “SELECT GPA FROM tblStudents WHERE StudentName = ‘” &
StudName & “’”
rstFirstRecordset.Open Source:=Src; ActiveConnection:=cntMyConnection
Range(“A1”).CopyFromRecordset rstFirstRecordset
55
Exporting Data

We can also use SQL to export data.

We can place data into a previously created Access database using the
CREATE and INSERT SQL commands.

The CREATE statement can be used to create a new table in the
database.
– The corresponding location statement for the CREATE command is TABLE.
– The name of the new table is given after the TABLE statement.
– The name of the table is followed by the name of the fields for the new table;
these are listed in parenthesis with a description of the data type the field
should hold.
– You must also include a CONSTRAINT command to specify the primary
key of the table.
– You would give a name to this key, specify that it is the PRIMARY KEY,
and then list the selected field.
=”CREATE TABLE tblCourses (CourseName TEXT, CourseNumber NUMBER,
FacultyAssigned TEXT) CONSTRAINT CourseID PRIMARY KEY
(CourseNumber)”
56
Exporting (cont)

Once you have created a table, you can use the INSERT statement to
enter values for each field.

The INSERT statement is always followed by the INTO location
statement.
– The name of the table into which you are entering values is listed after the
INTO statement.
– The field names for which you are entering values should then be listed in
parenthesis; that is, you may not want to enter values for all fields.
– Then the values are listed after a VALUES statement in the same order in
which the corresponding fields were listed.
=”INSERT INTO tblCourses (CourseName, CourseNumber, FacultyAssigned)
VALUES (‘DSS’, 234, ‘J. Smith’)”
57
Exporting (cont)

You can also use the UPDATE statement to change values in a
previously created table.

The UPDATE statement uses the SET location statement and the same
criteria statements used with the SELECT command.
=”UPDATE tblStudents SET GPA = 3.9 WHERE StudentName = ‘Y. Zaals’”
58
Applications

Transcript Query
– We will develop an application which performs dynamic database queries
using a pre-developed Access database.
59
Description

This database contains information on students, faculty, courses,
sections, and grades; there are six tables and one query.

In this application, we will allow the user to query the database to retrieve
transcript data for a particular student.

This transcript data will include every course the student has taken with
the details of the course and section as well as the grade they earned.

We will then evaluate all grades to calculate the selected student’s
overall GPA.
60
Figure 21.11

The tables and queries from MS Access
61
Figure 21.12

The spreadsheet
62
Figure 21.13

The query function procedure
63
Figure 21.14

The initial procedures
64
Figure 21.15

The “tblStudent” table from Access.
65
Figures 21.16 and 21.18

The student choice form
66
Figure 21.17

The form code
67
Figure 21.19

The “qryCourseID” query from Access
68
Figure 21.20

The “tblCourse” table from Access
69
Figure 21.21

The “tblSection” table from Access
70
Figure 21.22

The transcript query code
71
Application Conclusion

The application is now complete.

Transcript queries can be made for any student selected from the form.
72
Summary

The main pivot table object is PivotTables. We must use the ActiveSheet
object before specifying a PivotTables object. To create a pivot chart in
VBA simply use the Chart object.

There are two main systems used in VBA for communicating with
external data sources: DAO and ADO. (We use ADO in this chapter.)
There are two main ADO objects used to import data: Connection and
Recordset.

Structured Query Language (SQL) is the code used to perform queries or
filter the data which is imported.

Variables can be used to make queries dynamic with Input Boxes, User
Forms, or by simply taking values the user has entered in a spreadsheet.
73
Additional Links

(place links here)
74