Export excel file from database table and then make few columns non-editable, hidden and few columns have drop down with pre-populated list of values

Certified Lead Developer

We have a use case to export excel file from database table and then make few columns non-editable, hidden and few columns have drop down with pre-populated list of values.

It seems Appian deprecated most of the excel related plugins which used to take excel templates and achieve above mentioned functionalities. The existing OOTB Appian plugins directly deals with database as a plain excel read/write.

Any possibilities / work around to to make columns non-editable, hidden and drop down values after data is exported to excel.

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  • Following are the steps to create XML based formatted excel file.

    1. Manually create excel with required formatting.
    2. Save as xml.
    3. Open xml file in text editor.
    4. Copy XML code in Appian expr rule - rule!DR_UT_XML().
    5. Replace " with - "& char(34) &"

                  <?xml version="1.0"?>

                  <?xml version=" & char(34) & "1.0" & char(34) & "?>

    1. Cover entire code in "".
    2. Create new .xls file (Template) and upload to KC.
    3. Write -> ###input### in cell A1.
    4. Create PM.
    5. Insert node -> "Text Doc from Template".
    6. Provide following configuration in template:

                  Template: Template.

                  New document name: NewExcelFileFromTemplate

                  Save in folder: KC Folder.

                  input: =rule!DR_UT_XML()

     

  • Hi Abhay, I have tried your approach but I am not able to create the file properly. I am getting the following error:

    Excel completed file level validation and repair. Some parts of this workbook may have been repaired or discarded.
    Removed Part: /xl/sharedStrings.xml part with XML error. (Strings) A text/xml declaration may occur only at the very beginning of input. Line 2, column 125.
    Removed Records: Cell information from /xl/worksheets/sheet1.xml part

    could you provide both the XML and XLSX files that worked for you?

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  • Hi Abhay, I have tried your approach but I am not able to create the file properly. I am getting the following error:

    Excel completed file level validation and repair. Some parts of this workbook may have been repaired or discarded.
    Removed Part: /xl/sharedStrings.xml part with XML error. (Strings) A text/xml declaration may occur only at the very beginning of input. Line 2, column 125.
    Removed Records: Cell information from /xl/worksheets/sheet1.xml part

    could you provide both the XML and XLSX files that worked for you?

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