XL98: How to Create Web Query Files (178870)

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In Microsoft Excel 98 Macintosh Edition, Web queries allow you to query data from a specific World Wide Web, Internet, or intranet site and retrieve the information directly into a Microsoft Excel worksheet. Microsoft Excel 98 Macintosh Edition includes some sample Web queries. More samples are available at Microsoft's Web site at the following location:

Definition of a Web Query File

A Web query file is a text file that contains from one to four lines of text where each line of text is separated by a carriage return. Web query files can be created in any text editor, such as SimpleText. Web query files are saved in the Microsoft Office 98:Office:Queries folder on your computer's hard disk.

Creating a Web Query File

To create a Web query file, follow these steps:

1. Start a text editor, such as SimpleText.
2. Type the four lines of text in the text editor using the following information:
   
   First Line: Type of Query
   
   The first line in the Web query file tells Microsoft Excel what type of query the file contains. At this time, the following are the only valid query types:

   WEB
   <line omitted>

   If you omit the line, WEB is the assumed value.
   
   Second Line: Version of Query
   
   The second line of a Web query file tells Microsoft Excel the version of the query that is being executed. At this time, the following are the only valid versions:

   1
   <line omitted>

   NOTE: If you specify the type of query in the first line, you must specify a version in the second line. If you omit the type, you must also omit the version.
   
   Third Line: Uniform Resource Locator (URL)
   
   The third line of a Web query file determines the Web document on which the query acts. Unless the Web document is a POST type (see the "Fourth Line: POST Parameters" section), this information is the only required value in the Web query file.
   
   Type the URL in one of the following formats.

         File location                   URL format
         -------------------------------------------------------
         Web document                    http://<server>/<file>
         File stored locally             <drive>:<folder>:<file>
         File stored on a network        <drive>:<folder>:<file>
   						

   where <file> is the name of the document, <drive> is the drive that contains the file, and <folder> is the folder name that contains the file.
   
   Fourth Line: POST Parameters
   
   The fourth line of a Web query file contains POST parameters. Note that this line is optional and must be included only if the third line (the URL) exceeds 200 characters in length as a result of adding parameters.
   
   When you query a Web document for information, the parameters sent to the Web document can be sent in one of two ways: GET or POST.
   
   When you use the GET method, data values are included in the same line as the URL. The following example illustrates how to type the line:

   http://<server>/<file>?parameters

   where <server> is the name of the server that contains the Web document, and <file> is the name of the document.
   
   When you use the POST method, data values are sent in a separate line. The following example illustrates how to type the line:

   http://<server>/<file> parameters

   where <server> is the name of the server that contains the Web document, and <file> is the name of the document.
3. After you type all the required lines, save the new file as a text file in the Microsoft Office 98:Office:Queries folder.
4. Quit the text editor.

Using Static and Dynamic Parameters in a Web Query

In Web queries, you can use static and/or dynamic parameters. Static parameters send query data without prompting you for any values. Dynamic parameters prompt you to type one or more values when the Web query is executed.

The syntax for parameters is as follows: where <parameter> is the name of a parameter (for example, stock) and <value string> is a value.

The value string can be one of the following values:

   Parameter type   Value string
   -----------------------------------------------------------
   Static           value1
   Dynamic          ["value1","Please enter the first value:"]
				

In the dynamic value string, the first argument (value1) is the name of the value to be entered. The second argument is the message that appears when the Web query is executed.

If multiple parameters are required, separate them with an ampersand character (&). The following example illustrates the syntax: When multiple values are sent for a single parameter, separate them with a plus sign (+). The following example illustrates the syntax: You can combine static and dynamic parameters within a single parameter string. The following example illustrates the syntax:

Examples of Web Query Files

The following examples are designed to demonstrate the syntax used by Web query files in Microsoft Excel 98 Macintosh Edition.

NOTE: The following examples are not functional Web queries.

Example One:

This example sends the value "wyut" to the Client.exe and retrieves a value. You are not prompted to type any values. The parameter is sent using the GET method. If you like, you can omit the first two lines and use the following line: It is acceptable to omit the first two lines when you create the web query file. This is true for all of the examples shown in this article.

Example Two:

This example sends the values "wyut" and "hypd" to the Client2.exe, and then retrieves values. You are not prompted to type any values. The parameters are sent using the POST method. Example Three:

This example prompts you to type a stock symbol, sends that symbol to the Client.exe, and retrieves a value. The parameters are sent using the GET method.

NOTE: The third and fourth lines of this example should be typed on a single line in your text file. Example Four:

This example sends the value "wyut" and a value that you are prompted to enter to the Client2.exe, and then retrieves the values. The parameters are sent using the POST method.