Excel

Excel connects to DataMind OS in two ways. Download a connection file to load your tables into a workbook, or add DataMind Oda for Excel to work with Oda inside Excel.

Before you start

A computer with Excel. Universe does not open on a phone, so set this up from a computer.
The ClickHouse ODBC Driver (Unicode) installed on your computer. The connection file asks for this driver by name. DataMind OS does not install it for you.
Your DataMind OS email and your DataMind OS password. Excel asks for them when it opens the connection.

Important

Install the driver first. If it is missing, Excel cannot use the connection file.

Load your tables with a connection file

Open Universe in the sidebar and find the Integrations block.
On the Excel tile, click Configuration. Your browser saves an Office data connection file (.odc). A Download successful message confirms the download.
Open the saved file. It holds no sign-in details, so Excel asks for a user name and password.
Enter your DataMind OS email and your DataMind OS password.
In the navigator, choose a database, then a table. Load the table into your workbook.

What the file sets

Item	What it holds
Driver	The ClickHouse ODBC Driver (Unicode), which must be installed on your computer.
Address	The address you opened DataMind OS with when you downloaded the file.
Port	The port your administrator exposes for client tools.
Encryption	Encryption is required when DataMind OS runs on an encrypted (HTTPS) address. Otherwise the connection is not encrypted.
Sign-in	Nothing. The file has no user name and no password.

For the values other tools need, see Connection settings.

Work with Oda inside Excel

DataMind Oda for Excel is an add-in that brings Oda into your workbooks. Your Microsoft 365 administrator installs it for your organisation. Download the add-in file from the DataMind Oda card and send it to your administrator. They upload it in the Microsoft 365 admin center under Settings > Integrated apps > Upload custom apps, and it can take up to a day to appear in Excel on your computer.

Your account needs both Use DataMind Oda and Use DataMind Oda in Excel, and Use Minds from DataMind Oda to ask your Minds from the workbook. An administrator grants them through a role. See Roles and permissions.

The add-in runs in Excel in Microsoft 365 or Office 2021 and later on Windows, in Excel for Mac with Safari 17.4 or later, and in Excel on the web. For what it does inside a workbook, see Oda in Excel.

For the download and the full flow, see Get DataMind Oda from Universe. You do not need the add-in to load your data: the connection file above is enough.

Limits and edge cases

Any signed-in user can download the connection file. It needs no special permission.
Excel loads only the data your roles allow. The connection signs in as you, so it shows the same data you can query in the Editor. See SQL dialect and data scope.
Changing your DataMind OS password changes it for Excel too. Enter the new password when Excel asks for credentials. See Your profile and preferences.
The file points to the address you opened DataMind OS from when you downloaded it. If that address changes, download the file again.
If the download fails, a Download failed message shows the reason. See Troubleshooting integrations.

Questions, answered

Excel says it cannot find the ClickHouse driver. What do I do?

Install the ClickHouse ODBC Driver (Unicode) on your computer, then open the file again. The file asks for this exact driver name, so a driver installed under another name does not match.

What do I type when Excel asks for credentials?

Your DataMind OS email and your DataMind OS password, the same details you use to sign in to DataMind OS. If you changed your password, use the new one.

Can colleagues use my connection file?

Yes. The file holds the connection details only, with no user name and no password, so each person signs in with their own account. Each colleague also needs the driver installed on their computer.

Is the Excel connection encrypted?

It is encrypted when DataMind OS runs on an HTTPS address. The file sets this for you, so you do not choose it.

Do I need DataMind Oda for Excel to load my data?

No. The connection file loads your tables without the add-in. DataMind Oda for Excel is for working with Oda inside a workbook, and your Microsoft 365 administrator installs it. See Get DataMind Oda from Universe.

Which data can I load into my workbook?

The data your roles allow. The navigator lists the databases and tables you can read, the same as in the Editor. See SQL dialect and data scope.

Do I need to download the file again if the address changes?

Yes. The file points to the address you opened DataMind OS from when you downloaded it. Download the file again from the address your team uses.