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Ideas for downloading- updating- uploading data

 
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Hi,
I need to allow my (non-programming-savvy) user to update rows of a table in the following fashion:
- Download data in preferably Excel format. The data comprises of 2 fields: "SSN" and "Cost".
- Update few records over a period of 2-3 days (non-realtime)
- Once the update is completed, the user uploads the file back and all corresponding records are updated in the DB
Issues:
1. Considering that sometimes there might be 100's of records, the user would wish to do this over a course of 2-3 days before uploading the file.
2. Is there a way by which to "freeze" that SSN column so that typos don't cause the SSN to be changed by mistake.
3. The "Cost" field has some validation check to see that only rightly formatted data is fed back to the DB.
4. Because of #2 & #3, CSV download/modify/upload is not possible, and I am thinking if there is a way by which Excel could be used, where cells can be formatted & macros used so that chances of data purity are increased.
5. Because of non-familiarity of XML with the end-user, it can't be used for raw update. But could there be a template created which the user downloads along with the XML file. Via the template the user makes the changes, and then uploads the updated XML. Possible?
Has anyone got any ideas on this? Any comments would be appreciated.
Thanks.
 
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Yes.
I know the problem, that lots of management people don't know that excel is not a network application.
This might change with .NET, but I know not very much about it.
With Java.
There is a openSource java Api with which you can read and create Excel files.
poi


HSSF (Horrible Spreadsheet Format)
HSSF is our port of the Microsoft Excel 97(-2002) file format (BIFF8) to pure Java. It supports read and write capability. Please see the HSSF project page for more information.


1. You might do all the validation stuff before uploading with visual basic.
2. Process the uploaded file on the web server with poi.
3. It should be possible.
Axel
 
With a little knowledge, a cast iron skillet is non-stick and lasts a lifetime.
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