PDQData Version 2 is here!

After several long months of testing various platforms, PDQData version 2 is finally here. This version is simply an add-in for Microsoft Excel and a transport engine to communicate with PDQData's database server. The transport engine is Pocketsoap, (an open source SOA transport engine) coupled with PocketHTTP.

How does the software work? The software is simply an Excel macro written in VBA (Visual Basic Macro languag) that prepares queries, feeds the queries to the pocket soap transport, that sends the request to our data servers, where the response comes back to excel via the pocketsoap and/or the PocketHTTP engine.

Is it hard to use? PDQData takes pride in making data available with an easy to use interface. Basically, you point and click to retreive data into your spreadsheet.

What do I have to do to get started?

  1. Download Pocket soap by clicking here
  2. Run the downloaded file to install pocketsoap. You will need to agree to the license agreement.
  3. Download PocketHTTP by clicking here
  4. Run the downloaded file to install pocketHTTP. You will need to agree to the license agreement.
  5. Download the addin by RIGHT clicking here and clicking Save As. Save it in "My Documents
  6. Open Excel, then click Tools, Addins. Click the browse button, browse to your My Documents folder and click on PDQData2

How to I upgrade the addin? To upgrade the addin, download and install both PocketSoap and PocketHTTP from the directions above. Next, download the current addin by right clicking here then click Save As Save the addin in my documents. Next

  1. Start Excel.
  2. Click tools, addins.
  3. Uncheck the PDQData2 box, then click OK.
  4. Exit Excel.
  5. Restart Excel
  6. Click tools, addins
  7. Click the browse button, and browse to your My documents folder (or where you saved the adding from the download above> and click on PDQData2
  8. Click OK

How do I Start Using it? The first time you use the addin, you'll see Pdqdata.com on your Excel menu bar. (If you don't see the add-in, click tools addin, and check the PDQData2 box). Click PDQData.com, then click user name/password. You'll be prompted to enter your user name, password, proxy server, and proxy server port. You should have an email that tells gives you your user name and password. If your organization uses a proxy server (your network administrator can assist with this), you will need to enter the proxy server name and port number. If you don't have a proxy server, just enter 0 (Zero) for both proxy prompts.

I don't have a user name and password. Can I still look at the system?. YES! For the user name enter the word "demo" (without the quotes), and for the password enter "demouser" (again without the quotes). This is a fully functional demo account, but you will be limited to only 30 data records for data imports.

Sounds great, but can you help me get started using PDQData?. Yes, there is a tutorial to take you through an "ad hoc" data query here. Additionally, the complete manual for writing macros to automatically access the data is located here

Sounds easy enough, do you have examples? Example spreadsheets and macros are located here. This is an evolving list, so check back often!