COM-Based Microsoft Excel Data Transfer Add-In for V6R1 and Beyond

Starting with V6R1 System i Access for Windows, the Excel data transfer add-in no longer uses Excel SDK. The newer Excel 2007 limits are not supported in the old SDK. The V6R1/V7R1 Excel data transfer add-in uses the Component Object Model (COM) instead of SDK. COM is the interoperability standard for Windows-based applications and allows users to upload data from many Excel instances simultaneously.

When installing the COM-based Excel data transfer add-in, CWBTFCAI.DLL is used instead of CWBTFXLA.XLL.

Following are instructions for installing the COM-based Excel data transfer add-in. Data transfer can identify which Excel version is installed and set the corresponding limits.

Excel 2002/2003 Loading the COM-based Add-in

1. On the View menu, select Toolbars -> Customize...:




2. Click the Commands tab and under Categories, click Tools .




3. Under the Commands tab, click COM Add-Ins... and drag your selection to the Excel toolbar:




4. Click COM Add-Ins on the toolbar and select Data Transfer Excel Add-in:



5. If the Data Transfer Excel Add-in does not appear in the COM Add-ins list, do the following:

a) Click Add (see previous screen).
b) Browse to the folder where you installed System i Access for Windows (default path C:\Program Files\IBM\Client Access\Shared).
c) Double-click the Shared folder.
d) Double-click cwbtfcai.dll .


Excel 2002/2003 Removing COM-Based Add-In

To unload the data transfer add-in (keeps name in the list), clear the box for the Data Transfer Excel Add-in and select OK .

To remove the data transfer add-in (removed from list), select the box for the Data Transfer Excel Add-in and select Remove :




Excel 2007/Excel 2010/Excel 2013: Load COM-Based Add-in

Note: Data transfer is a 32-bit application and will not work with the 64-bit version of Excel 2010 until 64-bit support was added starting with i Access for Windows V7R1 service pack SI42424. No Excel data transfer add-in 64-bit support is planned for earlier versions of the client.

1. Select the Quick Access toolbar in the upper left corner of the Excel session when using Excel 2007:



When using Excel 2010/2013, click on File and then Options to take you to the Excel Options window where you can select Add-ins (shown in point 3 below).

2. Select Excel Options when using Excel 2007:



3. Select Add-Ins:



4. From the Manage list, select COM Add-ins and then select Go...:



5. Select Data Transfer Excel Add-in:



6. If Data Transfer Excel Add-in is not listed, do the following:

a) Select Add (see previous screen).
b) Browse to the folder where you installed System i Access for Windows.
c) Double-click the Shared folder.
d) Double-click cwbtfcai.dll .

Note: When using a Windows 64-bit operating system such as Windows 7 64-bit, the path by default will be \Program Files(x86)\IBM\Client Access. If using Office 2007 or Office 2010 32-bit, select the Shared directory under Client Access. If using Office 2010 64-bit, select the Shared64 directory. Then select cwbtfcai.dll. A minimum of System i Access V7R1 with service pack SI42424 is needed if using Office 2010/2013 64-bit.

Browsing for the data transfer add-in per item b) above:



7. The data transfer add-in download and upload options will then be shown under the Add-ins drop down menu or tab in Excel 2007/2010/2013.




Unloading the COM based Excel Add-in

To unload the data transfer add-in from Excel do the following:

1. Select the Quick Access toolbar.
2. Select Excel Options.
3. Select Add-ins.
4. In the Manage list, select COM Add-ins and click Go.
5. Clear the checkbox associated with Data Transfer Excel Add-in .
6. Select OK.




Removing the COM-Based Excel Add-in

1. Select the Quick Access toolbar.
2. Select Excel Options .
3. Select Add-ins .
4. In the Manage list, select COM Add-ins and select Go .
5. Highlight the checked Data Transfer Excel Add-in .
6. Select the Remove button.








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