Using StrikeIron SOA Express for Excel

1. Install the StrikeIron SOA Express for Excel. Click here to download the Excel Add-in.
2. Launch Excel. Open a new workbook and you will notice a new item has been added to your Excel toolbar: "StrikeIron".
   
   
   
3. (Optional) To check your internet connection, click on Test Internet Connection under the StrikeIron menu. If you are working behind a proxy server, please see your System Administrator for the proxy settings.
4. To begin click-on the Web Service Setup menu item under StrikeIron to open the Web Service Definitions dialog box.
   
   
   
   
   
5. In the Web Service Definitions dialog, click New and then the Select a new Web service dialog box will open. In the <enter here name friendly> box, enter a name that you would like to use to identify this Web service. Make sure it is unique. Please note that "friendly names" may not contain special characters such as commas, dashes, etc.
   
   The easiest way to select an Xignite Web service is to enter the WSDL URL location in the <enter WSDL location here> box. (Note: the "WSDL" standards for Web Service Definition Language and is simply a file that "describes" the web service in a way the computer understands).
   
   All Xignite Web Service WSDL using the same syntax: http://www.xignite.com/xService.asmx?WSDL where 'Service' is the name of the service (e.g. Quotes, Rates, Edgar...). If you are not sure what the WSDL URL for a service is, go to the service page and click on the WSDL Menu Link.
   
   
   
   
   
6. Click OK. The Web service will appear in the listing for "Web services defined in this workbook" section of the StrikeIron OnDemand Web Service for Excel Web Services Definition dialog box.
   
   
   
7. In the Web Service Definitions dialog, highlight the Web service you want to work with. Then select Edit to open a menu that allows you to set Web Service Operation, Options, Set Input, and Set Output.
   
   Important: The Input and Output dialog boxes are where you drag and drop operations to the spreadsheet.
   
8. The Operation tab at the top of the window is selected by default. If the tab is not selected, please select the Operation tab, and then select the Service and Operation you wish to invoke from the drop down menus. This is important because Web services may have more than one Service and Operations.
   
   Important: In this version of StrikeIron OnDemand you work with one operation at time allowing you to change the behavior for each operation and then drag and drop the input and output fields into the spreadsheet. See the Help section on how to work with multiple operations of the same Web service.
   
   
   
   
   
   
9. Select the Options tab if you wish to adjust settings pertaining to whether fields only or fields and labels are automatically copied to the spreadsheet, selecting cell color for alternating rows, retrieve and show knowledge base, refresh data on recalculation, refresh on startup, refresh on a timed interval, save the WSDL for working offline, change the WSDL endpoint location, and enabling the Invisible Link option which clears all the output fields when the workbook is saved.
   
   
   
   
   
10. Select the Set Input tab to display an Input tree with the Input Operations listed. Drag and release the desired Input fields to the desired location in your spreadsheet. The individual fields will be copied based on your settings in the Options tab- fill settings.
    
    
    
11. Select Set Output to display an Output tree with the Output Fields listed. Drag and release the desired Output fields to the desired location on your spreadsheet. The individual fields will be copied based on your settings in the Options tab- fill settings.
    
    
    
    
    
12. Enter the desired values for each of the Input fields. Either on the StrikeIron menu or by right clicking within the workbook, select Refresh Web Service Data, and the corresponding Web service name. Make sure you enter your registered username in the Username field. The output data will be displayed in the Output fields on the spreadsheet.
    
    You have the option to Refresh a single Web service at a time, or you may Refresh All. If you have disabled a Web service, the Web service will be unable to Refresh and will appear as "grayed out" in the drop down list. If you wish to enable a previously disabled Web service, go to the Web Service Definitions dialog, highlight the Web service and enable the Web service.
    
    A Function key has also been designed to Refresh All Web services - press the Control (Ctrl) plus the Q key (Ctrl-Q).
    
    If you have selected the Refresh data time interval under the Options tab in the Edit dialog box, you will not need to select anything in the "Refresh Web service Data" in the StrikeIron menu.
    
    Important: The most often reason a Web services fails is when one does not enter their username in the Username field. Please check to make sure this was done correctly.
    
    
    
    
    
13. Once the fields are displayed on your spreadsheet you may move them within your spreadsheet by using Excel formatting standards.
    
    
    
    
    
14. Save the workbook as a normal Excel file.