This tutorial demonstrates how to use Microsoft Excel 2003 to write an XML file appropriate for use in Webnucleo's Sparse Matrix Tool. Be sure that your computer is connected to the Internet since you will need to download data from the Webnucleo site. (You can also view our video tutorial for Excel 2007.)
Import XML
If you have Microsoft Excel 2003 available on your computer, start it up and open a new spreadsheet. On the Data Menu, point to Import External Data and Import Data..., as shown below:
Click on Import Data... A Select Data Source window will appear. At the bottom of the window, type
http://www.webnucleo.org/home/online_tools/sparse_matrix/x.x/data/input_matrix.xml
in the File name field, where x.x is the version number of the tool you are using. For example, if you are using version 0.1 of the Sparse Matrix Tool, type
http://www.webnucleo.org/home/online_tools/sparse_matrix/0.1/data/input_matrix.xml
as shown below:
Click on Open. Your computer will download the example input_matrix.xml file from the Webnucleo Sparse Matrix Tool Website. Once Excel has retrieved the file and imported the schema information, the following Import Data window will appear:
Click on OK. Excel will import the matrix data and place it in the spreadsheet starting at cell A1, as shown below:
You are now in position to edit the matrix data.
Modify the Data
We will add an entry to the matrix data, namely, we will add an element with value 12 to row number 2, column number 1. Click on cell A11 and type 2. Then hit tab to get to cell B11. Type in 1. Then hit tab to get to cell C11. Type 12. Then click cell C12. Your spreadsheet will look like this:
We are now ready to export the data to XML.
Export XML
To export the data to XML, click on the Data Menu and then find XML and Export..., as shown below:
Click on Export... The Export XML dialog box will appear. Webnucleo recommends that you create a My XML folder. Export your data by entering my_input_matrix.xml in the File name field and click Export, as shown below:
You now have an XML file on your computer with the added matrix element. This file is appropriate for upload to the Webnucleo Sparse Matrix Tool. You may now close your spreadsheet. Webnucleo recommends you save the spreadsheet to a file called my_input_matrix.xls so that you can edit the matrix data and export it to a new XML file as needed.
Challenge
Can you use Excel to reproduce this XML file?
