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Datalinqing a excel sheet over the network

  • 1.  Datalinqing a excel sheet over the network

    Posted 01-26-2026 15:50

    Hi everyone, I have a question. Can you use Data Link to connect an Excel spreadsheet over a network, or is it limited to just the local drive? The local drive works great using the original method.

    Here are my steps when creating a new Excel sheet that is not on the local drive: I enter the network drive's location in the Excel sheet to point to it, and at the end of the location, I add \Bcc Crawl 2.xlsx, but I can't see the agenda items for the meeting.

    For example, using the original method, I entered: E:\XPression Projects\Misc\Bcc Crawl.xlsx and it worked perfectly. With the new method, I am using: Z:\\ecsfs3\CCED\COMGraphics\External Shares\Agenda QR Codes\Sample Excel File\Bcc Crawl.xlsx, but it says the file name is incorrect. Can anyone help me figure out what's going wrong?

     Thank you!



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    Lazaro Lopez
    TV/DIRECTOR/EDITOR
    MIAMI DADE COUNTY
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  • 2.  RE: Datalinqing a excel sheet over the network

    Posted 01-27-2026 14:01

    Can move the datalinq server to the machine with the excel and then connect xpression to the datalinq over network?



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    Simon Redmile
    Senior Graphic Programmer & Designer
    Ross Video
    Bristol United Kingdom
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  • 3.  RE: Datalinqing a excel sheet over the network

    Posted 01-27-2026 14:50
    So, I can't just use the path to access the files that way? I'm using the same path to link PNG files, and that works fine. Is it possible that it can't open Excel files if they're on a network drive?

    Lazaro Lopez, TV Director/Editor

    Communications, Information and Technology Department (305) 375-2432

    miamidade.gov

    Connect With Us on Twitter | Facebook | Instagram | YouTube






    Original Message


  • 4.  RE: Datalinqing a excel sheet over the network

    Posted 01-27-2026 14:51

    Does the machine with datalinq on have excel installed? 



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    Simon Redmile
    Senior Graphic Programmer & Designer
    Ross Video
    Bristol United Kingdom
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    Original Message


  • 5.  RE: Datalinqing a excel sheet over the network

    Posted 01-27-2026 15:29
    Its a shared drive. 




    Original Message


  • 6.  RE: Datalinqing a excel sheet over the network

    Posted 01-27-2026 15:33

    I understand but is excel installed on the machine that is running datalinq?



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    Simon Redmile
    Senior Graphic Programmer & Designer
    Ross Video
    Bristol United Kingdom
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    Original Message


  • 7.  RE: Datalinqing a excel sheet over the network

    Posted 01-27-2026 15:39
    Yes

    Lazaro Lopez, TV Director/Editor

    Communications, Information and Technology Department (305) 375-2432

    miamidade.gov

    Connect With Us on Twitter | Facebook | Instagram | YouTube






    Original Message


  • 8.  RE: Datalinqing a excel sheet over the network

    Posted 01-27-2026 15:44

    ok, I was just checking because its an xlsx files require that where as older forrmat (xls) do not so people don't always realise. 



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    Simon Redmile
    Senior Graphic Programmer & Designer
    Ross Video
    Bristol United Kingdom
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    Original Message


  • 9.  RE: Datalinqing a excel sheet over the network

    Posted 01-27-2026 15:47
    I'm sorry, I don't know if it does. Im reaching out to the other dept.

    Lazaro Lopez, TV Director/Editor

    Communications, Information and Technology Department (305) 375-2432

    miamidade.gov

    Connect With Us on Twitter | Facebook | Instagram | YouTube






    Original Message


  • 10.  RE: Datalinqing a excel sheet over the network

    Posted 01-27-2026 15:55

    I just did a test, I am also having issues with xlsx over network drive but xls works fine. 

    Any chance you can use xls format or you need the newer format? 



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    Simon Redmile
    Senior Graphic Programmer & Designer
    Ross Video
    Bristol United Kingdom
    ------------------------------

    Original Message


  • 11.  RE: Datalinqing a excel sheet over the network

    Posted 01-27-2026 16:03
    I'M TRYING to get a xls format to try. What other format do you recommend? Thank you

    Lazaro Lopez, TV Director/Editor

    Communications, Information and Technology Department (305) 375-2432

    miamidade.gov

    Connect With Us on Twitter | Facebook | Instagram | YouTube






    Original Message


  • 12.  RE: Datalinqing a excel sheet over the network

    Posted 01-28-2026 08:42

    I've been able to get datalinq connected to an XLS or CSV spreadsheet on a network drive. XLS works best for sharing because XLSX is goofy and annoying (the technical term) about sharing.  

    One trick we figured out a few years ago for XLSX was to install the google drive app on the computers in question, then put the files there. That seemed to work pretty well. Google Drive makes Drive show up as a local D or whatever drive. 

    Hope that helps

    -Jay



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    Jay Cofield
    University of Montevallo- Dept of Comm
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    Original Message


  • 13.  RE: Datalinqing a excel sheet over the network

    Posted 02-05-2026 09:49

    I had the same issue, but was able to get Datalinq Server to access an XLSX from a network drive on my home network by enabling linked connections in the Registry Editor. This may or may not fix your issue, but it's worth a try.

    Add a registry edit 

    Click Start. 

    In the Start programs and files box, type regedit. 

    Press ENTER. 

    Locate the registry subkey: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\System. 

    Right-click. 

    Point to New.  Click DWORD Value. 

    Type EnableLinkedConnections. 

    Press ENTER. 

    Right-click EnableLinkedConnections. 

    Click Modify. 

    In the Value data box, enter 1. 

    Click OK. 

    Exit Registry Editor. 

    Restart the computer. 

    Additionally, I would recommend to always make a backup of your computer registry before making changes. You can open regedit application > make sure Computer on the left side is select > File > Export > Set Export Range to All > Save to your Documents.

    Hopefully this helps!



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    Brishen Thompson
    Senior Demo & Training Solutions Specialist - Prime, Sports Workflow
    Ross Video
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  • 14.  RE: Datalinqing a excel sheet over the network

    Posted 02-06-2026 10:02

    Thank you. THIS WORKED GREAT! Linking to network no issues now. Reading all lines on xcel for my crawl. Thank you Brishen.



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    Lazaro Lopez
    TV/DIRECTOR/EDITOR
    MIAMI DADE COUNTY
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    Original Message