Steps to Add or Modify an OpenOffice File Connection
1. Start the Data Provider Wizard
- Open PADS4 and navigate to the Data Provider Wizard.
- Select OpenOffice File as the provider type.
- Click Next to continue.
2. Specify the File Location
- Choose where the file is stored:
- Content Library – Recommended, as it automatically synchronizes across all PADS4-connected devices.
- File Name – Select an OpenOffice file outside the content library (you will need to manually manage distribution).
- Click Browse to locate the file, or manually enter the full path.
- Click Next to continue.
3. Select the Sheet
- Choose the specific sheet from the OpenOffice Calc file.
- Click Preview to check if the data is correctly loaded.
- Click Next to continue.
4. Complete the Setup
- Review the connection settings.
- Click Finish to save the data provider.
Important Notes
- Performance Considerations:
- Using an external OpenOffice file (outside the Content Library) requires manual file distribution.
- If the OpenOffice file is large, ensure PADS4 has enough resources for processing.
- Security & Accessibility:
- If you are using a PADS4 Data Server, the file must be accessible from the server’s location.
- Without a PADS4 Data Server, ensure each PADS4 Viewer can locate and access the specified OpenOffice file.
- Offline Usage:
- You can download data from an RSS feed and save it as an OpenOffice Calc file for offline access.
- To do this, open the RSS feed in a browser, select View Source, and save it as a .txt or .csv file before importing into OpenOffice.
This setup ensures real-time or scheduled access to OpenOffice Calc data within PADS4, making it useful for dynamic presentations, data visualization, and reporting.