What is PostgreSQL?

PostgreSQL is an open source object-relational database system with over 35 years of active development. It uses and extends the SQL language combined with many features that safely store and scale the most complicated data workloads. The robustness of its feature set, reliability, and performance make it a powerful choice for managing data.

As an ACID-compliant database, PostgreSQL ensures atomicity, consistency, isolation, and durability. It is highly extensible, allowing users to add new functionalities and it supports a wide array of programming interfaces including C/C++, Java, Perl, Python, Ruby, Tcl, and ODBC. PostgreSQL's extensibility also includes support for both standard and non-standard procedural languages.

PostgreSQL runs on all major operating systems, such as Linux, UNIX, Windows, and Mac OS X, and conforms to a significant portion of the SQL standard. Known for its proven architecture and data integrity, PostgreSQL is not only a popular choice among developers and companies, but it is also free and open source, allowing for widespread use and contribution to its ongoing development.

PostgreSQL Plugins for Excel

Devart Excel Add-in for PostgreSQL

The Devart Excel Add-in for PostgreSQL offers a robust connection between Excel and PostgreSQL databases, allowing for the use of host, port, and database credentials to facilitate this integration. It enhances security by supporting SSL connections and simplifies the user experience by offering single sign-on capabilities. The add-in includes a visual query builder, which provides an intuitive interface for selecting tables, setting filter conditions, and arranging data order for imports. Users also have the option to write SQL queries directly to specify the data they wish to import. Once connected, the add-in grants the ability to instantly refresh data within the Excel workbook, edit PostgreSQL data in Excel, and save changes back to the database. Moreover, it provides tools for data cleansing and de-duplication directly within Excel, ensuring data integrity and consistency.

Integration via ODBC and Power Query

Excel users can also leverage ODBC Driver for PostgreSQL to establish a connection to PostgreSQL databases. The Get & Transform (Power Query) feature in Excel facilitates this connection when used in conjunction with the ODBC driver. Additionally, Excel's Data Connection Wizard and Query Wizard can be used to connect to an ODBC external data source and to create simple queries for data retrieval, respectively. For more intricate querying needs, Microsoft Query is available to join tables, apply filters, and sort data for import into Excel. PowerPivot extends Excel's capabilities further by enabling users to create complex data models with data imported from PostgreSQL, thus providing a powerful tool for data analysis within Excel.

Additional Excel Add-ins for PostgreSQL

The Devart Excel Add-in for PostgreSQL allows users to quickly and seamlessly connect Microsoft Excel to PostgreSQL. It enables the loading of data from PostgreSQL into Excel and supports the instant refresh of data in the Excel workbook from the database. The add-in also permits the editing of PostgreSQL data within Excel and the ability to save the modified data back to the database. For ensuring high-quality data, the add-in includes features for data cleansing and de-duplication. Additionally, the add-in takes security into account by supporting SSL connections and single sign-on authentication, and it offers the convenience of storing connection information directly in the Excel file.

Common Use Cases

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  Use case 1: A financial analyst consolidates monthly sales data from multiple PostgreSQL databases into a single Excel report for analysis and visualization.
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  Use case 2: A marketing manager uses the plugin to import customer data from a PostgreSQL database to Excel to perform data cleansing and de-duplication before a campaign.
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  Use case 3: An HR coordinator edits and updates employee records in Excel and commits the changes to the PostgreSQL database to maintain current HR data.
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  Use case 4: A retail manager regularly refreshes inventory levels in an Excel spreadsheet from a PostgreSQL database to manage stock effectively.
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  Use case 5: A data scientist applies complex statistical models in Excel on data imported from PostgreSQL to derive insights for strategic decisions.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I connect Excel to my PostgreSQL database using the plugin?

You can connect by using the Visual Query Builder provided by the plugin to select and filter data, or by entering your connection information directly into Excel.

Can I edit PostgreSQL data directly in Excel with the plugin?

Yes, you can edit PostgreSQL data directly in Excel by entering an Edit Mode, making changes, and then committing them back to the database.

Does the plugin support secure database connections?

Yes, the plugin supports secure SSL connections and secure authentication with single sign-on.

How can I ensure the data from PostgreSQL is current in Excel?

You can refresh data in Excel directly from the PostgreSQL database using the instant refresh feature.

Is there a way to validate the data from PostgreSQL in Excel?

Yes, the plugin includes instant data validation that highlights errors such as incorrect dates or duplicate keys.