SECTION 2
Lesson 2.3 Getting Data from the Internet

   

 

 

In this exercise, you will create and save a web query.

 

1.

To begin, make sure you are connected to the Internet, and Open an empty Excel 2003 workbook.

 

Choose Data->Import External Data->New Web Query from the menu bar to display the New web Query window.

 

In the address field at the top of the window, type

 

http://moneycentral.msn.com/investor/market/rates.asp

 

When you have finished typing the URL (webpage address) press the Go button next to the address field to load the web page.

 

 

2.

Use the scroll bar the right side to make the list of currency exchange rates visible. Click on the yellow highlighted arrow that points to the currency table to turn it into a check mark.

 

 

Next, click the save button in the upper right corner of the Web Query window.

 

This will display the save query dialogue box.

 

 

3.

 

Type currency into the File name field and make sure that the folder in the Save in field is the default Queries folder. When you are finished, click the Save button to save the query

 

 

4.

When the Save query dialogue box disappears, click the Import button in the lower right of the New web Query window. This will display the Import Data box.

 

In the Import Data box, make sure the Existing worksheet button is selected, and that cell reference A1 is specified in the text field.

 

If you click the Properties button, the External Data Range Properties box will appear, and you can specify the refresh options and data formatting options if you wish.

 

 

When you are ready, click OK to import the Data.

 

 

You should see the data from the web query imported into the worksheet, starting at cell A1. If you click the refresh (!) button on the External Data toolbar, the imported data will be updated with any changes that have been made to the source web page.

 

Save your work and exit Excel.