XL: The Internet Assistant Wizard (Html.xla)

The Internet Assistant for Microsoft Excel, also known as the Hypertext Markup Language (HTML) Wizard, is another in a series of add-on Wizards that Microsoft is making available to enhance your use of Microsoft Excel. The Internet Assistant for Microsoft Excel helps you to convert Excel tables into HTML tables in either a separate HTML file or as an insert in an existing HTML template file.

The add-in that is discussed in this article is provided as-is. Microsoft does not guarantee that it can be used in all situations. Although Microsoft Support Professionals can help with the installation and existing functionality of this add-in, they will not modify the add-in to provide new functionality.

The Internet Assistant Wizard (HTML Wizard) converts Microsoft Excel data into a HTML table. This is a great way to get started with HTML programming because the Wizard does all the work. Below is a detailed description of each step in the Wizard, followed by an example.

Step 1 of the Wizard

In this step, you specify the range of cells that contain the data you want to convert. As with most of the Microsoft Excel add-ins, the dialog box opens with the range box filled in. Microsoft Excel (version 5.0 and later) is designed to determine where the list is. If the range is not filled in correctly, you must change it manually either by using the mouse pointer to select the correct range or by typing the correct range.

Step 2 of the Wizard

The Microsoft Excel data can be converted in two different ways. In this step of the wizard, you can select options to do either of the following:

• You can create an independent, ready to view HTML document that contains the formatted data. This process creates the header, table, and footer.
  
  -or-
• You can copy the converted table to your existing HTML template. This process creates only the table.

Step 3 of the Wizard

Depending on which option you select in step 2 of the wizard, the information that you must provide in this step varies. Do either of the following:

• If you chose the first option in step 2 of the wizard, this step (step 3) prompts you for the header and footer information. The wizard does not prompt you to enter anything for the table section because that information is taken directly from the data.
  
  The Header information includes the following: title, header, description text, and insertion of a horizontal line before the table.
  
  The Footer information includes the following: last update (current date is entered by default), name, e-mail name, and insertion of a horizontal line after the table.
• If you chose the second option in step 2 of the wizard, this step (step 3) prompts you for the path and file name for the HTML template in which you want the table to be inserted. You can type the path, or you can browse for it. The HTML template must contain the string "##TABLE##" (without the quotation marks). The table is inserted into the HTML template after the string.

Step 4 of the Wizard

In this step, the wizard can convert the table with or without the formatting.

Step 5 of the Wizard

In this step, you provide or browse for the path and file name that you want to save to.

Obtaining the HTML Wizard Add-In

NOTE: Before you can use the following example, you must install the add-in. Please download the file and see the Readme.txt (or IAReadme.txt) file for installation instructions.

The Microsoft Excel 5.0 or 7.0 add-in is also available for download from the Microsoft Download Center: The Microsoft Excel for the Macintosh 5.0 or 5.0a add-in is also available for download from the Microsoft Download Center: For additional information about how to download Microsoft Support files, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base: Microsoft scanned this file for viruses. Microsoft used the most current virus-detection software that was available on the date that the file was posted. The file is stored on security-enhanced servers that help to prevent any unauthorized changes to the file.

Example of the HTML Wizard

1. On a new worksheet, type the following:

   A1:             B1: Region1    C1: Region2    D1: Region3    E1: Total
   A2: Sales       B2: $2,003,461 C2: $2,554,980 D2: $2,908,123 E2: $7,466,564
   A3: Marketing   B3: $75,234    C3: $59,637    D3: $98,450    E3: $233,321
   A4: Development B4: $101,999   C4: $142,673   D4: $98,470    E4: $343,142
   A5: Operations  B5: $59,634    C5: $45,737    D5: $64,236    E5: $169,607
   A6: Total       B6: $2,240,328 C6: $2,803,027 D6: $3,169,279 E6: $8,212,634
   					

2. On the worksheet, select cell A1. Then, on the Format menu, click AutoFormat.
   
   The AutoFormat dialog box appears.
3. In the Table Formats list, click Colorful 1. Click OK.
4. On the Tools menu, click HTML Wizard.
   
   In step 1 of the wizard, the range $A$1:$E$6 appears.
5. If the range fails to appear, type it. Click Next.
6. In step 2 of the wizard, click Create an independent, ready-to-view HTML document that contains your formatted data (header, table and footer will be created). Click Next.
7. In step 3, enter the following data:

         Title: Company Sales
         Header: Department Sales by Region
         Last Update: use the current date
         Name: type in your name
         Email Name: type in your email name (optional)
   						

   Click Next.
8. In step 4 of the wizard, click Convert as much of the formatting as possible. Click Next.
9. Type the path and file name to which you want to save the HTML document. (It defaults to default drive and directory for Excel\MyHTML.htm.) Click Finish.
   
   NOTE: The file name must have the .htm file name extension.