Installing the stand-alone Excel link

You can download the stand-alone Excel link that is not integrated with the Controller rich client.

Notes:
  • In 10.4.2 FP2 and later, you can use the stand-alone Excel Link by using either Controller on Premise or Controller on Cloud.
  • In 10.4.2 FP1, you can use the stand-alone Excel Link only if you are using Controller on Cloud.
  • The stand-alone Excel link is provided in 64-bit format and can be installed only on computers with a 64-bit operating system and a 64-bit version of Microsoft Office. 32-bit versions are not supported.
  • If the Excel link is already installed on your computer, you must uninstall it before you install the new version.

Before you begin

The stand-alone Excel Link (download link) is not enabled by default. To enable it, follow the instructions:
  1. Find the config.js.new file in the installation directory. The default directory path is C:\Program Files\ibm\cognos\ccr_64\frontend.
  2. Open the config.js.new file in a text editor and copy the entire content.
  3. Find the config.js file in the installation directory.
  4. Open the config.js file in a text editor and paste the content that is copied from the config.js.new file.
  5. The existing customers make the following change in the config.js file:
    1. In the 'expressJs' parameter, to enable the remote excel functions, change the value of "enableRemoteExcel" from false to true.
  6. The new customer make the following changes in the config.js file:
    1. In the 'Proxies - target - host' parameter:
      1. Locate the "host": "{hostname}" line.
      2. Change it to "host": "myserver.companyname.com".
    2. In the 'expressJs' parameter:
      1. Locate the "host": "{publicInterface}", //interface used by Controller Web UI service line.
      2. Change it to "host": "myserver.companyname.com", //interface used by Controller Web UI service.
      3. To enable the remote excel functions, change the value of "enableRemoteExcel" from false to true.
    3. In the 'expressJsReact' parameter:
      1. Locate the "host": "localhost", //interface used by Controller Web UI service line.
      2. Change it to "host": "myserver.companyname.com", //interface used by Controller Web UI service.
    4. Verify whether the "host": "myserver.companyname.com" is updated at all the three instances.
  7. Save the config.js file.
  8. Open the Microsoft Windows Service Manager console, find IBM® Cognos Controller Web, and start the service.

Procedure

  1. Ensure that your computer meets each of these prerequisites:
    • You are running a 64-bit operating system.
    • You uninstalled any previous installation of the Controller rich client.
    • You installed a 64-bit version of Microsoft Office.
    • You installed Microsoft Edge Runtime.
    • You installed Microsoft .Net 4.5 or later.
  2. In a browser window, log in to Controller Web.
  3. Download the installer:
    1. Click Excel Link.
    2. In the Excel Link License Information window, select I agree.
      The file ControllerRemoteExcelLinkSetup_x64.msi is downloaded to your computer.
  4. Install the Excel link:
    1. Double click the file ControllerRemoteExcelLinkSetup_x64.msi
    2. When prompted for the WSS URL, enter https://your_controller_server/ibmcognos/controllerserver
    3. Select default values in the remaining installation windows, and then click Finish.
  5. Start Microsoft Excel.
  6. Click the Controller tab and then click Login.
  7. Select the database and enter the user name and password.
  8. Wait until the login process is completed.
    Important: It may take a minute or two for the login to finish. Do not click in Excel or navigate to another application during this time.

Results

You should now be able to connect to Excel.

Note: If you cannot connect to Excel, it may be related to an incorrect registry setting. If you continue to experience an issue with your add-in installation, uninstall it completely, and then reinstall it.