These days we all live and work in a multi-device, multi-platform world, and so when building Office 2016 for Mac, one of our key objectives was to make it as easy as possible to transition from using Office for Windows to using Office for Mac and back again. That’s why you’ll notice an interface that’s consistent with what you’d expect when using Office 2016 for Windows, and why we added support for virtually all of the Windows Excel Ctrl keyboard shortcuts. So when it came to working with external data, we applied that same logic: how can we make the experience great and working cross platform easier than ever?

Since the release of Excel 2016 for Mac, customers have given great feedback about its ease of use and the benefits of the new features. We want to highlight the Excel 2016 for Mac features that customers rave about and share some tips and tricks that could save you a ton of time using the most powerful spreadsheet and data analysis tool on the Mac platform. Another metadata-removal tool for Windows image files is the free JPEG & PNG Stripper from Steel Bytes. Mac OS X users can delete EXIF.

External data in Excel 2016 for Mac

We examined how we could improve external data for Excel 2016 for Mac and made the following changes:

  • Excel 2016 for Mac comes with a pre-installed and integrated SQL Server ODBC driver, which we worked hand-in-hand with Simba Technologies to provide.
  • Excel 2016 for Mac has a brand new Microsoft Query (MSQuery) and Connection Manager to make creating and managing all of your data connections easier and more consistent with Windows.

Let’s take a deep dive into how each of these improvements can help you.

Native support for ODBC data connections

Excel 2016 for Mac supports ODBC data connections with SQL Server and Azure SQL Database right out of the box. This means several great things for anyone who works with external data:

  • When creating or refreshing data connections to SQL Server, there are no third-party drivers required—everything you need is included right in the app.
  • Connections made to SQL Server in Excel 2016 for Mac will work in Excel for Windows and vice versa. Have a workbook with ODBC data connections you’ve been using on Windows and never been able to use on your Mac? Well, now you can with cross-platform compatibility.
  • If you want to connect to something other than SQL Server, we still have several great partners offering third-party drivers to connect to any data source you can imagine.

In addition, all of the ways in which you interact with external data are now consistent between the platforms. Looking for that Refresh button? It’s on the Data tab just as you’d expect.

The Data tab in Excel 2016 for Mac.

A better way to work with external data connections

One of the biggest improvements to working with external data connections in Excel for Windows in recent releases has been the Connection Manager. It provides a central place to see all of the data connections in a workbook, see where they are used, and modify, remove or refresh each one individually. With Excel 2016 for Mac, you now have that same Connection Manager you are familiar with from Windows. All of your connections are displayed, and you can click any of them to see where they are used in your workbook and to perform any action.

The all-new Connection Manager in Excel 2016 for Mac.

The Connection Properties dialog has been streamlined as well to match Excel for Windows, so that you now only see the properties that apply to your particular data connection.

All of your connection properties are in one place and just like Excel for Windows.

However, what good is easier management of your data connections if it’s too hard to create them to begin with? With Excel 2016 for Mac, creating a connection to SQL Server is easier than ever. On the Data tab, simply select New Database Query > SQL Server ODBC, and you are presented with a simple connection dialog. Once it’s filled out, the newly redesigned MSQuery launches.

The all-new MSQuery in Excel 2016 for Mac.

The new MSQuery experience is very similar to the SQL Query Analyzer that many of you have worked with. On the left is a listing of the databases and tables in your database that you can explore. At the top right is a color-coded SQL editor, and at the bottom right are the results of any query you run. Simply enter a SQL statement, click Run Query to make sure it works. Once it does, click Return Data to drop your data right back into your worksheet. And that’s it; your data is now in your Excel workbook, live and ready to use in Excel 2016 for Mac or Excel for Windows!

Working with a third-party data provider works the exact same way. The only difference is that after installing the data provider, you select New Database Query > From Database and then select your data provider from the Apple iODBC manager.

Now it’s your turn!

We think we’ve made huge strides in making external data easier than ever in Excel 2016 for Mac and we hope you do too. Give it a try and let us know of any questions or feedback you have in the comments!

-->Remove Metadata Excel For Mac 2016

Note

Office 365 ProPlus is being renamed to Microsoft 365 Apps for enterprise. For more information about this change, read this blog post.

Symptoms

Excel 2016 for Mac crashes when you click Data > New Database Query > From Database. Dp 8020e drivers for mac.

Cause

This issue occurs if you 're running Excel 2016 for Mac version 15.25 or later, and you have an older 32-bit ODBC driver installed on your Mac.

Resolution

To resolve this issue, remove the 32-bit driver, and then install a new 64-bit driver. For information about how to remove and install the drivers, contact the driver manufacturer or supplier.

More Information

In September 2015, Excel 2016 for Mac was originally released as 32-bit software. However, in August 2016, the software was updated to 64-bit. To check whether you have this update, click About Excel on the Excel menu. If you have version 15.25 or later, you have the 64-bit version.

If you have the 64-bit version and an older 32-bit ODBC driver, this may cause Excel to crash. To prevent this issue, install a 64-bit driver from the provider or from the company's website. Some of the most common drivers are provided by Openlink Software and Actual Technologies.

To determine whether your driver is 32-bit or 64-bit, follow these steps:

  1. Go to the Finder.
  2. Click Go > Utilities, and then double-click System Information.
  3. On the left side, scroll down, and then click Applications.
  4. Scroll through the list of applications to find the name of your driver.
  5. Click the driver, and then look in the 64-bit column.

For more information about compatible ODBC drivers, see ODBC drivers that are compatible with Excel for Mac.

Third-party information disclaimer

The third-party products that this article discusses are manufactured by companies that are independent of Microsoft. Microsoft makes no warranty, implied or otherwise, about the performance or reliability of these products.