# User Guide

# Welcome

The AquaLogic Interaction Portlet Framework - Microsoft Excel lets business users create portlets that display information from existing Excel spreadsheets, tables and charts.

Building a portlet with the Excel Portlet Framework requires no programming. Portal users simply specify the Excel file to use and how to display the information in the portlet. The display is updated whenever the data in the Excel file changes.

Portlets can be created by Community owners as well as portal users. The Framework is comprised of the Excel Framework API which provides an interface allowing end users to publish Excel information easily by creating portlets from existing Excel charts, tables, and ranges. The Framework utilizes the COM-based Excel API to integrate Microsoft Excel with the portal. The Framework API copies and stores Excel files, retrieves and caches Excel data, compares last-modified date information, returns a list of files linked or uploaded by the user, exports chart objects and sheets as image files, performs sorting operations, and handles other non-UI functionality.

Note: | Excel portlets are created in the portal using an Excel Portlet Template.

## How to Use This Book

This guide details how to build and manage portlets using the Excel Portlet Framework. See Installation and Upgrade Guide for AquaLogic Interaction Portlet Framework - Microsoft Excel for detailed installation instructions. For information on creating Excel spreadsheets, tables and charts, see the documentation for Microsoft Excel.

### Audience

This guide is written for the user responsible for creating and configuring Excel portlets. This user must have knowledge of how to administer objects in the portal and an understanding of Microsoft Excel.

### Organization

This guide includes the following chapters:

- This chapter provides information on how to use this guide and describes other resources available to help install, deploy, upgrade, and administer Excel Portlet Framework.
- Creating Excel Portlets provides detailed instructions for creating Excel portlets with the Excel Portlet Framework.
- Troubleshooting and Limitations provides troubleshooting for common problems.

### Typographical Conventions

This book uses the following typographical conventions.

Table 1-1 Typographical Conventions
Convention | Typeface | Examples/Notes
--- | --- | ---
File names Folder names Screen elements | bold | Upload Procedures.doc to the portal. The log files are stored in the logs folder. To save your changes, click Apply Changes.
Text you enter | `computer` | Type `Marketing` as the name of your community.
Variables you enter | `computer with angle brackets (<>)` | Enter the base URL for the Remote Server. For example, `http://<my_computer>/`.
New terms Emphasis Object example names | italic | Portlets are Web tools embedded in your portal. The URI must be a unique number. The example Knowledge Directory displayed in Figure 5 shows the Human Resources folder.

## BEA Documentation and Resources

This section describes other documentation and resources provided by BEA.

Table 1-2 BEA Documentation and Resources
Resource | Description
--- | ---
Installation and Upgrade Guide | This book is written for system administrators responsible for installing or upgrading AquaLogic Interaction Portlet Framework - Microsoft Excel. It is available on http://www.oracle.com/technology/documentation/index.html and on the application CD.
Release Notes | These files are written for Excel Portlet Framework administrators. They include information about new features and known issues in the release. They are available on http://www.oracle.com/technology/documentation/index.html and on the application CD.
Online Help | The online help is written for all levels of Excel Portlet Framework users. It describes the user interface for Excel Portlet Framework and gives detailed instructions for completing tasks in Excel Portlet Framework. To access online help, click the help icon.
Developer Guides, Articles, API Documentation, Blogs, Newsgroups, and Sample Code | These resources are provided for developers on the BEA dev2dev site (dev2dev.bea.com). They describe how to build custom applications using AquaLogic User Interaction and how to customize AquaLogic User Interaction products and features.
Deployment Guide | This document is written for business analysts and system administrators. It describes how to plan your AquaLogic User Interaction deployment. It is available in electronic form (PDF) on http://www.oracle.com/technology/documentation/index.html.
AquaLogic User Interaction Support Center | The AquaLogic User Interaction Support Center is a comprehensive repository for technical information on AquaLogic User Interaction products. From the Support Center, you can access products and documentation, search knowledge base articles, read the latest news and information, participate in a support community, get training, and find tools to meet most of your AquaLogic User Interaction-related needs. The Support Center encompasses the following communities: Technical Support Center Submit and track support incidents and feature requests, search the knowledge base, access documentation, and download service packs and hotfixes. User Group Visit the User Group section to collaborate with peers and view upcoming meetings. Product Center Download products, read Release Notes, access recent product documentation, and view interoperability information. Developer Center Download developer tools and documentation, get help with your development project, and interact with other developers via BEA's dev2dev Newsgroups. Education Services Find information about available training courses, purchase training credits, and register for upcoming classes. If you do not see the Support Center when you log in to http://support.plumtree.com, contact ALUIsupport@bea.com for the appropriate access privileges.
dev2dev.bea.com | Download developer tools and documentation, get help with your development project, and interact with other developers via BEA's dev2dev Newsgroups.
Technical Support | If you cannot resolve an issue using the above resources, BEA Technical Support is happy to assist. Our staff is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to handle all your technical support needs. E-mail: ALUIsupport@bea.com Phone Numbers: U.S.A. +1 866.262.PLUM (7586) or +1 415.263.1696 Europe +44 1494 559127 Australia/NZ +61 2.9923.4030 Asia Pacific +61 2.9931.7822 Singapore +1 800.1811.202