--- title: Modifying existing Microsoft Queries in Excel. description: Modifying an existing Microsoft Query in Excel --- [Skip to content](https://hub.acctivate.com/articles/how-to-modify-an-excel-query#main-content) [Go to Customer Portal](https://hub.acctivate.com/tickets?hsLang=en) ![Acctivate - A CAI Solution](https://hub.acctivate.com/hubfs/Images/Logos/acctivate-cai-logo-svg.svg) - [Knowledge Base](https://hub.acctivate.com/articles) Open main navigation Close main navigation - [Knowledge Base](https://hub.acctivate.com/articles) - [Go to Customer Portal](https://hub.acctivate.com/tickets) - [Support Resources / Create Ticket](https://acctivate.com/support) [Support Resources / Create Ticket](https://acctivate.com/support) Hello. How can we help you? - There are no suggestions because the search field is empty. 1. [Knowledge Base](https://hub.acctivate.com/articles?hsLang=en) 2. [Reports](https://hub.acctivate.com/articles/reports?hsLang=en) 3. [Excel](https://hub.acctivate.com/articles/reports?hsLang=en#excel) April 14, 2025 # Modifying existing Microsoft Queries in Excel. ## Modifying an existing Microsoft Query in Excel Microsoft Excel, [when linked to an Acctivate database via ODBC](https://hub.acctivate.com/articles/how-do-i-create-an-odbc-connection-to-access-my-data?hsLang=en), can be a useful tool to quickly return data from Acctivate. [Acctivate QuickBooks Inventory Software](https://acctivate.com/) was designed to automate, track, simplify and securely manage growing business needs all within the software's interface. Although, the need may arise to view real-time data for inventory, sales, purchasing, and more via Microsoft Excel, on-demand. If you've created a spreadsheet with an Excel Query in the past and would like to change what data is being returned on the report, you can follow the steps below to update the query: 1. Open a spreadsheet in Excel that contains a working Microsoft Query 2. Highlight cell A1 (or any cell associated with the query), then the click the **Data tab** and select “**Properties”**  ![](https://hub.acctivate.com/hubfs/image-529.png) 3. This will open the External Data Properties window. Here, **click the button next to the Name field** to open the Connection Properties window. ![](https://hub.acctivate.com/hubfs/image-530.png) 4. This will open the Connection Properties window. Click the **Definition tab**, then click the **Edit Query** button. ![](https://hub.acctivate.com/hubfs/image-531.png) 5. From here, you should see the full Microsoft Query editor. This is where you can modify the query being returned to the spreadsheet. ![](https://hub.acctivate.com/hubfs/image-532.png)a. If you are familiar with SQL and want to run a different query, click the **SQL button** and replace the existing query with your new query.  ![](https://hub.acctivate.com/hubfs/image-533.png)b. If you would rather use the User Interface tools instead of writing  a SQL Query, **click and drag** field names into the table below, or go to **Table \> Add tables…** to add a new table to the report ![](https://hub.acctivate.com/hubfs/image-534.png) 6. When finished, click the **Return Data** button to return the information to your Excel spreadsheet. ![](https://hub.acctivate.com/hubfs/image-535.png) 7. You can save the new spreadsheet to a different file with a new name (**File \> Save As**), or replace the existing spreadsheet by clicking **Save**. - [Getting Started](https://hub.acctivate.com/articles/getting-started?hsLang=en#main-content) - [Basics](https://hub.acctivate.com/articles/getting-started?hsLang=en#basics) - [User Interface](https://hub.acctivate.com/articles/getting-started?hsLang=en#user-interface) - [Manager windows](https://hub.acctivate.com/articles/getting-started?hsLang=en#manager-windows) - [List windows](https://hub.acctivate.com/articles/getting-started?hsLang=en#list-windows) - [Transaction windows](https://hub.acctivate.com/articles/getting-started?hsLang=en#transaction-windows) - [License and Users](https://hub.acctivate.com/articles/getting-started?hsLang=en#license-and-users) - [Email](https://hub.acctivate.com/articles/getting-started?hsLang=en#email) - [Getting Help](https://hub.acctivate.com/articles/getting-started?hsLang=en#getting-help) - [Installation](https://hub.acctivate.com/articles/installation?hsLang=en#main-content) - [Acctivate](https://hub.acctivate.com/articles/installation?hsLang=en#acctivate) - [Database Server](https://hub.acctivate.com/articles/installation?hsLang=en#database-server) - [Mobile WMS Setup](https://hub.acctivate.com/articles/installation?hsLang=en#mobile-wms-setup) - [Software Updates](https://hub.acctivate.com/articles/installation?hsLang=en#software-updates) - [Email Setup](https://hub.acctivate.com/articles/installation?hsLang=en#email-setup) - [Remote Access](https://hub.acctivate.com/articles/installation?hsLang=en#remote-access) - [Configuration](https://hub.acctivate.com/articles/configuration?hsLang=en#main-content) - [Basics](https://hub.acctivate.com/articles/configuration?hsLang=en#basics) - [Users](https://hub.acctivate.com/articles/configuration?hsLang=en#users) - [Company Info](https://hub.acctivate.com/articles/configuration?hsLang=en#company-info) - [Customers](https://hub.acctivate.com/articles/configuration?hsLang=en#customers) - [Sales Orders](https://hub.acctivate.com/articles/configuration?hsLang=en#sales-orders) - [Inventory](https://hub.acctivate.com/articles/configuration?hsLang=en#inventory) - [Custom Fields](https://hub.acctivate.com/articles/configuration?hsLang=en#custom-fields) - [Email Message Templates](https://hub.acctivate.com/articles/configuration?hsLang=en#email-message-templates) - [Services](https://hub.acctivate.com/articles/configuration?hsLang=en#services) - [Inventory](https://hub.acctivate.com/articles/inventory?hsLang=en#main-content) - [Products](https://hub.acctivate.com/articles/inventory?hsLang=en#products) - [Costing](https://hub.acctivate.com/articles/inventory?hsLang=en#costing) - [Prices and Units](https://hub.acctivate.com/articles/inventory?hsLang=en#prices-and-units) - [Warehouses and Locations](https://hub.acctivate.com/articles/inventory?hsLang=en#warehouses-and-locations) - [Lot Numbers](https://hub.acctivate.com/articles/inventory?hsLang=en#lot-numbers) - [Inventory Manager](https://hub.acctivate.com/articles/inventory?hsLang=en#inventory-manager) - [Receipts](https://hub.acctivate.com/articles/inventory?hsLang=en#receipts) - [Assemblies](https://hub.acctivate.com/articles/inventory?hsLang=en#assemblies) - [Kits and Assortments](https://hub.acctivate.com/articles/inventory?hsLang=en#kits-and-assortments) - [Landed Cost](https://hub.acctivate.com/articles/inventory?hsLang=en#landed-cost) - [Transfers](https://hub.acctivate.com/articles/inventory?hsLang=en#transfers) - [Adjustments](https://hub.acctivate.com/articles/inventory?hsLang=en#adjustments) - [Counts](https://hub.acctivate.com/articles/inventory?hsLang=en#counts) - [Reports](https://hub.acctivate.com/articles/inventory?hsLang=en#reports) - [Purchasing](https://hub.acctivate.com/articles/purchasing?hsLang=en#main-content) - [Purchase Orders](https://hub.acctivate.com/articles/purchasing?hsLang=en#purchase-orders) - [Purchase Order Manager](https://hub.acctivate.com/articles/purchasing?hsLang=en#purchase-order-manager) - [Purchase Invoices](https://hub.acctivate.com/articles/purchasing?hsLang=en#purchase-invoices) - [Vendors](https://hub.acctivate.com/articles/purchasing?hsLang=en#vendors) - [Customers](https://hub.acctivate.com/articles/customers?hsLang=en#main-content) - [Customers](https://hub.acctivate.com/articles/customers?hsLang=en#customers) - [Locations](https://hub.acctivate.com/articles/customers?hsLang=en#locations) - [Credit & Terms](https://hub.acctivate.com/articles/customers?hsLang=en#credit-terms) - [Pricing](https://hub.acctivate.com/articles/customers?hsLang=en#pricing) - [Broadcast Email](https://hub.acctivate.com/articles/customers?hsLang=en#broadcast-email) - [Sales](https://hub.acctivate.com/articles/sales?hsLang=en#main-content) - [Orders](https://hub.acctivate.com/articles/sales?hsLang=en#orders) - [Sales Order Manager](https://hub.acctivate.com/articles/sales?hsLang=en#sales-order-manager) - [Picking](https://hub.acctivate.com/articles/sales?hsLang=en#picking) - [Drop Shipments](https://hub.acctivate.com/articles/sales?hsLang=en#drop-shipments) - [Sales Tax](https://hub.acctivate.com/articles/sales?hsLang=en#sales-tax) - [Packaging](https://hub.acctivate.com/articles/sales?hsLang=en#packaging) - [Shipping](https://hub.acctivate.com/articles/sales?hsLang=en#shipping) - [Invoices](https://hub.acctivate.com/articles/sales?hsLang=en#invoices) - [Payments](https://hub.acctivate.com/articles/sales?hsLang=en#payments) - [Credits](https://hub.acctivate.com/articles/sales?hsLang=en#credits) - [Business Activities](https://hub.acctivate.com/articles/business-activities?hsLang=en#main-content) - [Business Activities](https://hub.acctivate.com/articles/business-activities?hsLang=en#business-activities) - [Business Alerts](https://hub.acctivate.com/articles/business-activities?hsLang=en#business-alerts) - [QuickBooks](https://hub.acctivate.com/articles/quickbooks?hsLang=en#main-content) - [Basics](https://hub.acctivate.com/articles/quickbooks?hsLang=en#basics) - [QuickBooks Online](https://hub.acctivate.com/articles/quickbooks?hsLang=en#quickbooks-online) - [QuickBooks Desktop](https://hub.acctivate.com/articles/quickbooks?hsLang=en#quickbooks-desktop) - [Mobile WMS](https://hub.acctivate.com/articles/mobile-wms?hsLang=en#main-content) - [Basics](https://hub.acctivate.com/articles/mobile-wms?hsLang=en#basics) - [Picking](https://hub.acctivate.com/articles/mobile-wms?hsLang=en#picking) - [Receiving](https://hub.acctivate.com/articles/mobile-wms?hsLang=en#receiving) - [Counts](https://hub.acctivate.com/articles/mobile-wms?hsLang=en#counts) - [Assemblies](https://hub.acctivate.com/articles/mobile-wms?hsLang=en#assemblies) - [Web Store Integrations](https://hub.acctivate.com/articles/web-store-integrations?hsLang=en#main-content) - [Basics](https://hub.acctivate.com/articles/web-store-integrations?hsLang=en#basics) - [Templates and Options](https://hub.acctivate.com/articles/web-store-integrations?hsLang=en#templates-and-options) - [EDI](https://hub.acctivate.com/articles/edi?hsLang=en#main-content) - [Basics](https://hub.acctivate.com/articles/edi?hsLang=en#basics) - [Orders - 850](https://hub.acctivate.com/articles/edi?hsLang=en#orders-850) - [Shipments - 856](https://hub.acctivate.com/articles/edi?hsLang=en#shipments-856) - [Invoices - 810](https://hub.acctivate.com/articles/edi?hsLang=en#invoices-810) - [Warehouse - 940/945](https://hub.acctivate.com/articles/edi?hsLang=en#warehouse-940-945) - [Reports](https://hub.acctivate.com/articles/reports?hsLang=en#main-content) - [Basics](https://hub.acctivate.com/articles/reports?hsLang=en#basics) - [Standard Reports](https://hub.acctivate.com/articles/reports?hsLang=en#standard-reports) - [Crystal Reports](https://hub.acctivate.com/articles/reports?hsLang=en#crystal-reports) - [Excel](https://hub.acctivate.com/articles/reports?hsLang=en#excel) - [Database](https://hub.acctivate.com/articles/database?hsLang=en#main-content) - [Basics](https://hub.acctivate.com/articles/database?hsLang=en#basics) - [Backup & Restore](https://hub.acctivate.com/articles/database?hsLang=en#backup-restore) - [Microsoft SQL Server](https://hub.acctivate.com/articles/database?hsLang=en#microsoft-sql-server) - [Imports](https://hub.acctivate.com/articles/database?hsLang=en#imports) - [Troubleshoot](https://hub.acctivate.com/articles/troubleshoot?hsLang=en#main-content) - [General](https://hub.acctivate.com/articles/troubleshoot?hsLang=en#general) - [Installation](https://hub.acctivate.com/articles/troubleshoot?hsLang=en#installation) - [Inventory](https://hub.acctivate.com/articles/troubleshoot?hsLang=en#inventory) - [Purchasing](https://hub.acctivate.com/articles/troubleshoot?hsLang=en#purchasing) - [Sales](https://hub.acctivate.com/articles/troubleshoot?hsLang=en#sales) - [Shipping](https://hub.acctivate.com/articles/troubleshoot?hsLang=en#shipping) - [QuickBooks Desktop](https://hub.acctivate.com/articles/troubleshoot?hsLang=en#quickbooks-desktop) - [QuickBooks Online](https://hub.acctivate.com/articles/troubleshoot?hsLang=en#quickbooks-online) - [Mobile WMS](https://hub.acctivate.com/articles/troubleshoot?hsLang=en#mobile-wms) - [Web Store Integration](https://hub.acctivate.com/articles/troubleshoot?hsLang=en#web-store-integration) - [EDI](https://hub.acctivate.com/articles/troubleshoot?hsLang=en#edi) - [Reports](https://hub.acctivate.com/articles/troubleshoot?hsLang=en#reports) - [Database](https://hub.acctivate.com/articles/troubleshoot?hsLang=en#database) - [Imports](https://hub.acctivate.com/articles/troubleshoot?hsLang=en#imports) - [Email](https://hub.acctivate.com/articles/troubleshoot?hsLang=en#email) - [Integrations](https://hub.acctivate.com/articles/troubleshoot?hsLang=en#integrations) [![Acctivate Inventory Software](https://hub.acctivate.com/hubfs/Images/Logos/acctivate-cai-logo-svg.svg "Acctivate Inventory Software")](https://acctivate.com) Acctivate Knowledge Base [mailto:support@acctivate.com](mailto:support@acctivate.com) Copyright © 2025, Alterity, LLC