# save output as excel file vs. excel instance **URL:** \ **Category:** Toad for Oracle & DevOps Toolkit\ **Created:** [September 27, 2011, 9:06am UTC](https://forums.toadworld.com/t/save-output-as-excel-file-vs-excel-instance/10717 "2011-09-27T09:06:41Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 10\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Guest](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/8dc957/32.png) [@Guest](https://forums.toadworld.com/u/Guest)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2011, 9:06am UTC](https://forums.toadworld.com/t/save-output-as-excel-file-vs-excel-instance/10717/1 "2011-09-27T09:06:41Z")
Hello experts! 🙂 When I right click in the output window, and choose save as i ususlly choose text file (.txt), comma delimited ((.csv) or excel file depending on what I have to do with it, who gets it etc. etc. etc… But i noticed another option that I have never used: Excel Instance. What does that do? I would like to know what to expect before I attempt it. Thanks. – Gene L. Bradley Jr. Software Developer I Information Systems & Integration Jackson State University 1400 J R Lynch Street P.O. Box 17750 Jackson, MS 39217 ph 601.979.1042 fax 601.371.9146 email gbradley@jsums.edu ---
**Author:** ![JohnDorlon](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/quest/user_avatar/forums.toadworld.com/johndorlon/32/9997_2.png) [@JohnDorlon](https://forums.toadworld.com/u/JohnDorlon)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2011, 9:13am UTC](https://forums.toadworld.com/t/save-output-as-excel-file-vs-excel-instance/10717/2 "2011-09-27T09:13:52Z")
“Excel Instance” talks to excel directly, rather than just creating a file. If Excel is not already running, Toad will start it up and start writing in it. If Excel is already running, it will create a new sheet in the current workbook. There is also a “start at current cell” option to start writing into the current sheet wherever your cursor is in Excel. It’s handy if you want to export multiple tables to different tabs in one excel workbook. It does not save the file – that part is up to you. ---
**Author:** ![HillbillyToad](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/quest/user_avatar/forums.toadworld.com/hillbillytoad/32/190_2.png) [@HillbillyToad](https://forums.toadworld.com/u/HillbillyToad)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2011, 9:14am UTC](https://forums.toadworld.com/t/save-output-as-excel-file-vs-excel-instance/10717/3 "2011-09-27T09:14:01Z")
Excel instance is the BEST! Instead of creating an XLS or XLXS file, it talks to Excel and writes the data over to a new workbook. You can then decide if you want to save it later. Perfect when you’re working with secure data and you want to do some pivots, but not leave that secure data on your PC when you’re done. It’s also great for appending multiple sets of data to a single workbook/sheet. Here’s a quick writeup [http://www.thatjeffsmith.com/archive/2010/12/three-ways-to-get-data-into-excel-wi](http://www.thatjeffsmith.com/archive/2010/12/three-ways-to-get-data-into-excel-wi) th-toad/ ---
**Author:** ![Guest](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/8dc957/32.png) [@Guest](https://forums.toadworld.com/u/Guest)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2011, 9:14am UTC](https://forums.toadworld.com/t/save-output-as-excel-file-vs-excel-instance/10717/4 "2011-09-27T09:14:21Z")
It adds a new tab to whatever Excel spreadsheet has current focus. I use it all the time, and it works well. Best regards, Mike Michael S. Zarzycki, MTS | Manager of Engineering IT | Sensata Technologies, Inc. | voice: 508-236-1015 | fax: 508-236-3701 | [www.sensata.com](http://www.sensata.com) | The World Depends on Sensors and Controls ---
**Author:** ![NormTeamT](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/quest/user_avatar/forums.toadworld.com/normteamt/32/53_2.png) [@NormTeamT](https://forums.toadworld.com/u/NormTeamT)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2011, 9:20am UTC](https://forums.toadworld.com/t/save-output-as-excel-file-vs-excel-instance/10717/5 "2011-09-27T09:20:56Z")
Afternoon all, > > Excel instance is the BEST! > > Agreed, but ..... I had problems in the past that I have not tested yet with later versions of Toad. Where Toad Actions (as they were then) were scheduled under the Windows Scheduler AND multiple tables were being saved to an excel instance, strange things happened. Instead of one file with many tabs, I got two or three files with assorted tabs on each. Most strange indeed. However, as I said above, it not something I've done for a while and the old need to do it has gone away - thankfully! I've had no problems using it "interactively" in a desktop session, it's just under the Scheduler I had grief. Cheers, Norm. [TeamT] Norman Dunbar Contract Senior Oracle DBA Capgemini Database Build Team Internal : 7 28 2051 External : 0113 231 2051 Information in this message may be confidential and may be legally privileged. If you have received this message by mistake, please notify the sender immediately, delete it and do not copy it to anyone else. We have checked this email and its attachments for viruses. But you should still check any attachment before opening it. We may have to make this message and any reply to it public if asked to under the Freedom of Information Act, Data Protection Act or for litigation. Email messages and attachments sent to or from any Environment Agency address may also be accessed by someone other than the sender or recipient, for business purposes. If we have sent you information and you wish to use it please read our terms and conditions which you can get by calling us on 08708 506 506. Find out more about the Environment Agency at [www.environment-agency.gov.uk](http://www.environment-agency.gov.uk) ---
**Author:** ![Guest](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/8dc957/32.png) [@Guest](https://forums.toadworld.com/u/Guest)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2011, 9:27am UTC](https://forums.toadworld.com/t/save-output-as-excel-file-vs-excel-instance/10717/6 "2011-09-27T09:27:50Z")
Ok that was great, thanks!!! I love the way toad shades the column headers for me when I do save as excel file. I wish I knew how it does that… There’s some more stuff I’d like to do… On Tue, Sep 27, 2011 at 9:13 AM, John Dorlon wrote: ``` “Excel Instance” talks to excel directly, rather than just creating a file. If Excel is not already running, Toad will start it up and start writing in it. If Excel is already running, it will create a new sheet in the current workbook. There is also a “start at current cell” option to start writing into the current sheet wherever your cursor is in Excel. It’s handy if you want to export multiple tables to different tabs in one excel workbook. It does not save the file – that part is up to you. ``` ---
**Author:** ![HillbillyToad](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/quest/user_avatar/forums.toadworld.com/hillbillytoad/32/190_2.png) [@HillbillyToad](https://forums.toadworld.com/u/HillbillyToad)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2011, 9:27am UTC](https://forums.toadworld.com/t/save-output-as-excel-file-vs-excel-instance/10717/7 "2011-09-27T09:27:56Z")
Never used instance with the scheduler…figure if I was going to automate something I’d want it to actually build a file for me. Sounds like an interesting thing to play with though. ---
**Author:** ![Guest](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/8dc957/32.png) [@Guest](https://forums.toadworld.com/u/Guest)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2011, 9:36am UTC](https://forums.toadworld.com/t/save-output-as-excel-file-vs-excel-instance/10717/8 "2011-09-27T09:36:42Z")
Thanks Jeff. On Tue, Sep 27, 2011 at 9:14 AM, Jeff Smith wrote: ``` Excel instance is the BEST! Instead of creating an XLS or XLXS file, it talks to Excel and writes the data over to a new workbook. You can then decide if you want to save it later. Perfect when you’re working with secure data and you want to do some pivots, but not leave that secure data on your PC when you’re done. It’s also great for appending multiple sets of data to a single workbook/sheet. Here’s a quick writeup http://www.thatjeffsmith.com/archive/2010/12/three-ways-to-get-data-into-exce l-with-toad/ ``` ---
**Author:** ![Guest](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/8dc957/32.png) [@Guest](https://forums.toadworld.com/u/Guest)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2011, 9:45am UTC](https://forums.toadworld.com/t/save-output-as-excel-file-vs-excel-instance/10717/9 "2011-09-27T09:45:18Z")
Ok Mike … I feel better about trying it now On Tue, Sep 27, 2011 at 9:14 AM, Zarzycki, Michael wrote: ``` It adds a new tab to whatever Excel spreadsheet has current focus. I use it all the time, and it works well. Best regards, Mike Michael S. Zarzycki, MTS | Manager of Engineering IT | Sensata Technologies, Inc. | voice: 508-236-1015 | fax: 508-236-3701 | www.sensata.com | The World Depends on Sensors and Controls ``` ---
**Author:** ![Guest](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/8dc957/32.png) [@Guest](https://forums.toadworld.com/u/Guest)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2011, 9:48am UTC](https://forums.toadworld.com/t/save-output-as-excel-file-vs-excel-instance/10717/10 "2011-09-27T09:48:46Z")
Me too, I was just wondering…I do a lot of automated stuff that subsequently goes out in an automated email that I never touch. I actually make a comma delimited file in my pl/sql and spool it with a .csv extension. When the client gets it and opens it, they never know the difference. On Tue, Sep 27, 2011 at 9:27 AM, Jeff Smith wrote: ``` Never used instance with the scheduler…figure if I was going to automate something I’d want it to actually build a file for me. Sounds like an interesting thing to play with though. ```