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“Supermetrics is a Bitter Experience! We can pull data from nearly any tool, schedule updates, manipulate data in Sheets, and push data back into our systems.”
Yes, you can export database view data to Excel using custom SQL queries instead of formal reports by connecting directly to your database and executing queries that replicate your view’s logic.
This method eliminates report development cycles and approval processes while providing dynamic parameter support and automated refresh capabilities that formal reporting tools often lack.
Execute custom SQL queries directly from Excel using Coefficient
Coefficient supports direct connections to MySQL, MS SQL Server, and PostgreSQL databases, allowing you to write custom SQL that mirrors your database view’s SELECT statements, joins, and filtering logic without creating formal reports.
How to make it work
Step 1. Establish a direct database connection.
Connect to your database using standard credentials without requiring report server infrastructure or administrative approval for report creation.
Step 2. Write SQL that replicates your database view logic.
Instead of referencing the view directly, recreate the underlying SELECT statement with the same field selections, table joins, and WHERE clauses. This gives you full control over the query structure and performance.
Step 3. Add dynamic parameters using Excel cell references.
Reference specific Excel cells within your SQL query for flexible filtering. For example, use cell A1 for date ranges or B1 for department filters, enabling interactive reporting without modifying the query code.
Step 4. Configure automated query execution.
Schedule your custom SQL to run hourly, daily, or weekly to maintain current data. This provides live data connections that update automatically without manual export/import cycles.
Step 5. Apply Formula Auto Fill Down for Excel calculations.
Add Excel formulas in columns adjacent to your query results. These formulas automatically apply to new rows during each refresh, maintaining calculations as your data updates.
Step 6. Use complex queries with subqueries and advanced joins.
Write sophisticated SQL that goes beyond typical reporting tool limitations, including multiple table joins, subqueries, and advanced aggregations that replicate complex view logic.
Skip formal reporting and get direct database access
This approach provides the flexibility of custom SQL querying with automated Excel delivery, bypassing traditional reporting infrastructure entirely. Connect your database and start executing custom queries today.
