Getting Started with Data Bridge Pro

Get up and running in 5 minutes. This guide walks you through installation, your first database connection, and making your first edit.

Prerequisites

Before you begin, make sure you have:

  • Windows 10 or later
  • Microsoft Excel (2016, 2019, 2021, or Microsoft 365)
  • Database access credentials (server name, username, password, or Windows authentication)
  • Network connectivity to your database server

πŸ’‘ No admin rights required

Data Bridge Pro can be installed without administrator privileges using our registry-based installer. Perfect for corporate environments.

Step 1: Installation

1

Download the Installer

Download Data Bridge Pro from your account dashboard or the email you received after purchase.

2

Run the Installer

Double-click DataBridgePro-Setup.exe and follow the prompts. The installer will:

  • Install the Excel add-in
  • Register the add-in with Excel
  • Add the Data Bridge Pro ribbon tab
3

Restart Excel

Close and reopen Excel. You should see a new "Data Bridge" tab in the ribbon.

βœ… Installation complete!

If you see the Data Bridge tab in Excel, you're ready to connect to your first database.

Step 2: Your First Connection

1

Open the Connection Dialog

Click Data Bridge tab β†’ Connect button.

2

Select Your Database Type

Choose from the dropdown: SQL Server, PostgreSQL, MySQL, Snowflake, Oracle, etc.

3

Enter Connection Details

Fill in your server name, database name, and authentication:

  • Windows Authentication: Uses your Windows login (recommended for SQL Server)
  • SQL Authentication: Enter username and password
4

Test & Connect

Click Test Connection to verify, then Connect to proceed.

πŸ’‘ Save as Favorite

Check "Save as Favorite" to quickly reconnect next time without re-entering details.

Step 3: Loading a Table

Once connected, you'll see a list of available tables:

1

Select a Table

Click on any table in the list to select it. You can search by typing in the filter box.

2

Load to Excel

Click Load Table. The data will appear in a new Excel worksheet as a formatted table.

Data Bridge Pro automatically:

  • Formats dates, numbers, and currencies
  • Handles NULL values
  • Sets appropriate column widths
  • Creates an Excel Table for easy filtering and sorting

Step 4: Making Edits

Now for the fun partβ€”editing data just like a normal spreadsheet:

  • Edit cells: Click any cell and type a new value
  • Add rows: Type in the first empty row below the table
  • Delete rows: Select rows and right-click β†’ Delete
  • Copy/paste: Works exactly like normal Excel

As you make changes, Data Bridge Pro tracks everything in the background. Changed cells are highlighted so you can see what's been modified.

⚠️ Changes are not saved automatically

Your edits stay in Excel until you explicitly save them back to the database. This gives you a chance to review before committing.

Step 5: Saving Changes

1

Preview Changes

Click Data Bridge tab β†’ Save Changes. You'll see a summary of all inserts, updates, and deletes.

2

Review the Preview

Check that everything looks correct. You can expand each change to see before/after values.

3

Confirm & Save

Click Save to Database. Data Bridge Pro will:

  • Create a rollback snapshot (in case you need to undo)
  • Validate all data against database constraints
  • Execute changes in a transaction
  • Log the operation in the audit trail

πŸŽ‰ Congratulations!

You've just edited a database table directly from Excel. No SQL required!

Next Steps

Now that you've mastered the basics, explore these features: