> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://captivatehelp.newbluelive.com/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://captivatehelp.newbluelive.com/play-and-update-graphics/chapter-index-2/legacy-microsoft-excel-controller.md).

# Legacy Microsoft Excel controller

**❗ IMPORTANT**\
This page documents the **legacy** Microsoft Excel controller (registered as **Productivity > Microsoft > Excel**). It is retained so existing projects continue to open. For new projects, use [Tables: Row](/play-and-update-graphics/chapter-index-1/drive-a-graphic-with-tables-row.md) or [Tables: Block](/play-and-update-graphics/chapter-index-1/tables-block-controller.md) — the unified Tables controller opens Excel files locally and Excel Online through the cloud picker, and is the supported path forward.

Captivate can display data from a Microsoft Excel workbook in graphics through the legacy Excel controller. This page describes how to link workbook data to a graphic and play out rows.

## Connect Microsoft Excel data to a graphic

1. In Captivate’s playout interface, open a project (if a project isn’t already open) and select a graphic in the Project List.
2. Click the **Select a Datasource** cell in the Data Controller column and choose **Productivity** > **Microsoft** > **Excel** > **New Input**.

   **💡 TIP**\
   To remove an input from a graphic, open the **Preview** panel, click **Link Data**, right-click the data source name, and choose **Remove input**.

   **📌 NOTE**\
   Multiple graphics cannot read from the same Excel file. Data links from an Excel file always belong to the first graphic it was connected to.
3. Sign in to your Microsoft account via **Settings** > **Internet Accounts**. The **Open in Browser** button opens the controller in a local browser — the same URL works from any other machine on your network to use the controller remotely.

   <div align="left"><figure><img src="https://352477438-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FFCWMxradHcVjURnrXSYX%2Fuploads%2Fgit-blob-1c18bc36150e944bea4bb32f6fee08bc7a8acf50%2Fimage_1336.jpg?alt=media" alt="Microsoft sign-in"><figcaption></figcaption></figure></div>
4. The controller’s tab in the Properties panel displays the folders from your OneDrive that contain workbooks. Browse to the workbook you want to connect.

   <div align="left"><figure><img src="https://352477438-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FFCWMxradHcVjURnrXSYX%2Fuploads%2Fgit-blob-1da26a3efb9ba4324b2771e67c5465eac026b4aa%2Fimage_6120.png?alt=media" alt="OneDrive folders in the controller panel"><figcaption></figcaption></figure></div>
5. Selecting a workbook displays the rows of the sheet. Use this interface to control and play out rows.

   **📌 NOTE**\
   Excel uses Microsoft Graph webhooks for near-instant updates when the source workbook changes — typically faster than polling-based sources.
6. Click the red icons to link data columns. A preview of your graphic opens — hovering over variable-enabled elements shows a bounding box with the variable’s name and type. Click an element to link the column to that variable.

   **❗ IMPORTANT**\
   Variable names do not have to match data column names for a link to be established.

   <div align="left"><figure><img src="https://352477438-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FFCWMxradHcVjURnrXSYX%2Fuploads%2Fgit-blob-0cf07a51cc513a44a4ccfd8db3f588e149cb0c23%2Fimage_5891.jpg?alt=media" alt="Linking columns to variables"><figcaption></figcaption></figure></div>
7. Linked columns show a green link icon. Rows now behave as instances of data: clicking the play button on any row updates the graphic with that row’s information.

   <div align="left"><figure><img src="https://352477438-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FFCWMxradHcVjURnrXSYX%2Fuploads%2Fgit-blob-f8556b3f083f96d8360bfe938d9072bc4e6e9c37%2Fimage_7478.png?alt=media" alt="Linked rows"><figcaption></figcaption></figure></div>

   <div align="left"><figure><img src="https://352477438-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FFCWMxradHcVjURnrXSYX%2Fuploads%2Fgit-blob-c98752fc58d6fa4172e781912e7e304328e0e75e%2Fimage_7171.png?alt=media" alt="The linked row&#x27;s data on the graphic in Program"><figcaption></figcaption></figure></div>

**💡 TIP**\
Use the **Find** search tool to quickly locate information in your sheet. Matching keywords highlight the cells where that information exists.

<div align="left"><figure><img src="https://352477438-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FFCWMxradHcVjURnrXSYX%2Fuploads%2Fgit-blob-7967829996be97e65fae1a38ef6e7298e74baa8c%2Fimage_9622.png?alt=media" alt="The Find tool"><figcaption></figcaption></figure></div>

<div align="left"><figure><img src="https://352477438-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FFCWMxradHcVjURnrXSYX%2Fuploads%2Fgit-blob-235c4caf42837b06cf042666fa09ef5299eff7cd%2Fimage_276.png?alt=media" alt="The refresh button"><figcaption></figcaption></figure></div>

## Playout controls

### Start Auto Play

The controller can play through each row automatically while the graphic is live. The **Start Auto Play** button toggles the feature; the setting to its right sets the delay in seconds before the next row displays.

<div align="left"><figure><img src="https://352477438-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FFCWMxradHcVjURnrXSYX%2Fuploads%2Fgit-blob-5519631098975342bd06893d58196e9683836498%2Fimage_1516.png?alt=media" alt="Start Auto Play"><figcaption></figcaption></figure></div>

### Manual playout

The far-right columns of the sheet handle manual playout. The top **Play next** icon plays the next line; the play button on any row plays that row.

<div align="left"><figure><img src="https://352477438-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FFCWMxradHcVjURnrXSYX%2Fuploads%2Fgit-blob-7b4260dca132f9138c2feb8a08e184d52b9a3bf2%2Fimage_4812.jpg?alt=media" alt="The Play next control"><figcaption></figcaption></figure></div>

<div align="left"><figure><img src="https://352477438-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FFCWMxradHcVjURnrXSYX%2Fuploads%2Fgit-blob-d2de984837def2e9bf180402ad4fd32f2e7e9654%2Fimage_6095.png?alt=media" alt="Per-row play buttons"><figcaption></figcaption></figure></div>

## Migration to the new Tables controller

To move a project to the modern path, add a [Tables: Row](/play-and-update-graphics/chapter-index-1/drive-a-graphic-with-tables-row.md) input and open the same workbook — **Browse** for a local `.xlsx`, or the cloud picker for Excel Online after signing in — then re-link the columns to your graphic.

## See also

* [Legacy data controllers](/play-and-update-graphics/chapter-index-2.md) — chapter overview
* [Legacy Google Sheets controller](/play-and-update-graphics/chapter-index-2/legacy-google-sheets-controller.md) — the Google Drive sibling
* [Tables overview](/play-and-update-graphics/chapter-index-1/tables-overview.md) — the modern Tables controller


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