Link to external data in CSV format

[JohnMurrell]

I am trying to link to an external data source where the data is in CSV format. The URL is http://gsaweb.ast.cam.ac.uk/alerts/alerts.csv. When I enter this as the URL of the external Data source and then press enter the text import wizard opens as might be expected for a CSV file.

Having set the correct parameters in the Text Import form I then click OK. The text import window closes but nothing happens. The external Data form just sits there with OK greyed out. However the Cancel & Help buttons work so it has not hung.

The same thing happens if I try to import from a local copy of the file so it does not seem to relate to the URL.

I know the parameters in the text import wizard are correct as I can open the local copy of the file and import it using file open.

I am attempting to get the link method to work as I want the data to be automatically updated rather than going through the need to save the file and then open it and then copy and paste it into the master spreadsheet. It would be a lot easier if I can get it to upload automatically in a similar way to the Excel data import works.

Am I doing something wrong or is this not possible in Calc ?

Thanks for your response ‘Opaque’

*As requested LibreOffice Version
Version: 6.0.7.3
Build ID: 1:6.0.7-0ubuntu0.18.04.10
CPU threads: 4; OS: Linux 5.3; UI render: default; VCL: gtk3;
Locale: en-GB (en_GB.UTF-8); Calc: group

Linux Version

Import Settings:

These import settings work Ok if I save the file and then open it in calc.

One thing I know that is slightly unusual about this file and has stopped another pro9gramme working is that the last line does not have a line ending - the CSV spec is not clear on the requirement for a line end on the last line from what I was told by those investigating the problem with another programme. This may be a re-herring as it works ok when saved and opened.*

[anon73440385]

Please let us know your LibreOffice version and operating system. I got no problem with your link provided above and using LibreOffice version 6.4.3.2 (TDF native packages) on Linux openSuse 15.1 (import is about 12k rows). In addition, let us know your import filtter settings, since due to lack of knowledge of your settings , I’ve left everything Standard - hence your problem might be caused by a special import setting.

Version: 6.4.3.2, Build ID: 747b5d0ebf89f41c860ec2a39efd7cb15b54f2d8
CPU threads: 8; OS: Linux 4.12; UI render: default; VCL: kf5;
Locale: en-US (en_US.UTF-8); UI-Language: en-US, Calc: threaded

[anon73440385]

Hello,

thanks for providing the additional information. I’ve checked on my test system with Linux Mint 19.3 and the base LibreOffice version 6.0.7. Got the same result as you.

Added LibreOffice PPA repository using sudo add-apt-repository ppa:libreoffice/libreoffice-6-3 --yes for LibreOffice version 6.3. and updated using sudo apt update and sudo apt upgrade. This installed LibreOffice version 6.3.5.2 (which is the current stable release). Repeating the test performed successfully.

Hence I need to assume that it does not work with 6.0.7 though I did not find a proper bug report in bugzilla

Hope that helps.

If the answer helped to solve your problem, please click the check mark () next to the answer.

[erAck]

Being able to link to external CSV data was added with LibreOffice 6.1.

[JohnMurrell]

Thanks to both - it appears the Linux Mint version is quite old - yet again !

[anon73440385]

You can update at least LibreOffice using the commands in my answer.