Howto import XML into Excel table ?

Question

Hi,
I asked this before in the Excel forums but received the suggestion that I ask here instead.  The question precis : How to ungrey the "Append new data to existing XML lists" checkbox so I can select it when importing XML data into an Excel
spreadsheet.
I have a local server which provides data in XML form and need to import successive reloads of the XML page into successive lines in an Excel spreadsheet.  I found the Excel help page entitled "How to use XML in Excel 2003" at http://office.microsoft.com/en-gb/excel-help/how-to-use-xml-in-excel-2003-HA001101964.aspx?CTT=1&origin=EC001022986
which was useful in so far as permitting me to import the data using the XML Source task pane and mapping the elements I need from the XML source to columns in the spreadsheet.
In order to append successive lines from the XML source page, as I understand it from the link I quoted,  I need to change the XML Map properties to "Append new data to existing XML lists".  However this checkbox is greyed out in the
XML Map properties dialog box so I can't select it.
Any ideas how I can achieve my aims here ?
Thanks in advance,
Mike

Answer 1

Hi Mike,
Thank you for contacting Office IT Pro General Discussions Services. 
From your description, I understand that you tried to import XML into Excel table. You selected “Use the XML Source
task pane” when opening the XML file, then you tried to check the option in the
Map Properties window: "Append new data to existing XML lists". 
However, this option is grayed out. If there is any misunderstanding, please feel free to let me know.
I have checked the issue on my side but could not reproduce this issue. I suggest download the sample XML file as suggested on the page and test the
issue again:
http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyId=B4BD3283-AD0B-408D-9CE7-AB9C3537BBBB&displaylang=en
If the problem does not occur with the sample XML file, this issue might occur as there are some problems with the XML you were using.
If the problem also occurs in with the sample XML file, this issue might be related to some third-party software conflicts. I suggest checking this
issue by starting Excel in the safe mode.
Start the Office program in safe mode
==============
1.      
Click Start, point to All Programs, and then point to
Microsoft Office.
2.       
Press and hold the CTRL key, and then click
Microsoft Excel.
If the problem does not occur in the safe mode, this issue might be related to some third-party add-ins in the Excel program, we can try to disable
them. Normally, you could do the following to disable the conflict add-ins in your Excel program:
Disable add-ins
Click
Tools > Options > 
Add-in, click Go button in the Manage:
Com-in Add.
Check if there are any add-ins,
clear the checkbox to disable them.
Close the Office program and
restart it.
Add one check back each time to the list of Add-In,
restart the Office program, and repeat the above procedure. Once the issue reappears again, we can determine which add-in causes this problem and then disable it.
Please take your time to try the suggestions and let me know the results at your earliest convenience. If anything is unclear or if there is anything
I can do for you, please feel free to let me know.
Best Regards,
Sally Tang