Product Task

Tasks are used only for administration. Do not use tasks unless instructed to do so by a system administrator.

Note: Tasks are predefined for specific Query & Analysis products and cannot be created by users.

The Product Task utility executes a predefined procedure. The procedure is only performed once. If Create Definition Formula has been enabled the procedure is repeated each time the workbook is recalculated.

The procedure could be used to extract data for specific tables in Query & Analysis. Query & Analysis generates and populates tables from the database. In the case where data in the database frequently changes it needs to be reflected in the tables in Query & Analysis. By including the Tasks utility within the worksheet, Query & Analysis is instructed to update specific tables. It extracts the latest data from the database when the worksheet is recalculated.

Examples where Product Tasks can be applied include:

Execute a task to generate an up-to-date exchange rate table.
Execute a task to generate an index table.
Execute installed procedures.