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Initialize Button for the Writeback

A workbook can combine a data extraction with a writeback. Refreshing the extraction overwrites any values entered manually in those same cells, including values already sent back to your ERP.

The Initialize button creates a copy of the workbook with all extracted data saved as fixed values, and the data extraction wizard removed from it. The copy no longer pulls live data, so refreshing has no effect on it and any values you've entered stay as they are. The writeback configuration remains active in the copy, so you can continue sending changes back to your ERP from it. The original workbook is unaffected and can still be used to extract data for a future period.

The button is added through the Action Button Wizard in the Analysis tab. You need to configure the Writeback Wizard first.

Initialize button position

When to create a snapshot of your workbook​

  • Protect manually entered values before refreshing a data extraction that shares cells with a writeback configuration.
  • Start a new budget cycle from a template workbook without modifying the original layout or data.
  • Create a stable working copy when you need to edit and write back values without any live data refresh interfering.

Create the initialize button​

  1. Open a workbook with a Writeback Wizard already configured.
  2. On the Analysis tab, select Action Button Wizard.
  3. Under Type, select Nectari Action.
  4. Under Button, select Initialize.
  5. Enter or select the cell where the button will appear on the sheet.
  6. (Optional) Edit the default label to give the button a more specific name.
  7. Choose a color using the color picker, or enter a HEX code directly.
  8. Review the Preview to confirm the button appearance.
  9. Click Save.

Create a static copy of the workbook​

When you initialize, a new copy is created with Initialized appended to the workbook name. For example, a workbook named Budget becomes Budget (Initialized).

  1. Click the initialize button in the workbook.
  2. In the Create Workbook Copy dialog, click Create to confirm.

ExampleMonthly budget workbook with extraction and writeback#
Scenario

A Monthly Budget workbook pulls in actual figures from the ERP each month through a data extraction, and sends revised budget amounts back through a writeback. Refreshing the extraction overwrites any values already entered for the current month, requiring the figures to be entered again manually.

Details

At the start of each month, to avoid losing any entered values, clicking the Initialize button creates a copy of the workbook. Each copy adds the default name Initialized, but it can be renamed to reflect the month it covers, for example Monthly Budget (January) and Monthly Budget (February).

The figures can be reviewed and adjusted directly in that month's copy. Once done, the updated values can be sent back to the ERP using the Writeback button. The writeback stays correctly linked in every copy, sending to the right records regardless of which month's copy is used.

Example of monthly initialized workbook copies

The original Monthly Budget workbook remains unchanged and continues to extract data for each new month, and can be used as a template to create another copy each month.

Keep in mind

In the initialized copy, the data extraction functionality is removed and the data becomes a fixed table of values that no longer refreshes.