EEE Excel Templates: Use Updated OLEDB Driver

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Background

EEE's classic Excel templates use the OLE DB Provider for SQL Server to establish connections with the EEE database. As of EEE v1.86, all the classic templates rely on the OLEDB driver in the Microsoft ActiveX Data Objects 2.8 Library that ships with Windows. This version of the OLEDB driver relies on TLS 1.0 to establish the connection.

As TLS 1.0 is being deprecated by the industry, software and policies will require TLS1.0 connections to be disabled. Once this happens, this driver can no longer be used to connect to the EEE database.

Recommendations

API-based Templates

Since v1.84, EEE has started the move towards an API-based approach for the Excel Templates. This means that a REST API sits at a EEE Head Office server which the Templates will then communicate with over HTTPS. This has the advantage of the latest security benefits, and customers have the option of making the API available over the internet which means the templates can be used without the need for a VPN. This is the recommended method going forward.

Most of the standard EEE Excel Templates are available as API-based versions. Please contact Magenta Retail Support if you'd like to implement the API-based templates in your environment.

Updated OLEDB Driver

Microsoft has recently resurrected previously deprecated OLEDB drivers for SQL server and has made available a new version that supports TLS1.2.

In order to support our customers who still use the classic EEE Excel Templates, they are gradually being updated with support for this driver. Please refer to the EEE release notes to see which Templates have been updated.

Note that the updated driver is not shipped with Windows and is available as a separate download from Microsoft. Please visit aka.ms/downloadmsoledbsql.

  • The driver needs to be installed on each client machine from where the EEE Excel Templates will be used.
  • Please download and install the version of the driver based on your operating system architecture.
    • 32-bit systems will require the x86 version of the driver.
    • 64-bit systems will require the x64 version of the driver. This contains both the 32-bit and 64-bit drivers.

Once the correct driver is downloaded and installed, open a compatible EEE Excel Template, and under the Settings sheet, specify the Driver as MSOLEDBSQL. Then continue to use the template as per normal.

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