Secure submitting of data from excel to web application via https

[legalised]

Hi,

I'll explain briefly the situation as i'm unsure the best way to tackle this problem, but would appreciate advice from people who have had similar issues before...

We have a web site where numerous staff around the country have to log in at the end of the week and submit sales data. This data is already stored in their excel spreadsheets. I'd like them to be able to hit one button from within excel and have this information submitted on their behalf automatically - but i don't want a macro to open up IE, navigate to the web page, enter their user info and login then submit the sales data. Ideally i'd like the process to appear seamless and just present them with either a 'submitting sales data successful' or 'unsuccessful' message at the end.

So i guess my question is - what is the best way to 1. communicate from within excel to a web server securely (client SSL certificate possibly or IP lock-down?) and 2. match unique fields within excel to those on the web server and submit the 'data' column to the web server and then close off the connection & present the dialog box? All users are on excel 07 and all have fixed IP's. Can it be done over HTTPS from within excel?

Thanks in advance for your advice.

 

[Legacy 98055]

Yes. You can use WinHTTP with SSL or SetClientCertificate. Google WinHTTP. See this page to get you started. http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/aa383136(VS.85).aspx

 

[legalised]

Thanks Tom - will check it out