Special URL handling

Normally, the HXL Proxy reads a HXL-tagged Excel spreadsheet or CSV dataset directly from a URL link; however, the application also includes more-advanced support for some types of URLs, e.g. for downloading the latest file for an HDX resource. When using the HXL Proxy interactively, you normally choose the URL on the Source page.

Humanitarian Data Exchange (HDX) links

If you provide a link to a resource page on HDX, the HXL Proxy will download the latest version of that resource using the CKAN API. Whenever the data owner updates the resource, the HXL Proxy will see the newest version automatically.

If you provide a link to the downloadable data itself (e.g. a CSV or XLSX file), the HXL Proxy will always download that version of the data, even if the data owner updates the HDX resource.

Google Sheets links

If you provide the top-level URL to a Google Sheet, the HXL Proxy will generate a CSV export of the sheet from Google Drive automatically. There is no need to share a link to the CSV export.

If you provide the link to a specific tab in a Google Sheet, the HXL Proxy will use that tab.

Dropbox links

If you select a file on Dropbox, the HXL Proxy will always use the latest version of that file (e.g. an Excel spreadsheet). If you save the file on your computer, and the computer syncs to Dropbox, then the HXL Proxy will also have access to the latest version (though there may be a short delay due to Caching).

The HXL Proxy can also access the underlying resource when provided with the link to the Dropbox download/preview page.