Install

formulaDB is an Excel add-in. It runs in Excel on the web and Excel desktop (Windows and Mac). Custom functions like =DB.QUERY require a reasonably recent build of Excel.

From AppSource

The simplest path, once formulaDB is published:

1. In Excel, open Home → Add-ins (or Insert → Add-ins).
2. Search for formulaDB.
3. Choose Add.

The =DB.QUERY, =DB.SOURCE, and =DB.SCHEMA functions become available across your workbooks, and the task pane opens from the ribbon.

formulaDB is being prepared for AppSource. Until it’s listed, use the sideload path below.

Sideload a pre-release channel

Pre-release builds are installed by sideloading a manifest — a small XML file that tells Excel where the add-in lives. Each channel publishes its own manifest at a URL:

https://<channel-host>/manifest.xml

There are four pre-release channels — dev, staging, qa, and uat. Each is a fully independent install, so you can run one alongside the production add-in in the same Excel client at the same time. To keep their functions from colliding, the pre-release channels publish under environment-suffixed names — =DB_DEV.QUERY, =DB_STAGING.QUERY, =DB_QA.QUERY, =DB_UAT.QUERY — while the production channel uses the bare =DB.QUERY.

Excel on the web

1. Open a workbook, then Insert → Add-ins → Upload My Add-in.
2. Provide the channel’s manifest URL (or upload a downloaded copy of manifest.xml).
3. Choose Upload.

Excel desktop (Windows)

1. Save the channel’s manifest.xml to a folder.
2. Share that folder as a trusted catalog and add it under File → Options → Trust Center → Trusted Add-in Catalogs.
3. Restart Excel, then add the add-in from Insert → Add-ins → Shared Folder.

Excel desktop (Mac)

1. Copy the channel’s manifest.xml into ~/Library/Containers/com.microsoft.Excel/Data/Documents/wef (create the wef folder if it doesn’t exist).
2. Restart Excel; the add-in appears under Insert → Add-ins.

Verify the install

In any cell:

=DB.PING()
→ "formulaDB v1.0.0 ready"

A version string confirms the add-in loaded. Then head to Examples to run your first query, or read How it works for the architecture.