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NikolinoDE's avatar
NikolinoDE
Gold Contributor
Jul 10, 2025

This gets tricky because i LEVEL is not a native Excel data connector, so typical Power Query or Power Automate approaches might not work out of the box.

You can maybe write a VBA macro to simulate the refresh process and schedule it using Windows Task Scheduler.

 

This assumes that i LEVEL exposes some VBA-accessible objects. If not, you may need SendKeys (less reliable). Place this in ThisWorkbook or a Module.

Sub AutoLoginAndRefresh_iLEVEL()
    Dim waitTime As Double

    ' Optional: show Excel (if hidden)
    Application.Visible = True
    Application.DisplayAlerts = False

    ' Optional: Wait for the workbook and iLEVEL to fully load
    waitTime = Timer + 10
    Do While Timer < waitTime
        DoEvents
    Loop

    ' Step 1: Navigate to iLEVEL tab (Alt key navigation)
    Application.SendKeys "%", True        ' Activate Alt key
    Application.SendKeys "i", True        ' Assume iLEVEL tab is activated via Alt+i
    Application.SendKeys "{ENTER}", True  ' Confirm selection

    ' Step 2: Login (simulate clicking the login button)
    Application.SendKeys "{TAB}", True
    Application.SendKeys "{ENTER}", True  ' Login button
    Application.SendKeys "email address removed for privacy reasons", True ' Replace with your email if needed
    Application.SendKeys "{ENTER}", True

    ' Wait for SSO login (adjust this if login takes longer)
    Application.Wait Now + TimeValue("00:00:10")

    ' Step 3: Click 'Refresh All'
    Application.SendKeys "%", True
    Application.SendKeys "i", True        ' Return to iLEVEL tab
    Application.SendKeys "r", True        ' Assume 'Refresh All' shortcut key is R (you may need to adjust)

    ' Wait for refresh to complete
    Application.Wait Now + TimeValue("00:05:00") ' 5 minutes refresh time

    ' Step 4: Save and close
    ThisWorkbook.Save
    Application.Quit
End Sub

Automation via Task Scheduler:

Create a .vbs script to open Excel and run your macro:

Dim xl
Set xl = CreateObject("Excel.Application")
xl.Visible = False
Set wb = xl.Workbooks.Open("C:\Path\To\Your\File.xlsx")
xl.Run "AutoLoginAndRefresh_iLEVEL"

Schedule this .vbs using Windows Task Scheduler at 3:00 AM.

 

The VBA code uses SendKeys to simulate keyboard navigation, which is a fragile method that:

  • Relies on specific UI layout, timing, and keyboard shortcuts.
  • Fails if i LEVEL does not support keyboard navigation for login or refresh.
  • Breaks easily if focus shifts, security prompts appear (e.g. SSO), or i LEVEL loads slowly.

Maybe the code will help you with your project, if not, contact i LEVEL support and ask about:
    VBA integration
    COM API or automation objects
    Command-line refresh
    Office Scripts or external automation hooks
If They Don't Support It:
    Use fragile SendKeys (but highly customized and tested).

  • AzureNewbie1's avatar
    AzureNewbie1
    Brass Contributor
    Jul 17, 2025

    NikolinoDE​ - I've come back to this matter.
    I should state the number of rows the Excel file has before an iLevel plug-in data refresh is 3275. If I manually refresh the data by manually clicking on the iLevel plug-in, signing in, clicking 'Refresh All' - the number of rows increases to 3300. Of course, I don't save the Excel file as I wouldn't be able to test the row count going from 3275 to 3300 again.

    ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Before you responded to this thread, I Googled the following method:
    1) Take the Excel file with the iLevel plug-in present. Record a Macro that records clicking on the iLevel tab, recording the entering of the logon email address and SSO password, then clicking Refresh All.
    2) Create a VB module with the following content and save the vb script as a .BAS file, save and close down the Excel workbook:

    3) Create a Windows Batch File that has "Script" followed by the path of the .BAS file.
    4) Create a Windows Task Scheduler that executes the Windows Batch File.

    I watch my screen at the scheduled time and a black cmd screen pops are for a second with some text on it (it disappears too soon for me to read the text).
    I check the Excel file and the number of records hasn't increased. I take it the above is incorrect.

    -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    As I haven't used Macros, VBA, etc.. before, I need to build my confidence so I created a simple Macro/VB script that shows HelloWorld() in the message box. Rather than schedule the Macro through the Windows Task Scheduler, I simply clicked 'Run' on the Macro from with the Developer tab and "Hello world" appears.


    -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    With a little confidence gained. I attempted your helpful post.
    1) I created a Macro/VB Script with the following content:

    2) I just wanted to see if the Macro had worked and see if the Excel row count had increased to 3300 (which would indicate a successful data refresh). To do this, I simply clicked 'Run' when in the Developer tab (as I did for the HelloWorld Macro). An egg timer appeared and remained for around 6 minutes (an egg timer being present for around six minutes is what happens when I manually refresh the data using the iLevel plug-in process). After six minutes the Excel spreadsheet just closes. I see the Excel file then gets an updated timestamp at when the Excel file closed. This would seem encouraging. However, when I opened the Excel file I see the row count remains at 3275 which indicates a refresh hasn't taken place (if it had refreshed the row count would be 3300).

    Am I doing something wrong?  I most probably am as I've not used Macros/VBA, etc.. before. I'm scrabbling to get all working.
    Thanks.

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