By default, DataSnipper stores any documents that you import into a workbook inside the workbook itself. It does this by serializing the documents into byte strings and storing them inside Custom XML objects.
This has benefits, such as being able to share workbooks with imported documents seamlessly with colleagues. However, it also increases the size of the workbook. Depending on the number of imported documents, this can affect workbook performance.
Referencing documents at their storage location
DataSnipper can instead reference documents at their storage location, so the documents do not need to be stored inside the workbook. You can toggle this option using the slider in the DataSnipper ribbon.
With this slider toggled off, DataSnipper references the documents at their original storage location. The documents are no longer stored inside the workbook, which can improve performance when working with large sets of supporting documentation.
Important
When this setting is turned off, DataSnipper references the supporting documents at the storage location relative to the active workbook. For example, if a workbook is stored at C:/ and the imported documents are stored at C:/Documents, the relative filepath is /Documents.
For DataSnipper to reference these documents, the relative filepath must stay the same. This is an important consideration when you want to share DataSnipper workbooks with other people.
Workbook sharing best practice
If documents are not stored inside the workbook, it is best practice to create a ZIP folder containing the active workbook and the supporting documentation before sharing. This ensures that when a second user receives the workbook and supporting documentation, the relative filepath stays the same and DataSnipper can locate the documents.
If you have any questions about this functionality, contact our support team at [email protected].