2.121 FAQ-1080 I used a Data Connector to import data but when I reopen my project, the data is missing

Last Update: 6/14/2021

A generalized data import mechanism we call Data Connectors was added in Origin 2019b. As the name implies, Data Connectors create a live link between your project and an external data source -- either a local file or web-stored data.

By default, when import data size exceeds 500kB, imported data and graphs made from that data, are NOT saved with the project file. Thus, if you have connected to a large data file, you will open your project file to see that your imported data and any graphs made directly from that data, are missing.

FAQ 1080 connect missing data 1.png

You can change the threshold size of import data saving with project by system variable @FSE.

If you see a yellow lock FAQ 1080 connect missing data 7.png in the worksheet:

You can follow one of two solutions below to re-connect your Origin project file on opening:

  1. Click on the yellow lock icon FAQ 1080 connect missing data 7.png and choose Import or Import All Books.

Alternately, to import graph supporting data and refresh the graph,

  1. click on the downward-pointing arrow.
FAQ 1080 connect missing data 3.png

If you see a red lock FAQ 1080 connect missing data 6.png in the worksheet:

Red lock FAQ 1080 connect missing data 6.png means that the connection between the source data and Origin has been broken. You will need to

  1. Click on the red lock icon and choose Data Source to re-select the source data.
FAQ 1080 connect missing data 4.png


The reason of the broken is that the source data has been deleted or moved to other place, most likely to happen when you share your project file with connected data to others.

To share project with connected data to others:

  1. Save the project.
  2. Click on the green lock icon and choose Data Source. In the Data Source File Path dialog, set source file path to Relative to Project path.
  3. Share both the data file and project with the same path structure.

Alternately, you can choose to save the imported data with project:

  1. Before saving project, click on the green lock icon and uncheck Exclude Imported When Saving.
  2. Share both the project file with others.
FAQ 1080 connect missing data 5.png

To general save the imported data with project, Set LabTalk system variable @DNS = 1.

Keywords:Exclude imported data, import all, auto import