# Excel to Graphviz v8.0 has been released **URL:** \ **Category:** Announcements\ **Created:** [September 6, 2025, 11:41pm UTC](https://forum.graphviz.org/t/excel-to-graphviz-v8-0-has-been-released/3181 "2025-09-06T23:41:24Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 1\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![jjlong](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/graphviz/user_avatar/forum.graphviz.org/jjlong/32/887_2.png) [@jjlong](https://forum.graphviz.org/u/jjlong)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2025, 11:41pm UTC](https://forum.graphviz.org/t/excel-to-graphviz-v8-0-has-been-released/3181/1 "2025-09-06T23:41:24Z")
**Excel to Graphviz** v8.0 is here! [Download](https://sourceforge.net/projects/relationship-visualizer/) | [Website](https://exceltographviz.com/) | [Github](https://github.com/jjlong150/ExcelToGraphviz) | [Donate](https://buymeacoffee.com/exceltographviz) This release of the _Relationship Visualizer_ spreadsheet introduces enhancements across the Style Designer, Styles, and SQL capabilities, and improved performance. _Style Designer_ - New gallery-style Ribbon controls replace dropdown lists - New RGB color picking - New image paths relative to workbook location _Styles_ - New capability to easily reset the **style designer** to match a saved style format _SQL_ - New SQL connection pooling - New data source specification through the Ribbon UI - New SQL commands for creating sequential edges and ranked-node subgraphs [Download](https://sourceforge.net/projects/relationship-visualizer/) | [Website](https://exceltographviz.com/) | [Github](https://github.com/jjlong150/ExcelToGraphviz) | [Donate](https://buymeacoffee.com/exceltographviz) * * * # Full Version 8.0 Release Notes ## 🎨 Style Designer ### Galleries replace dropdown lists in the Ribbon Image galleries replace dropdown lists for selecting colors, fonts, shapes, and ports offering faster, more intuitive style selection. * * * Color Galleries now display full color schemes in a compact, high-speed format. They quickly switch colors to match any color scheme selection. ![Gallery of SVG colors](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/graphviz/original/2X/5/564cf47b56e38801be3d655c21ecf65fd4b2f187.png) * * * Fonts are now previewed in a larger, gallery-style format using Graphviz-rendered font images for easier identification. ![Gallery of fonts (Windows)](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/graphviz/original/2X/5/583d434ca4af9860e5104d843dea2a1756869e66.png) * * * Logically grouped controls for node shapes, edge arrowheads/tails, and port options in galleries. ![Gallery of arrowheads](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/graphviz/original/2X/7/7fcf5bb8c459b5d4a94b751d7a790c47621f5dda.png) ### RGB Color Picker support added RGB color picking support for label color, border color, edge colors, fill color, and gradient fill colors Available on both Windows and macOS, using standard OS-provided file dialogs for seamless integration and familiar user experience. ![RGB Color Picker (Windows)](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/graphviz/original/2X/0/0f481ed8587dc9c422678de437fc0550fdd85f79.png) ### Performance boosts Faster font list filtering (Windows), optimized string routines, and pre-cached images enhance overall performance. Eliminated the progress bar that versions 7.x and earlier displayed when loading large color sets (e.g. X11) and font names into dropdown lists. ![Removed progress bar](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/graphviz/original/2X/5/59a1bfc1491313f4e381db9ea59356e23d6eb3f5.png) ### Style Saving Enhancements Labels (`label`, `xlabel`, `taillabel`, `headlabel`) can optionally be saved as part of the format string via checkbox. Styles can now be named directly in the **style designer** worksheet prior to saving on the **styles** worksheet. Added a prominent `Save` button in the worksheet canvas area for improved visibility and quicker access. ![Example showing edge head and tail labels included in the format string](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/graphviz/original/2X/6/6d33849c59b59d06357376c0e024689fa7c788d2.png) ### Image Path Handling Added support for saving image file paths relative to the workbook location, enhancing portability across systems. For example, placing images in an `images` subfolder alongside the workbook allows relative paths to remain valid when the entire directory is cloned or moved. ![Checkbox preserves backward compatibility.](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/graphviz/original/2X/6/6be27e446938d68fefdd0655c460354978841fb9.png) * * * ## 🧬 Styles ### Restore saved styles in Style Designer To modify a **styles** style, locate its row, click the `[...]` button, and the **style designer** UI will instantly reset to reflect the saved format, ensuring consistency and a clean editing baseline. [See a 90 second video of it in action on X (Twitter)](https://x.com/i/status/1963676922615095548) ![Example of a "styles" worksheet with many defined styles](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/graphviz/original/2X/8/8aa600da22b1557fc13f7c533e5dad6f82eb313f.png) Close-up view. The `[...]` button appears to the right of the format string. ![Close-up of the |...| button which resets the "style designer"](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/graphviz/original/2X/4/4d1d395fcb41015c0b924b16fbbf5165050ca359.png) ### Auto-refresh of preview images Style preview images now update instantly upon saving, so there’s no need to click the refresh button. The **styles** sheet reflects changes in real time * * * ## 🧠 SQL ### Connection Pooling added Connection Pooling has been added to address Office 365 ADO latency introduced by [Excel ADO connection issue in recent Office 365 update](https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/answers/questions/5443040/excel-ado-connection-issue-in-recent-office-365-up?forum=msoffice-all&referrer=answers) Huge thanks to @BartB for identifying this Microsoft defect and for the generous collaboration that followed. Your help in testing and refining the workaround was key to delivering a robust interim solution while we await an official fix from Microsoft. ![Keep connections open for maximum performance](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/graphviz/original/2X/4/40c7c59048a27894def711f795c0d52a9d00d459.png) ### Default data source support added New Ribbon controls allow you to set a default directory and workbook for SQL queries, streamlining execution and reducing repetitive setup. Once configured, queries automatically target the specified workbook and path. Choosing workbooks from the dropdown list is ideal for creating repeatable workflows which reuse SQL queries. ![Swap data workbooks easily using Ribbon interface](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/graphviz/original/2X/4/4df3dc3fec61ce5649612744cc45a7379bab93d8.png) ### Graphviz SQL extensions added Added SQL syntax extensions to simplify Graphviz data generation, including support for sequential edges and ranked-node subgraphs. These enhancements make it easier to visualize ordered flows and hierarchical relationships directly from query results. * * * Introduced `CREATE EDGES` syntax, which generates sequential edges from a SQL result set. These queries can be used for visualizing ordered flows, process chains, or node sequences in Graphviz diagrams. For example, the following SQL statement ```sql SELECT [Fonts] AS [Item], TRUE AS [CREATE EDGES] FROM [Lists$] WHERE [Fonts] LIKE 'C%' ``` results in: ![8 edges created by one SQL statement.](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/graphviz/original/2X/6/6d1f1fedd537da285d14483980ec73e9bf7d4b6c.png) * * * Introduced `CREATE RANK` syntax which inserts a Graphviz subgraph with nodes aligned to the specified `rank`, where nodes in the subgraph are from the query result set. For example, the following SQL statement: ```sql SELECT [Fonts] AS [ITEM], TRUE AS [CREATE RANK], 'same' AS [RANK] FROM [Lists$] WHERE [Fonts] LIKE 'C%' ``` Results in: ![rank="same" subgraph created using one SQL statement](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/graphviz/original/2X/d/dc0d377cc3ebe3b68f59d45d43f6e5dd19869f87.png) * * * When both SQL statements are run in sequence, the result is a batch of nodes positioned on the same rank, connected by sequential edges. This produces a clean, layered visualization where each node appears at the same vertical level (thanks to `CREATE RANK`), and the directional flow between them is defined by `CREATE EDGES`. The results appear as follows: ![8 edges on the same rank, created by two SQL statements](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/graphviz/original/2X/8/8df115da0d0665e655902cf953cdee80f595f405.png) ### New edit SQL button New `[...]` button beside SQL statements opens SQL edit form. ![New button right of SQL statement to open editing form](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/graphviz/original/2X/2/2085c5b89ac59be26904f235bebc4110db529d98.png) * * * ## 🍎 macOS Compatibility - Fixed Excel version comparison logic for three-digit versions. - Updated script version checks using integers. - RGB controls hidden if outdated script detected. * * * ## ⚙ Miscellaneous Performance optimizations - Faster algorithm (Win OS) to exclude font names which Graphviz converts to ‘Arial’. - Rewrote string comparisons and concatenations for faster execution. - Removed progress bar when loading large color schemes. New speed makes them no longer needed. - Images are now pre-cached at workbook open if available; otherwise, they’re generated on first use. - New constants introduced for clarity and maintainability. - Low-Memory Fix for image deletion on 32-bit Atom CPUs. * * * [Download](https://sourceforge.net/projects/relationship-visualizer/) | [Website](https://exceltographviz.com/) | [Github](https://github.com/jjlong150/ExcelToGraphviz) | [Donate](https://buymeacoffee.com/exceltographviz)