Settings

This page explains the configuration options available in the Eigen Ingenuity Excel add-in and the difference between the two onboarding paths:

• Try the Demo
• Connect to Your Ingenuity

The add-in stores connection settings for the Eigen Ingenuity server and the historian source you want to query. Depending on how you start the add-in, it will either:

• run in a preconfigured demo mode with default values, or
• connect to your own Ingenuity environment using the settings you provide.

Config options

The Settings screen includes the following options.

Eigen Ingenuity server

• Label in UI: Eigen Ingenuity server
• Purpose: Base server address used for API requests.
• Example: demo.eigen.co
• Required: Yes
• Validation: Must be a valid domain/URL.
• Default value: demo.eigen.co

Historian source

• Purpose: Default historian/data source queried by the add-in.
• Example: Demo-influxdb
• Required: Yes
• Validation: Must be at least 3 characters.
• Default value: Demo-influxdb

API Key

• Label in UI: API Key
• Purpose: Forwards the key with all requests when provided.
• Required: No
• Default value: empty
• Typical use: Environments that secure API access with a server-side API key will reject requests without a valid API key.

Use Azure AD

• Label in UI: Use Azure AD
• Purpose: Enables Microsoft Entra ID / Azure AD authentication for API requests.
• Required: Optional
• Default in stored settings: false
• Effect when enabled:
  • The add-in will prompt user to authenticate, and access the secured APIs on their behalf.
  • The addin does not see your Azure username or password, but recieves an access token to pass with requests
  • Scope is limited to the provided client ID (Eigen Ingenuity)
  • Azure Tenant ID and Azure Client ID fields are shown, - Tenant ID and Client ID must be provided with auth - You must have Eigen Ingenuity installed with Azure AD, and have the correct User/Group permissions - If you don’t know your client and tenant ID, you can enquire at https://eigen.freshdesk.com

Skip Proxy (Direct API Requests)

• Label in UI: Skip Proxy (Direct API Requests)
• Purpose: Bypass the /api proxy and call the Ingenuity API directly.
• Required: Optional
• Default value: false
• Availability:
  • enabled only when Use Azure AD is off,
  • disabled when Use Azure AD is on.
• Notes:
  • useful for direct API calls in non-Azure-AD flows,
  • Required if yur Ingenuity Instance is not exposed to the internet (VPN, Citrix, or Local Network)
  • if Azure AD is enabled, the UI forces proxy usage to avoid CORS issues.

Azure Tenant ID

• Purpose: Tenant used for Azure AD authentication.
• Required: Required when Use Azure AD is enabled.

Azure Client ID

• Purpose: Application/client ID used for Azure AD authentication.
• Required: Required when Use Azure AD is enabled.

Try the Demo vs Connect to Your Ingenuity

On start there are two options provided for connecting the Addin to an Ingenuity Instance. These two entry paths behave differently.

Try the Demo

Try the Demo puts the add-in into guest/demo mode.

• Forces useAzureAD to false
• Uses default stored settings while in guest mode
• Makes direct API requests without authentication
• Does not require the user to perform any configuration or authentication

In practice, demo mode is intended to let a user start using the add-in immediately against the built-in demo environment.

While in guest mode, setting reads fall back to the default values from the settings store, including:

• Server: demo.eigen.co
• Historian source: Demo-influxdb
• Azure AD: false

Connect to Your Ingenuity

Connect to Your Ingenuity is the normal configured mode for a real environment.

• Opens the Settings screen if connection settings are not yet saved
• Lets the user configure server, historian source, API key, Azure AD, proxy behavior, and Azure IDs
• Persists settings to Office document settings and local storage
• Can use:
  • Azure AD authentication,
  • API key authentication,
  • proxied requests,
  • direct API requests when proxy is skipped and Azure AD is off

This mode is intended for connecting the add-in to your own Ingenuity deployment rather than the bundled demo setup.

Key differences

Area	Try the Demo	Connect to Your Ingenuity
Intended use	Quick evaluation	Real environment setup
Guest mode	Yes	No
Requires settings screen first	No	Usually yes
Default server	demo.eigen.co	User-provided
Default historian source	Demo-influxdb	User-provided
Azure AD available	No	Yes
API key supported	Not required in demo flow	Yes
Proxy configuration	Not user-driven	User-configurable
Request style	Simple direct request	Proxy or direct request depending on settings
Best for	Trial, demos, exploration	Connections to your own Ingenuity

How requests differ

Demo mode request behavior

In demo mode, requests are made as simple direct browser requests:

• no Azure AD token,
• no proxy headers,
• no authenticated proxy flow.

Connected mode request behavior

In connected mode, request behavior depends on settings:

• If Skip Proxy is off:
  • the add-in tries the /api proxy first,
  • if a CORS-style proxy failure occurs, it may fall back to a direct request.
• If Skip Proxy is on:
  • the add-in calls the server directly.
• If Use Azure AD is on:
  • the add-in acquires a bearer token and authenticates the request.
• If an API key is provided:
  • it is added to the request headers.

Recommended usage

• Use Try the Demo if you want to explore the add-in immediately with the sample environment.
• Use Connect to Your Ingenuity if you want to connect to your own server, historian, and authentication setup.

Support

If you need more help configuring the add-in, please raise a ticket on our support system: https://eigen.freshdesk.com