Work with Multiple Instances
How to switch between production, sandbox, and multi-instances in OfficeConnect.
If your user ID has access to more than one Workday instance — a sandbox, a linked multi-instance hierarchy, or simply multiple tenants — OfficeConnect handles them through an Instance drop-down in the Reporting pane.
Types of multiple instances
| Type | Description |
|---|---|
| Sandbox | A clone of your production instance. Use it for testing reports and what-if scenarios without affecting live data. |
| Multi-instances | Linked instances in a hierarchical relationship that share data through account and dimension mapping. |
Switching instances
When your user ID has access to multiple instances, an Instance drop-down appears in the Reporting pane.
- The drop-down defaults to your default instance
- Select a different instance to load elements from that instance
- Once you add any elements to a worksheet, the instance locks for that workbook
Key rules
| Scenario | Behavior |
|---|---|
| New workbook | Default instance selected; you can switch before adding elements |
| Existing workbook | Instance is locked — it already has elements from a specific instance |
| Multiple open workbooks | You can open workbooks connected to different instances simultaneously |
| Copy/paste between instances | Not supported — you cannot copy, cut, paste, or merge data across instances |
Changing instance mid-session
If you’re working locally in an Excel report for Instance A and then sign in to Instance B, OfficeConnect will prompt you:
“Log in to OfficeConnect — would you like to update this Excel report to work with the current instance?”
If you click No, the file closes and unsaved changes are lost. Save your work before switching instances.
Change your default instance
- Click User Settings from the OfficeConnect ribbon
- In the Connection section, select your preferred default instance
- Click OK
The new default applies to all new workbooks you create.