This patented technology generally relates to automating the production of worksheet files for use by electronic spreadsheet programs. Specifically, the patented technology permits the efficient retrieval of data from external databases by allowing the user to select specific data from a database and import the specified data into a spreadsheet program through uniquely streamlined spreadsheet commands. The adaptive quality of the technology permits, among other things, the user to retrieve updated information from an external database without creating formatting issues in the user’s spreadsheet program.