You can edit a Web query so that it prompts you for variable parameters. For example, a Web query that gets stock quotes from a Web page can prompt you for a parameter, such as a stock symbol, each time you update the data. You can create a Web query parameter query only from a saved Web query file (.iqy).

1. In Windows Explorer, navigate to the query file on your computer.

2. Right-click the file, and then click Edit with Notepad. The query opens in Microsoft Notepad, where you can make changes to the file.

3. In the text of the file, find the URL of the Web address from which the imported data originated. For example:

http://moneycentral.msn.com/investor/external/excel/quotes.asp

At the end of the URL, type the following (do not insert a space at the end of the URL):

?SYMBOL=["Parameter", "Prompt"]

For example, type:

?SYMBOL=["QUOTE", "Enter one or more financial symbols separated by commas."]

1. On the File menu, click Save, and then exit Notepad.