I'm not finding anything you guys have in Word on a Mac (insert button with link submenu?) If I choose insert file and pick a box in the open dialog "insert as link" I get an error not valid file name....
Anyway is LO reference supposed to be able to update when you update the Excel this way (rtf)? or do you also have to do something with the rtf file?
I use an alternate method myself.
I update the excel then print to pdf, Iinsert pdf to LO.
Later if I change the excel file, I print to pdf and over-write the same pdf file
The LO file can then update ther reference. Is this more steps?? If you use macs the print to pdf will use the excel name so you don't even have to worry about the name--if you are in the right folder.
Regarding OP I think the missing step is using ruby to export the information about his DC to the csv file. Just guessing.