External Data - preserve edited column heading name

I am importing data from an Oracle database into Excel 2007. The column headings that are returned are the ones from the Oracle database (NOV_ID, NOV_SIGNED_DATE, etc.). I would like to change the headings to a more user-friendly name such as NOV ID, NOV Signed Date, etc.) but when I refresh the data, the headings revert back to the database headings.

I have tried adding a row above the headings to use new heading names and the autofilter function, but the new row is not within the same table as the data is, therefore the autofilter function only sees row 1 and not the other data in the column. I cannot add this new row to the data table, excel won't allow me.

Is there a way for me to exclude the column headings from being refreshed with all of the other data? I'm hoping for a simple menu/option box to check to exclude the headings.

I've been searching the net for days looking for someway to handle this, but haven't found what I need.

Bob

Yup, did a macro for renaming the columns. Thanks for the idea!