Microsoft KB Archive/214377

= "Syntax error in FROM clause" when getting external data =

Article ID: 214377

Article Last Modified on 3/22/2007

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APPLIES TO


 * Microsoft Office Excel 2003
 * Microsoft Excel 2002 Standard Edition
 * Microsoft Excel 2000 Standard Edition

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This article was previously published under Q214377



For a Microsoft Excel 97 and earlier version of this article, see 171899.



SYMPTOMS
When you use Microsoft Query to return external data to a worksheet in Microsoft Excel or when you view returned data in Microsoft Query, you may receive the following error message:

Syntax error in FROM clause.



CAUSE
This problem occurs if you attempt to retrieve data from a Microsoft Access or Microsoft Excel database, and the path to the database contains a period (.), for example:

C:\My.Test\Northwind.mdb



WORKAROUND
To work around this problem, change the path to the database so that it does not contain any periods, for example:

C:\MyTest\Northwind.mdb C:\My Test\Northwind.mdb

NOTE: You may use a period before the file name extension (.mdb in this case).



MORE INFORMATION
When the path to the file contains a period, the path is qualified incorrectly by Microsoft Query. As a result, the Structured Query Language (SQL) statement for the data you are retrieving is incorrect, and you receive the error message in the "Symptoms" section.

Additional query words: msquery get external data create new query XL2000 XL XL2003

Keywords: kberrmsg kbpending kbprb KB214377

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