Microsoft KB Archive/163624

= ACC97: Importing/Linking Certain Files Via FTP Generates Error =

Article ID: 163624

Article Last Modified on 1/19/2007

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APPLIES TO


 * Microsoft Access 97 Standard Edition

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This article was previously published under Q163624



Novice: Requires knowledge of the user interface on single-user computers.



SYMPTOMS
When you import or link certain types of files from an FTP site in Microsoft Access 97, you may receive an error message.

If you try to import or link a table from a Microsoft Access database, you receive the following error message:

Not a valid file name.

If you try to link a dBASE table, you receive the following error message when you select an index file. Note that if you do not use an index, the table links successfully.

You cannot use an Internet address here. Enter a path that points to a location on your computer or on the network.

If you try to import or link a text file, you receive the following error message:

Bad file name or number



CAUSE
For text files, Microsoft Access uses an Open File command to populate the wizard with data; the Open File command does not support FTP.

For Microsoft Access databases, this behavior is by design. Microsoft Access does not support importing or linking a Microsoft Access database on an FTP server.

NOTE: Microsoft Access online Help explains that you cannot import or link via FTP to a Microsoft Access database; however, online Help does not mention that you cannot import or link text files via FTP. For Help topic locations, see the References section at the end of this article.



RESOLUTION
You can copy or move the file to a local hard disk, floppy disk, or network drive, and then import or link the file.

You can import a text file from an FTP site if you use the TransferText action or method and import the file through a macro or Visual Basic for Applications code.



STATUS
Microsoft has confirmed this to be a problem in Microsoft Access 97.



Steps to Reproduce Problem
The following example demonstrates the error by trying to import a text file.

 Create a text file on an FTP share. Start Microsoft Access and open the sample database Northwind.mdb. On the File menu, point to Get External Data, and then click Import. Type the path to your FTP server in the File Name box, for example, FTP://MyFTPServer. Select Text Files in the Files Of Type box.</li> Select your text file, and click the Import button. Note that you receive the following error message:

Bad file name or number

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