Microsoft KB Archive/70232

{| = Q+E: Excel Driver Does Not Compare Blank Fields Correctly =
 * width="100%"|

Last reviewed: November 2, 1994

Article ID: Q70232

SUMMARY
If a column in a Microsoft Excel for Windows version 3.0 file contains blanks, you may get unpredictable results when you attempt to select only those records that meet certain criteria in the Windows version of Q+E.

This problem does not occur in Excel for OS/2 version 3.0.

Steps to Reproduce Problem
  Enter the following in an Excel spreadsheet: A1 Name        Member A2 Joe A3 Debi           Y      A4  Ed      A5  Jill           N      A6  Alan           N      A7  Karen A8 Nancy          Y  Highlight A1:B8 and choose Set Database from the Data menu. Save the worksheet in Normal format and close Excel. Start Q+E and open the Excel file you just created.

The following examples compare the results of various selections using the Excel driver compared to using the dBASE compatible driver or the Text driver.

Example 1
 Select cell B2 (Y).  From the Select menu, choose Add Condition, and choose OK to accept the defaults (Equal, Y). ExcelFile Driver        dBASE Compatible or Text Driver ---

Name  Member            Name   Member Debi    Y               Debi     Y      Ed                       Nancy    Y      Nancy    Y 

Example 2
 Select cell B1 (Blank).</li>  From the Select menu, choose Add Condition, select Not Equal, and choose OK. ExcelFile Driver        dBASE Compatible or Text Driver ---

Name  Member            Name   Member Debi    Y               Debi      Y      Ed                       Jill      N      Jill     N               Alan      N      Alan     N               Nancy     Y      Karen Nancy   Y </li></ol>

Microsoft is researching this problem and will post new information here as it becomes available.