Microsoft KB Archive/179660

= MacXL: Problems Adding Text Table in Microsoft Query =

Article ID: 179660

Article Last Modified on 1/22/2007

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APPLIES TO


 * Microsoft Excel 2001 for Mac
 * Microsoft Excel 98 for Macintosh

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This article was previously published under Q179660



SYMPTOMS
When you try to query a table in Microsoft Query by using the Text ODBC driver, one of the following problems occurs.

Error Adding Table
When you try to add the table to Microsoft Query, you receive the following error message

Can't access table

where  is the name of the file that you are attempting to open in Microsoft Query.

Cannot See Text File
When you attempt to create a new data source name (File DSN), some or all of the text files do not appear in the Select a default table for your data source (optional) box in the Create New Data Source dialog box.



Error Adding Table
This problem occurs when either of the following cases is true.

Case 1

 * You create a File DSN without first creating a User DSN that defines each of the text files.

-and-
 * In the Add Tables dialog box, you try to add one of the text files that was not defined in the User DSN.

Case 2

 * You create a User DSN for a text file and the file contains a file name extension, such as .txt.

-and-
 * In the Add Tables dialog box, you try to add one of these text files.

Cannot See Text File
This problem occurs if you have not defined that text file by creating a User DSN.



WORKAROUND
To work around this problem, use the one of following methods, depending on your situation.

Method 1: Error Adding Table
To use this method, follow these steps:  Create a User DSN by using the Text ODBC driver and define each table that you want to use.  To define a table, click the Define tab and select your file in the list. If the column names do not appear in the Column Information list, click Guess, and then click OK.

If you are using several text files, you must define each by repeating steps a and b.  If your text file contains a file name extension (such as .txt), configure the DSN by following these steps:  When you define the User DSN, click the Use DOS File Extensions option in the Mac File Types dialog box.</li> After you create the User DSN for the Text ODBC driver, create a File DSN for the specific text file.</li> To add a table to your query, you should use the Query Wizard. If you do not use this wizard, the "Cannot Access" error message may appear when you attempt to add a text file in the Add Tables dialog box.</li></ol> </li></ol>

Method 2: Cannot See Text File
If the text file does not appear in the list, first define the table. To define the table when you create the User DSN, follow these steps:
 * 1) To define a table, in the Microsoft 3.01 Text PPC dialog box, click the Define tab, and select the file in the list.
 * 2) If the column names do not appear in the Column Information list, click Guess, and then click OK.

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STATUS
Microsoft has confirmed that this is a problem in the Microsoft products that are listed at the beginning of this article.

Additional query words: XL2001 XL98

Keywords: kbbug kbpending KB179660

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