Microsoft KB Archive/151544

= Error Running Macro with Reference to XLODBC.XLA File =

Article ID: 151544

Article Last Modified on 10/10/2006

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APPLIES TO


 * Microsoft Excel 97 Standard Edition
 * Microsoft Excel 95 Standard Edition

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This article was previously published under Q151544





SYMPTOMS
When you run a procedure from a module that contains a reference to the Xlodbc.xla file, you may receive the following error message:

Attempt to register Xlodbc32.dll failed.

In Microsoft Excel 97, you may receive this error as soon as you open the workbook that contains a reference to Xlodbc.xla.



MORE INFORMATION
This error occurs when all of the following are true:


 * Both Microsoft Excel version 5.0 and Microsoft Excel version 7.0 or 97 are installed in separate folders on the same computer. -and-


 * A file created in Microsoft Excel version 5.0 contains a Visual Basic for Applications procedure calling SQL functions from a module with a reference to the Microsoft Excel version 5.0 file Xlodbc.xla. -and-


 * The procedure is being run from Microsoft Excel version 7.0 or Microsoft Excel 97 on the same computer where Microsoft Excel 5.0 is installed.

The error message,

Attempt to register XLODBC.DLL failed.

may also occur if a procedure with a reference to Xlodbc.xla created in Microsoft Excel version 7.0 or 97 is run from Microsoft Excel version 5.0 on the same computer.



CAUSE
When you establish a reference to another workbook or library, Microsoft Excel hard-codes the path of the file when the reference is established. The error occurs because the path to the Xlodbc.xla file is still valid, and Microsoft Excel attempts to open the incorrect Xlodbc.xla file.

The error does not occur if only one version of Microsoft Excel is installed on the computer. Instead, if the file cannot be found, you may receive the following error message:

Can't find project or library.

See articles referenced later in this article for more information about this error.



Microsoft Excel 7.0
With your module sheet active, click References on the Tools menu, click to clear the current reference, and use the Browse option to establish a new reference to the correct Xlodbc.xla file. After establishing the correct reference, save and close the file, and then restart Microsoft Excel.

Microsoft Excel 97
Press ALT+F11 to activate Visual Basic Editor. Click References on the Tools menu, click to clear the current reference, and use the Browse option to establish a new reference to the correct Xlodbc.xla file. Click Close and Return to Microsoft Excel on the File menu. Save and close the file, and then restart Microsoft Excel. For additional information, please see the following articles in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

124277 XL5 Err Msg: "Can't Find Project or Library" Running Macro

131298 XL5 How to Avoid the Error "Can't Find Project or Library"

