Importing files from Excel

  • Thread starter Thread starter Jerry
  • Start date Start date
J

Jerry

From Access I select "FILE" then "Get External Data" then
I choose "Import". After selecting an .XLS file I go to
the "Import Spreadsheet Wizard". On the page where you
can specify information about each of the fields you are
importing it dosn't seem to matter which column I click
on the "Field Name" textbox remains with the first column
name. Without being able to change the column that I am
on I can't alter the fields. Is this a bug that has a fix
out there that I have missed? I have downloaded every
update that I could find in order to fix this. I am using
Office 2002 on windows XP Professional platform. I have
also loaded the SP3 update for Office and SP1 for XP.
Thank you.
 
I am having the EXACT SAME PROBLEM, and I can find
nothing on it in the Knowledge Base. Help!
 
If you want to change the column name,
it can be done in the next step of the wizard.

If you want to change the data-type of the column,
sorry, not possible, Access does that for you.

Regards,
JohnQ
 
I am having the exact same problem. The only thing is that
I can't change the data-type or name of the field. Mind
you I can change these from the Advanced window but my
clients are complaining about the main "Import Text
Wizard". It says in the instructions that if you click the
field you can rename it etc but that doesn't seem to work.
I have access 2003 and winXP SP1. Is there something wrong
with access or is there a setting that needs to be toggled?
or patched?
Thank you very much.

EHamdan
 
Hi @ all,

Ed,
This is a bug in Access 2003 and there is no fix yet available. Import your file in a table in Access and format, name the fields / columns as needed. For the future import your file to an other table and use an append query to paste your data into the formated table.

Jerry, Carol,
Access checks the first 15 rows and decides on the data found there the data type (Text, number, etc.). So in case you want different data types try amending your .xls file. Add e.g. an additional line with dummy data or try what i have suggest above.
 
But I am using Access 2002. I was also using A-2002 on
my last computer, but didn't have this problem. The only
difference on the new computer is that my version of
Outlook is 2003, but Access is still 2002. Btw, it works
fine when importing from a text file; but the problem is
only when importing from Excel.
-----Original Message-----
Hi @ all,

Ed,
This is a bug in Access 2003 and there is no fix yet
Click to expand...
available. Import your file in a table in Access and
format, name the fields / columns as needed. For the
future import your file to an other table and use an
append query to paste your data into the formated table.
Jerry, Carol,
Access checks the first 15 rows and decides on the data
Click to expand...
found there the data type (Text, number, etc.). So in
case you want different data types try amending your .xls
file. Add e.g. an additional line with dummy data or try
what i have suggest above.
 
I have also had problems importing excel, largely in xp. I was able to use an add-in called "AccessLinks", and export the data from excel. This worked better for some reason. I have not been able to find a similar add-in for 2003. Temporarily I have overcome the problem by first linking the sheets into the database, it helps if you first give the actual data a "named range" with field names in the first row, and link to the "name". I then run a "Make Table" query in Access, and the data appears as it should. It is my intention to automate this process, as I frequently have to import many excell sheets into a database.
 
I just spoke with microsoft about this, they didn't seem to have a
bunch of information on hand other than the June Service pack release
date is no longer valid. It will be a while longer. The rep is
researching and will email me updated information from the person who
wrote the KB article about the SP1 release date or any hotfixes
specific to the text file import bug. I will pass along what ever I
get.

Jeremy
 
I also encountered the import from excel problem, but I was able to resolve
it in the following way:
I create my table (or import one a one line table from excel, then change
the field names and types to what you need them to be, and then delete that
line).
Then copy and paste. It works.
 
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