What does subscript out of range mean?

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Guest

When I'm importing an Excel spreadsheet into an Access DB the import wizard
gives me a dialog box stating that the subscript is out of range. I am
importing the table to be used in a report that has already been created.
I've tried importing the spreadsheet to a new DB and get the same error. I'm
working with Office 2003.
 
I was having same problem trying to import from Excel. I posted a request
for help but did not get any responses. In the meantime, I deleted all empty
columns and rows (they were empty cells I deleted, but the worksheet
previously had content in cells out to last column of the worksheet). I then
had no problem importing the worksheet into Access. I think that once cells
in the worksheet have content or have formatting applied to them, even if
later deleted, Excel (or Access) looks at those cells as part of the import.
Deleting the empty columns and/or rows restores them to a "pristine"
condition (I'm guessing). You might also try copying the active cells to a
new worksheet. Hope this helps.
 
Hi there

My database contained an Auto Number field in the first column. I had to remove the columns from the Excel spreadsheet completely after which the import worked fine.

The Excel spreadsheet is not allowed to contain any references to the associated Auto Number column in the DB.
 
Joe Ramos said:
When I'm importing an Excel spreadsheet into an Access DB the import wizard
gives me a dialog box stating that the subscript is out of range. I am
importing the table to be used in a report that has already been created.
I've tried importing the spreadsheet to a new DB and get the same error. I'm
working with Office 2003.
Click to expand...
 
I also had this message when importing from Excel into an Access DB and later
solved the problem. The trouble was that there was more than one type of data
in one of the columns of the Excel spreadsheet. There were both text fields
and date fields in the same Excel column and Access would not accept this.
When I removed the date fields, the Excel data was imported as normal. Try to
check your spreadsheet to make sure that the data type in each column matches
with the data type format in the Access DB columns and I think that this will
solve your problem. Hope this helps you.
 
In addition to making sure that the data types in the Excel sheet columns
correspond to the data types in the Access table, you may want to make sure
that the Ecel sheet has no hidden columns or rows. I encountered a persistent
problem with one Excel sheet that gave a ""subcript out of range" message.
The only way this sheet would import was for me to highlight all columns and
then select the command to "unhide columns" in the format menu. Although I
had no hidden columns, this command itself was sufficient for the Excel sheet
to adjust itself and allow it to be imported into Access. It seems that
Access is very sensitive to certain formatting situations in Excel that
prevent Excel tables from being imported. Whatever the reason, this action
finally allowed the import to take place. Hope this info helps you.
 
In addition to making sure that the data types in the Excel sheet columns
correspond to the data types in the Access table, you may want to make sure
that the Ecel sheet has no hidden columns or rows. I encountered a persistent
problem with one Excel sheet that gave a ""subcript out of range" message.
The only way this sheet would import was for me to highlight all columns and
then select the command to "unhide columns" in the format menu. Although I
had no hidden columns, this command itself was sufficient for the Excel sheet
to adjust itself and allow it to be imported into Access. It seems that
Access is very sensitive to certain formatting situations in Excel that
prevent Excel tables from being imported. Whatever the reason, this action
finally allowed the import to take place. Hope this info helps you.
 
having spent half a working day on this and doing all the usual things re
data types, named ranges etc etc, the only way round it I can find it to
import the spreadsheet into a new table rather than appending it to an
existing one, and then taking the existing data from the Access table to the
newly created one. A real pain but at least it worked. Only trouble is - if
you have existing queries, reports etc they may have to be re-done.
 
Like others here I spent hours looking for a way to get around this error.
When I figured it out, i felt like kicking myself. You know how when you
start Access there is that "Security Warning - certain content blah blah
disabled" message is there below the ribbon? Just click options and select
"allow this content". The data came in after that! I couldn't believe it -
Access was denying access to Access...

I know this is too late for you Joe, but hopefully it will help others in
the future.

Cheers,
-sw
 
Hallelujah! I had tried all of the other helpful hints but nothing worked
until your suggestion. BRILLIANT! Thanks so much!
 
I tried all of the things that were suggested and ended up just closing
Access and coming back in. I still don't know what the problem was.
 
Virginia,

Unfortunately, I don't know what all those things are because I only see
your message... So pardon me if some of the below has already been
suggested.

Several reasons for this... Could be the Excel spreadsheet has too many
columns, could be there is some corruption in the Excel spreadsheet, could
be the way Access is translating your columns in Excel, could be there are
calculated fields in Excel that Access can't translate for what ever reason.

So going to need a little more information...

1. How many columns is the spreadsheet?
2. Do you have any calculated columns?
3. Have you looked at the spreadsheet to confirm there are no errors on the
sheet?
4. Just on a whim here, do you column headings use any Reserved Words (or
Wildcard characters) that might confuse Access?
5. Are you using the wizard or did you write some code? (If you wrote some
code can you post it here?)
6. Have you tried it manually? (You know, File... Import...)

--
Gina Whipp
2010 Microsoft MVP (Access)

"I feel I have been denied critical, need to know, information!" - Tremors
II

http://www.regina-whipp.com/index_files/TipList.htm
 
Thank You, Thank You, Thank You

You are such an awesome person. I am currently at work running reports to be our financial reporting season and I tried everything everyone said and was just about to give up when I read comment. I did it and works just fine. This is my first time working with appending and I was ready to pull my hair out.. I removed the security deal and it imported with no problems.


Thanks and Bless You,

Ms. Dwin


sponge.worthy said:
Like others here I spent hours looking for a way to get around this error.
When I figured it out, i felt like kicking myself. You know how when you
start Access there is that "Security Warning - certain content blah blah
disabled" message is there below the ribbon? Just click options and select
"allow this content". The data came in after that! I couldn't believe it -
Access was denying access to Access...

I know this is too late for you Joe, but hopefully it will help others in
the future.

Cheers,
-sw

"Joe Ramos" wrote:

> When I'm importing an Excel spreadsheet into an Access DB the import wizard
> gives me a dialog box stating that the subscript is out of range. I am
> importing the table to be used in a report that has already been created.
> I've tried importing the spreadsheet to a new DB and get the same error. I'm
> working with Office 2003.
Click to expand...
 
Had the same problem; I import the Excel file into Access as a separate table and then do an append query to the table I want updated and no problem. Couple of things to make sure of-
field names are the same and I like to have those fields indexed with no duplicates so that
only "fresh" records are added. Hope this helps.
 
This gave me another idea: I did a compact and repair and now it works !!!:fool:

"sponge.worthy" wrote:

> Like others here I spent hours looking for a way to get around this error.
> When I figured it out, i felt like kicking myself. You know how when you
> start Access there is that "Security Warning - certain content blah blah
> disabled" message is there below the ribbon? Just click options and select
> "allow this content". The data came in after that! I couldn't believe it -
> Access was denying access to Access...
>
> I know this is too late for you Joe, but hopefully it will help others in
> the future.
>
> Cheers,
> -sw
>
> "Joe Ramos" wrote:
>
> > When I'm importing an Excel spreadsheet into an Access DB the import wizard
> > gives me a dialog box stating that the subscript is out of range. I am
> > importing the table to be used in a report that has already been created.
> > I've tried importing the spreadsheet to a new DB and get the same error. I'm
> > working with Office 2003.[/QUOTE]
 
Thanks gbothma - it was the autonumber column problem for me - I'd left it blank assuming Access would complete it.

Regards
Adrian

gbothma said:
Hi there

My database contained an Auto Number field in the first column. I had to remove the columns from the Excel spreadsheet completely after which the import worked fine.

The Excel spreadsheet is not allowed to contain any references to the associated Auto Number column in the DB.
Click to expand...
 
Hi Guys
I tried all these but still having same problem.please any other recommendation.
Rinam
 
Hi,
I have the same problem but I try to import a text file instead of excel. I read all the info here but nothing applies to my problem.

While I am trying to import a text file to Access with "append a copy of records to the table" option, it gives a "subscript out of range" error. I was able to import it many times in access 2007 or earlier versions, but after I updated office to 2010 version, it started to give that error. What can be the reason of it? My text file doesn't have column headings, the table in which I want to import my text file has column headings and they are not reserved words.
I can import the text file if I don't choose the "append a copy of records to the table" option.
Please help!
 
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