Access 2003 - Import File - BUG

[Craig Ferrier]

I am having problems importing a file to a new table.

Proceedure

Create New Database : db1.mdb
Select File/Get External Data/Import
Select a file for import *.txt (i am using a comma delimited text file)
Import Text Wizard starts
Select Delimited - click on Next
Select Delimiter option (Comma) text qualifier "
First row does NOT contain Field Names - click next
In a New Table - click next
Highlight the first column - Amend field Name - "record" (in this case):
Data Type is Text: indexed set to No.
Select the second column - Amend Field Name

Here is the problem - it will not allow me to amend the field name, data
type or indexed option for any further columns (Fields). It will only
adjust the first column (Field) no matter which column I select. Also I
cannot adjust the Column widths.

How do I get some support on this.

Thanks
Craig

 

['69 Camaro]

Hi, Craig.

Access 2003's Import Text Wizard is a little different than the earlier
versions. When you need to amend the field names, data types and indexes
for your imported table, select the "Advanced" button in the lower left
corner to view the advanced options in the "Import Specification" dialog
window. Here is where you'll make your changes to the fields. You can even
save these changes as an import specification in order to automatically
repeat these same steps the next time you import a similar file.

When you are finished making your changes, select the "OK" button to return
to the regular page of the wizard and make any other changes necessary, like
adding a primary key and changing the name of the imported table. Click the
"Finish" button to import the table.

If you select "Delimited" field format in the Import Text Wizard, you won't
be able to adjust the column widths with the wizard. You can, however, make
column-width changes in "Design View" of the newly imported table by
changing the field size of text fields from the default 255 characters.

HTH.

Gunny

Coming soon:
For your Microsoft Access, database development and maintenance needs, see:
http://www.softomagixly.com

 

[Craig Ferrier]

Ok this I understand.

Why is their the same problem when trying to import a spreadsheat. It does
not have the "Advance" button, it will not let me change the field name,
assign an index value or allow the Skip this field. It will only record
against the first column again.

Craig

 

[BellSouth User]

I'll be glad to help you with this. How big is your text file (# of
records?)? Feel free to send me a sample file to (e-mail address removed)
It is necessary to verify the database structure.

C.A. Hernández
Deerfield Beach FL

 

['69 Camaro]

Hi, Craig.

Unfortunately, you can't use the same "advanced" options trick to change
column properties with Access 2003's Import Spreadsheet Wizard as you can
with the Import Text Wizard, because the Import Spreadsheet Wizard doesn't
have advanced options. Earlier versions of this Access wizard didn't have
the "Advanced" button either, but you could change the properties of any
column of the imported spreadsheet with the wizard in those versions.

Hopefully, Microsoft will fix this limitation with the import wizards in the
upcoming SP-1 for Microsoft Office System 2003 Professional, which is
scheduled to be released in June.

In the meantime, the workaround is to manually open the Excel spreadsheet,
save it as a *.CSV or *.TXT file, then use Access 2003's Import Text Wizard
to import this new file into a table and use the "advanced" options to amend
the properties of the columns.

As an alternative, you could create or purchase a software tool that does
this for you. Our company builds software tools for Access developers and
power users, but we don't currently offer a product that overcomes Access
2003's import limitations. However, if there's enough interest from Access
developers and power users, then we would certainly build an Access 2003
wizard that automates the import process to make it faster and easier --
without the user having to do any extra work or hunt for missing features.

You can visit our new Web site, which will be available next week, to make a
request for this wizard, as well as any other Access developer tool that
you'd like to see offered. Estimated price for this wizard would be $25.
If you can't wait till next week for our new Web site, then you can always
contact us at:

messages @ REMOVE_THIS PART softomagixly.com

(To help us avoid spammers, please remove the "REMOVE_THIS PART" and the
spaces from the above E-mail address for our correct address.)

HTH.

Gunny

Coming soon:
For your Microsoft Access, database development and maintenance needs, see:
http://www.softomagixly.com

 

[Mike Wachal]

I am having problems importing a file to a new table.

Proceedure

Create New Database : db1.mdb
Select File/Get External Data/Import
Select a file for import *.txt (i am using a comma delimited text file)
Import Text Wizard starts
Select Delimited - click on Next
Select Delimiter option (Comma) text qualifier "
First row does NOT contain Field Names - click next
In a New Table - click next
Highlight the first column - Amend field Name - "record" (in this case):
Data Type is Text: indexed set to No.
Select the second column - Amend Field Name

Here is the problem - it will not allow me to amend the field name, data
type or indexed option for any further columns (Fields). It will only
adjust the first column (Field) no matter which column I select. Also I
cannot adjust the Column widths.

How do I get some support on this.

Thanks
Craig

Hi Craig,

This is actually a known problem in Access 2003 that will hopfully be
corrected in a future service pack. Until then, you will need to modify the
field names in the Table design view after you have imported the files.

--
Regards,
Mike Wachal
Microsoft Corporation

This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and confers no rights.

 

[sapgooey]

Mike,

Thanks for the info. I also had this bug drive me nuts.
Could you PLEASE add an article to the Microsoft "Knowledge Base" that describes the work-around?
(So that people won't have to stumble around searching for an answer until they happen to find these discussion groups)
Or do you have to wait till the "fix" is available?

-Sapgooey