Adding new fields to a linked table from Excel

[Ammo]

Hi People,

I have a table called tbl_ProjectDetailsLinked, this table
is a linked table from Excel that consists of a number of
fields and corresponding data. I have also created a query
based on this table.

My problem is however; I can’t add any additional fields
to the tbl_ProjectDetailsLinked table.

I keep receiving the message 'Microsoft Access cant save
property changes for linked tables' when I try to add new
field to the table in design view. Does anyone know a way
I can add new fields to the table, even if it means
creating another table and linking those fields to the
tbl_ProjectDetailsLinked table? Any suggestions or
solutions would be most welcomed and appreciated.

Thank You

Ammo

 

[Nikos Yannacopoulos]

Ammo,

A linke table is not actually a table in Access, it's just a "path" for
access to read from the Excel workbook. This is why Access will not let you
modify the design of a linked table.
To do what you want, you have two oprions:
1. Add the desired additional fields in the Excel worksheet, or
2. Create a separate table in Access to hold the additional fields, and join
the two in a query. In order for this to work, there must be a field (or
combination of fields) that uniquelu identifies each record, and that field
(or combo of fields) must exist in both the linked Excel worksheet and the
internal table.

Word of caution: Excel doesn't cope well with updates coming from Access
through linked tables; this practice results in corruption of the Excel
workbook once too often. The safest approach to have your additional fields
as well as avoid corruptions in the Excel workbook would be to create a
table with all the fields in Access to work with, and use the linked Excel
sheet to import from in your table (through an Append query).

HTH,
Nikos