Columntyp from a linked excel-table

[Niels]

Hello folks,
i have a problem by importing data from a excel sheet
using a table connection. Because of the values of
the "empty" cells (all cells filled up by zero) Access
connect one column to a wrong datatype. I need to import
the data as Strings, but I get a numeric column. If I
delete the zero-values it works proberly, but i can't do
this in practice.

I expected, that this behavior determine by the type of
the first-row-data. I put in a dummy row with fitting
entrys. It doesn't works.
Is there any way to fix the columntyp at a linked excel-
table?

Thanks in advance for your help.
Niels

 

[Roger Carlson]

No. You cannot change the datatype of a linked Excel spreadsheet. The
datatype is determined by the first dozen-or-so values in the column.
Normally I would suggest doing exactly what you have done. Unfortunately, I
have found that after you delete the dummy row, the field reverts the the
old datatype. In other words, to make it work, you CAN'T delete your dummy
row. I usually solve this by moving a whole row to the top that has a value
in the column that I want. If you have ALL blank values, however, this is
not an option.

Sorry.

 

[Niels]

Hi Roger,
thanks for your replay.

Poor.
It seem to be easier to solve the problem at excel side.

Niels