Linking to .csv or .dat files

[Nancy]

I am a total neophite in this area, so any advice you can
give me is greatly appreciated.

I am working on a project with a group using a CAD
program to gather lots of technical information. This
program has .dat and .csv files. They want me to build an
Access interface to add some project tracking
functionality for their office.

Is there a way I can use (I have no intention of
altering) the information they've already entered in this
other program in order to prevent multiple entries of
data?

 

[John Nurick]

Hi Nancy,

Normally there's no problem linking to CSV files: File|Get EXternal
Data|Link.

But while "CSV" has a pretty standard meaning, there's absolutely no
standardisation of what a "DAT" file might be. Open one with a text
editor to see what's inside, and if it's a text file, rename it from
..DAT to .TXT to see if Access will link to it (recent versions are
reluctant to import text files with non-standard extensions).

If that works see http://support.microsoft.com/?id=304206 for how to
make Access accept the .DAT extension.