linking to dBASE file(only 8.3 name format accepted)

[Mike Hickey]

I am trying to link existing .DBF files to Access.
I find that if dBASE file is in 8.3 name format, link ok..
If dBASE file is not 8.3, link will fail...

ie: linking dairydot.dbf always works
linking dairyland.dbf always fails

This problem exists on my home computers and work
computers. Curiously, another department in the
county government does NOT have this problem, ever!

I have found a 'work-around' (if I chant Oohmm while
standing on my head, rubbing my tummy counter-clockwise
while doing a twenty step connection to an ODBC device,
I can get the connection to work... but my head hurts
and I sure would like a simple solution.

I think that the problem is related to "ISAM drivers",
but I am a GIS guru and not a member of the priesthood
of Microsoft Mysteries...

 

[Joe Fallon]

That is the solution. Not the problem.
Use 8.3 file names and field names of 10 characters or less if you want to
talk to old dBase files.

 

[John Nurick]

Hi Mike,

The following is big juju. Don't try it if it doesn't make sense!

If you've installed the Posix utilities from the NT/2k/XP resource kit,
you can use "ln" to make a hard link to the DBF, with a nice short
filespec. Access will import this OK.