SYLK (Symbol Link) file - unable to link to Access 2003

[Post Tenebras Lux]

I have some files that are saved (automatically) as *.xls BUT they appear to
be in the SYLK format. Excel opens them without any problem, but offers to
save them as Excel files on SAVE.

I want to link these xls files (before they have been opened in Excel and
saved as Excel files), but I get the error message:
"The wizard is unable to access informatioin in the file 'file.xls'. Please
check that the file exists and is in the correct format.

I haven't been able to find a way to link or import them. Any suggestions
would be greatly appreciated?

 

['69 Camaro]

Hi.

I want to link these xls files (before they have been opened in Excel and
saved as Excel files), but I get the error message:
"The wizard is unable to access informatioin in the file 'file.xls'.
Please
check that the file exists and is in the correct format.

Open the file in Excel and save it as a CSV file. Close Excel. Open the
CSV with Excel and save it as an XLS file using a new name for the file.
Close Excel. Now try to link to the XLS file you just created. You will
lose any formatting and formulas, but you can recreate them if necessary.
Or better yet, have Access link to the CSV file. It's faster, but any
updates to the spreadsheet will need to be done in the CSV file, where
formatting and formulas can't be saved.

HTH.
Gunny

See http://www.QBuilt.com for all your database needs.
See http://www.Access.QBuilt.com for Microsoft Access tips and tutorials.
Blog: http://DataDevilDog.BlogSpot.com
http://www.Access.QBuilt.com/html/expert_contributors2.html for contact
info.

 

[Post Tenebras Lux]

Hi.


Open the file in Excel and save it as a CSV file. Close Excel. Open the
CSV with Excel and save it as an XLS file using a new name for the file.
Close Excel. Now try to link to the XLS file you just created. You will
lose any formatting and formulas, but you can recreate them if necessary.
Or better yet, have Access link to the CSV file. It's faster, but any
updates to the spreadsheet will need to be done in the CSV file, where
formatting and formulas can't be saved.

HTH.
Gunny

See http://www.QBuilt.com for all your database needs.
See http://www.Access.QBuilt.com for Microsoft Access tips and tutorials.
Blog: http://DataDevilDog.BlogSpot.com
http://www.Access.QBuilt.com/html/expert_contributors2.html for contact
info.

I appreciate the suggestion, but I'm trying to find a way to AVOID having to
open the files in Excel first. These are data files saved directly from the
web, so if I don't have to add an additional step (opening them in Excel,
saving them as xls) I would rather link the saved sylk file (even though it
has an XLS extension). I'm not given the option by the web site to save as
anything other than a SYLK xls file.

Any other thoughts?

 

['69 Camaro]

Hi.

I'm trying to find a way to AVOID having to
open the files in Excel first.

If you don't use Excel to convert from SYLK format to a compatible format,
you'll have to use some other program, which requires opening _that_ program
instead.

I would rather link the saved sylk file

That technique doesn't work with the drivers currently installed on your
workstation.

Any other thoughts?

You're stuck between a rock and a hard place. Get comfortable or get
moving.

HTH.
Gunny

See http://www.QBuilt.com for all your database needs.
See http://www.Access.QBuilt.com for Microsoft Access tips and tutorials.
Blog: http://DataDevilDog.BlogSpot.com
http://www.Access.QBuilt.com/html/expert_contributors2.html for contact
info.