Table field count and Import Wizard

[Al]

Howdy!

Access 2K/2K2

I have to import a text file having 286 fields. I know there is a 255
field limit in an Access table.

For any number of reasons, at this time, I do not want to:
write my own import routine
do the import into two tables and then post process
use the import wizard and find out it won't do what I would like to do
- too much typing

Here's the question:

If I use the import wizard in advanced mode, define all 286 import
fields, but mark the 45 fields I don't need as "skip" (leaving 241
desired fields) - will the import be successful and create the
desired table with 241 fields??

Thanks!
Al

 

[Douglas J. Steele]

I believe so, but have you tried it? Wouldn't that have been faster than
posting a question asking about it?

Hopefully you're going to normalize the data once you import it into your
database. 241 fields in a single table is probably at least 10 times too
many.

 

[Al]

Doug - thanks for the reply.

No, I didn't try it because the way I type (two fingers and a thumb)
it would have taken at least an hour to enter the info. Posting was
much faster :>) and I would like a chance at success :>)

I would agree that normalization makes sense for "serious" database
designs, but this is nothing more than a data dump for a fairly
straightforward Access report.

BTW, I have learned quite a bit from you and the other MVPs in the
various Access newsgroups. Thanks for your efforts - much appreciated!

Regards,
Al

 

[Al]

Just completing the thread.

Marking a field as "skip" in the text import wizard does NOT count
toward the table's 255 fields