Importing Txt Files

[ActMod]

I am trying for the first time to import txt file data into Access by using the Access Menu: File/Get External Data/Import... I cannot get passed the two problems below for two different txt files:

Problem 1: txt file has three columns but Access seems to be reading all of the data as a single record and gives me an error statement saying that a single row contains over 65,000 records, which exceeds Access' maximum. How do I get Access to recognize the three columns when importing data?

Problem 2: Access says it cannot find the txt file and that I should check the Path. But I browse to and select the file itself for importing so why is it that Access says it cannot be found and what can I do?

Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated?nto Access.

Thank you for any help.

Jim

 

[SkipVought]

Hi,

In the Import TExt Wizard, the very first step allows you to select one of 2 options -- pick the fixed width option and follow the bouncing ball.

How can Problem 1 happen if Problem 2 is happening???

Skip,
Skip@TheOfficeExperts.com

http://www.TheOfficeExperts.com

 

[ActMod]

I get the Record Length error before even getting to the Import Text Wizard. That is, the error is the first thing I see after selecting the file for import.

Problems 1 and 2 were independent. Two different text files stored in two different locations. I attempted to import them into each of two independent Access Data Projects. Sorry that wasn't clear.

Can I open the Text Wizard before selecting File/Get External Data/Import...?

Thanks for your help.

Jim

 

[SkipVought]

Have you opend this file in Notepad? What does the data look like?

Skip,
Skip@TheOfficeExperts.com

http://www.TheOfficeExperts.com

 

[ActMod]

Yes, I did open the files in Notepad.

The "Problem 1" file looks quite manageable. It is about 20,000 records and only has three columns - but no field headings. This is the one where it looks to me like Access is trying to read all the records as a single record.

Following is a sample of the first several records (the names/numbers have been changed to protect the innocent):

222588492DAVIS DAV 12/15/59MM
183589487SMITH JOHN 10/18/65PP
256884792JONES JIM 08/02/81KL


The "Problem 2" file is very large (about two hundred thousand records). This one looks like above but in addition to many more records, probably has about 50 columns. This is the one that Access says it cannot even find.

Thanks much for staying with me.

Jim

 

[MFritts253]

Hello ActMod,
If you have access to a program called Monarch 6.0 it can help. I would use Monarch all the time to slice apart text files and put them into DB's.

Sincerely,
Fritts

 

[SkipVought]

Prob 1 - what I would do is to use Excel to open and parse using the fixed width option. Then inport from Excel

Prob 2 - is the file extension the same as 1? Other than changing the file name, I am stumped. ???

Skip,

http://www.TheOfficeExperts.com