I have a dbf file that is generated by another program that I would
like to have Excel be able to query the data and make some
calculations on. My problem is I can not query the data using the
"import external data" "import data" query function or even open it
up
with Excel. The eror I get is " External table is not in the expected
format"

I believe it is a dBase 5 file and I am using Excel 2003 SP2. I see
several conversion programs out there but I need to have excel be
able
to query it whenever I want as the dbf file is continuly being
updated with new data.
Can anyone help with accessing this type of file?


I appreciate any help you may be able to give me.


Thanks
Scott

Might it be a DBase 4 or even 3 file?

Do you have the option to import these types of file?

MH

"Riddler" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:(E-Mail Removed)...
>I have a dbf file that is generated by another program that I would
> like to have Excel be able to query the data and make some
> calculations on. My problem is I can not query the data using the
> "import external data" "import data" query function or even open it
> up
> with Excel. The eror I get is " External table is not in the expected
> format"
>
> I believe it is a dBase 5 file and I am using Excel 2003 SP2. I see
> several conversion programs out there but I need to have excel be
> able
> to query it whenever I want as the dbf file is continuly being
> updated with new data.
> Can anyone help with accessing this type of file?
>
>
> I appreciate any help you may be able to give me.
>
>
> Thanks
> Scott
>

Excel has the option to open dBase 3 and 4 files and also do queries
into them but they do not work with the file I have. I have seen many
postings talking about 3 and 4 versions working fine but not 5.

Scott

Can you open this file in Access if you have it?

What software generates the file?

MH

"Riddler" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:(E-Mail Removed)...
> Excel has the option to open dBase 3 and 4 files and also do queries
> into them but they do not work with the file I have. I have seen many
> postings talking about 3 and 4 versions working fine but not 5.
>
> Scott
>

Hi Riddler,

There's a chance that it's a FoxPro file, and you may be able to open it
using the FoxPro and Visual FoxPro ODBC driver, downloadable from the link
below my signature. You'll need to set up an ODBC data source, and it might
be easier to open it in Access and then save to Excel.

--
Cindy Winegarden
(E-Mail Removed)


VFP OLE DB: http://msdn2.microsoft.com/en-us/vfoxpro/bb190232.aspx
VFP ODBC: http://msdn2.microsoft.com/en-us/vfoxpro/bb190233.aspx




"Riddler" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:(E-Mail Removed)...
>I have a dbf file that is generated by another program that I would
> like to have Excel be able to query the data and make some
> calculations on. My problem is I can not query the data using the
> "import external data" "import data" query function or even open it
> up
> with Excel. The eror I get is " External table is not in the expected
> format"
>
> I believe it is a dBase 5 file and I am using Excel 2003 SP2. I see
> several conversion programs out there but I need to have excel be
> able
> to query it whenever I want as the dbf file is continuly being
> updated with new data.
> Can anyone help with accessing this type of file?
>
>
> I appreciate any help you may be able to give me.
>
>
> Thanks
> Scott
>