Creating import specification doesn't work. What to do?

[Sirritys]

Hi,

I'm experiencing very strange problem. I'm importing files to access
like I would normally do: hit "advanced" and create new fields to
profile. The thing is that when I try to save specification or press
"OK" to go further Access simply undo's all the new fields I have
created.

What's going on ? What do I do wrong?

example:

import--> select wanted txt file (fixed limits) --> advanced --> Access
shows me Field1, Field2 and Field3. Everything fine so far.
Now when I type ie. field4 and set its datatype, width, start etc...
Still everything fine.

But then ---> If I hit "OK" or "Save as" the field4 I just typed
dissappears.

I've tried evertyhing, and just don't get what I'm doing wrong.
Starting to feel pretty stupid at this point =)


Regards,
Sirritys

 

[Granny Spitz via AccessMonster.com]

What's going on ? What do I do wrong?

Hon, you need to add the 4th column to the text file and then you can alter
its name, data type, etc. in the specification. You can only *create* new
columns in the text file you're importing and while in the table's design
view (or use SQL or VBA to do this programmatically).

 

[Sirritys]

What do you mean by "creating new columns in the txt file"

I have a file that has no columns, its just charachters and spaces.
Width of a row is about 500. So there are no recoqnizable columns. Just
data.

Now when I'm trying to tell excel how data is structured as columns it
won't allow me to do that.

 

[Granny Spitz via AccessMonster.com]

What do you mean by "creating new columns in the txt file"

You *create* new columns by typing more data in the text file for each record
that Access can read and identify as individual columns during the import.
This record in the text file has 3 columns:

492 11/2/2006 Smith

In the "advanced" import specification the column names Field1, Field2 and
Field3 can be changed to EmpID, HireDate and LastName. If there's no
additional data in the file, new columns *can't* be added in the import
specification.

You can add data to this record in the text file so it has 5 columns:

492 11/2/2006 Smith John Manager

The import manager will show 5 columns for you to rename or skip in your
specification. You can't add a 6th column in the specification because
there's no data in the text file for a 6th column.