MS Query Date Format

[scos00]

I am having a problem passing a date parameter to MS Query.
Ultimately I want the parameter to be picked up from the Exce
spreadsheet but for the moment I can't even get it working in M
Query.

In MS Query I create a new criteria with a value of [startdate] so tha
when I execute it prompt me for the date. When I enter the date i
refuses to accept it, regardless of format. The error message depend
on the format I use. Since it is an Oracle database I get one of th
following:

- ORA-01843 Not a valid month
- ORA-01858 a non numeric character was found where a numeric wa
expected
- ORA-01861 lieral does not match format string

If I enter a date directly in the criteria value field it works fine
e.g. #10/10/2005#.
I have tried with and without the # in the prompt, plus I have trie
every conceivable date format and it won't accept it.
Of course it must be something to do with the fact that the underlyin
database is Oracle but I just don't know how I can get round it. (
tried DD-MON-RR, of course, which is the Oracle date format).

Any ideas??

Thanks