Sorry to be back on about my wretched database. I'm struggling to see how I can turn the existing spreadsheet (created in Exel) into an Access database. I think I must have pressed all the options on every tab - but nothing seems to transform the data into an Access database. Could anybody help, please?

I'm just guessing, P, as I haven't looked how to do it and am wide open to correction, but I would've thought that you first need to create a database in Access by putting all of the fields in the right places ready to accept values.

Then export your Excel data to a csv file and import the csv file into Access. There may even be an export function to export directly into Access without going the csv route.

A 'csv' file, Hils?

I was looking for an export function but maybe until I create the database, as you suggest, perhaps it won't register.

P,

A quick look at Access 2k3 shows that you can open the Excel .xls file directly in Access without going the csv route. Don't have time now to play about with it unfortunately.

Good luck with it.

edit: csv = comma separated values. The comma (or any another specified character) separates the contents of one cell (or field) from the next.

The export will be on Excel. In fact it would probably be 'save as' and one of the file types would be csv. I am assuming that you have it in Excel format. If you have it in csv already then it will be an import into Access. As you say, you need to define the database first.

Never mess with a dodgy photocopier!

Copy machine revenge

(or 'Pinky the cat) :-)

Thanks, guys. I found the 'Save As.csv' option and I'm tackling the define the database bit.

Grrrh! Almost there. Only problem I'm left with is all the imported information is in one field. Something about which delimiter I'm using. I can't get the info to go into the nice separate llittle fields I've created for them.

Has the data got saved properly with commas or "," around the fields? Look at it with wordpad (notepad may not allow a file that big).

Probably not. I've changed everything I can wherever I can find a choice, but there are no commas around the fields on the imported data that I can see. But amazingly, all 633 lines are there. It's just I can't put them in the right fields.

How do I put in commas or quotation marks to sort them out, please?

The save as should do it for you. Here is what it should look like.There should be a dialogue box to ask you what field and text delimiters you want.

"Mr","P","Williams",123446,"Abcd",34556

Generally text fields have " " around them. The comma is between fileds.

Someties all fields will have " " around them as in: -

"Mr","P","Williams","123446","Abcd","34556"

The " " are necessary as the text fields themselves may have a comma , in them.

PLEASE HELP!
Had to format drive.Cant Re-install Xp pro.I get error messages
"SXS.DLL:SYNTAX ERROR IN MANIFEST OR FILE D:\1386\ASMS\6000\MSFT\VCRTL\VCRTL.MAN ON LINE 16
"A component file does not match the verification information in the component manifesto"
tried to put old copy of Xp Home But same problem.
Any ideas?

Ps.On Son`s Computer and he is not happy :-0

Iain, what type of XP is it? is it an OEM version?

I have the CD.Genuine one

But what type is it? also what sort of motherboard? has it been overclocked? is the CD-ROM working OK? can you check the CD on another PC to make sure its all reads OK?

Does the PC have any odd type of disk subsytem? eg RAID ?

Sorry Spaceman. Will check on another system.
ASUS Motherboard.Not been Overclocked.No odd sub system

Iain, I havnt seen that problem but I have a feeling its to do with problems reading the CD, either the CD itself or something to do with the CD Rom drive or the disk sub system.

I would diconnect any non essential drives (eg second hard disks or extra DVD drives) and try again.

Is the CD Rom very dirty or scratched? try giving it a gentle clean.

Gave disc a clean.Without any luck
With what you say I think it may be the Cd drive. In the past Ive had to try 2 or 3 times to load certain discs

Got a new drive.Sorted.
Cheers Tim :-)

had a slight problem,had a pc built high ish spec for gaming,and trading,
i have the ASUS motherboard A8N32_SLI DELUXE and it comes with an easy overclocking programe,so i had to tinker thinking it will do what it needs to do without any probs,i had a bit of a shock,my AVG was then out of date,so to was the S&D,AD-AWARE,etc
reset back to default but still was wrong,

the problem was it set the year to 2099,
all back ok now thanks to a nice man,a very nice man.just thought i should pass on the info,

steve

I'm trying to download some PDFs onto my Palm Tungsten PDA memory card but the sync software won't let me, says there's no application to support this. However I have the latest Adobe reader for Palm on the machine. Can anyone tell me anything I might be doing wrong.

If I don't reply it's because I've gone away, but any help in the next 4 hours or so would be great!!!

Edit, sorted now. Isn't Google great :-)