Supported data sources for importing, for exporting, and for linking in an Access 2002 database project

If your Access project (.adp) uses Microsoft SQL Server as the database engine, you can link data from other programs and other file formats, such as Microsoft Excel, dBase, Paradox, or XML (import only). You can also import or link a Microsoft Access database (.mdb), HTML tables and lists that reside on the local computer, a network server, or an Internet server. From Access, these linked objects are read-only. No additions and no changes can be made to the linked objects.

The following table lists the formats that are supported by Access 2002. The following table also lists formats that are not supported and formats that have limited support.

Note The numbers in parentheses indicate the restrictions that apply. For more information, see the list of restrictions after the table. You must be aware of the following restrictions:

1. The Access database must already exist. Only tables can be exported to an Access 97 and earlier file.
2. Warning Serious problems might occur if you modify the registry incorrectly by using Registry Editor or by using another method. These problems might require that you reinstall your operating system. Microsoft cannot guarantee that these problems can be solved. Modify the registry at your own risk.
   
   The Link Table Wizard uses the first row of data as the column headings. For text and for HTML files, examine the first row, and then insert the appropriate column headings if the column headings are required.
   
   If you link to large text files (*.txt or *.html), an ODBC Timeout error may occur. To permit Access to successfully transfer text data or to successfully link text data to Microsoft SQL Server, you must increase the QueryTimeout value in the registry, or you must disable the ODBC Timeout by setting the value to 0 (zero).
   
   The following registry key controls the QueryTimeout value:
   HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Jet\4.0\Engines\ODBC\QueryTimeout
3. When you try to link to Microsoft SQL Server 7.0 or to Microsoft SQL Server 2000 by using a system DSN, you may receive the following error message:
   Invalid schema or catalog specified for provider 'MSDASQL'
   You can prevent this error when you try to connect to Microsoft SQL Server. You can prevent this error if you click Microsoft SQL Server in the Data Connection Wizard, and then you do not click ODBC DSN.
4. In the Microsoft Office 2002 update that is dated October 18, 2005 (KB904018), you cannot update a linked Microsoft Excel spreadsheet. This behavior is by design. For more information, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:
   904953  (http://support.microsoft.com/kb/904953/ ) You cannot change, add, or delete data in tables that are linked to an Excel workbook in Office Access 2003 or in Access 2002

The third-party products that this article discusses are manufactured by companies that are independent of Microsoft. Microsoft makes no warranty, implied or otherwise, regarding the performance or reliability of these products.

For more information about how to export data or database objects, click Microsoft Access Help on the Help menu, type export data or database objects in the Office Assistant or the Answer Wizard, and then click Search to view the topic.

For more information about how to link tables in .adp by using the Link Table Wizard, click Microsoft Access Help on the Help menu, type Link tables in an Access project by using the Link Table Wizard in the Office Assistant or the Answer Wizard, and then click Search to view the topic.

For more information about supported data sources for importing, for exporting, and for linking in an Access 2002 database (*.mdb), click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base: