"Updating or deleting data in a linked table is not supported by this ISAM" error in Access

Original KB number:   824159

Note

This article applies to either a Microsoft Access database (.mdb) file or to a Microsoft Access database (.accdb) file, and to a Microsoft Access project (.adp) file. Requires basic macro, coding, and interoperability skills.

Symptoms

If you try to update a Microsoft Access table by using an update query that reads data from a linked-text file, the update may fail and you may receive the following error message:

Updating data in a linked table is not supported by this ISAM.

Note for Microsoft Office Access 2007 users

To determine the unique number that is associated with the message that you receive, press CTRL+SHIFT+I. The following number appears in the lower-right corner of this message:

503616

If you try to update an Access table by using a delete query that reads data from a linked-text file, the deletion may fail and you may receive the following error message:

Deleting data in a linked table is not supported by this ISAM.

Note for Microsoft Office Access 2007 users

To determine the unique number that is associated with the message that you receive, press CTRL+SHIFT+I. The following number appears in the lower-right corner of this message:

503617

Workaround

To work around this problem, import the text file to the Access database and then run the update query or run the delete query.

References

For more information about how to import a text file in Microsoft Office Access 2003, click Microsoft Office Access Help on the Help menu, type Import or link data and objects in the Search for box in the Assistance pane, and then click Start searching to view the topic.

For more information about how to import a text file in Microsoft Access 2002, click Microsoft Access Help on the Help menu, type Import or link data and objects in the Office Assistant or the Answer Wizard, and then click Search to view the topics returned.