"Could not find installable ISAM" error when you refresh a data table in Excel

Symptoms

When you try to refresh data in a Microsoft Excel workbook that links to a Microsoft Access database, you may receive the following error message: 

This issue occurs if the workbook was previously opened and refreshed in a newer version of Excel.

Cause

When an Excel workbook that's linked to an Access database is opened in a later version of Excel, parameters may be added to the connection string. If the earlier version of Excel does not recognize these parameters, it triggers the error message.

Resolution

To resolve this issue, delete the new parameters from the connection string. To do this, follow these steps:

1. Open the Excel workbook.

2. On the Data ribbon, click the Connections button.

3. In the Workbook Connections dialog box, select the connection to the Access database, and then click Properties.

4. In the Connection Properties dialog box, click the Definition tab.

5. Delete the following parameters from the connection string:

   Jet OLEDB:Bypass UserInfo Validation=False;
   Jet OLEDB:Limited DB Caching=False;
   Jet OLEDB:Bypass ChoiceField Validation=False

6. In the Connection Properties dialog box, click OK. At this point your data should be refreshed.

7. In the Workbook Connections dialog box, click Close, and then save the updated workbook.

More Information

If you refresh and save the workbook in a newer version of Excel, the issue will recur.