XL: "Excel 7.0;" Is an Invalid Database Type in DAO

ID: Q141788

The information in this article applies to:

SYMPTOMS

In Microsoft Excel, when you use the OpenDatabase method or the Connect property, if you use "Excel 7.0;" for the database type, you may receive the following error message: 

   Run-time Error '3170'
   Couldn't find installable ISAM
Note that the Microsoft Excel 7.0 Help topic for the Connect property indicates that "Excel 7.0;" is a valid database type specifier. This information is incorrect.

WORKAROUND

To use data from a Microsoft Excel 7.0 workbook with Data Access Objects (DAO), use "Excel 5.0;" for the database type. For example: 

   Set DB = OpenDatabase ("C:\XL7FILE.XLS", False, False, "Excel 5.0;")
You can use "Excel 5.0;" for the database type for both Microsoft Excel 5.0 and 7.0 files because these versions share the same file format. Also, DAO uses the same installable ISAM to access both versions of Microsoft Excel.

To use data from a Microsoft Excel 97 workbook with DAO, use "Excel 97;" for the database type.

MORE INFORMATION

In Microsoft Excel, you can use DAO in a macro to access external data. When you use the OpenDatabase method or the Connect property, you provide a string that specifies information about the database.

For more information about the Connect property, click the Index tab in Microsoft Excel Help, type the following text 

   connect
and then double-click the selected text to go to the "Connect Property" topic.

In the "Connect Property" topic, in the table that shows possible database types and their corresponding database specifiers and paths for the Connect property setting, note that the table includes "Excel 7.0;" in the Specifier column of the table. This information is incorrect.

Additional query words: 7.00 8.00 97 XL97 

Keywords          : kberrmsg kbdta xldao KbVBA xlwin 
Version           : WINDOWS:7.0,97
Platform          : WINDOWS
Issue type        : kbprb

Last Reviewed: December 9, 1998