WD: ODBC Error Opening a DBF File with Hyphen in the File Name

ID: Q188037

The information in this article applies to:

Microsoft Word for Windows, versions 6.0, 6.0a, 6.0c
Microsoft Word for Windows 95, versions 7.0, 7.0a

SYMPTOMS

If you try to access a dBASE or FoxPro database file using ODBC as the conversion method, you may experience the following behavior:

   You receive a series of ODBC error messages. For example, when you try
   to access the database file Payrl-93.dbf using ODBC, you will receive a
   sequence of error messages similar to the following:
   
      Open Database Connectivity Error
      Stop: Syntax Error

Choosing OK produces another error message:

   Open Database Connectivity Error
   Stop: SELECT * FROM PAYRL-<<????>>93.DBF

CAUSE

These error messages occur if the file you are trying to use contains a hyphen in the file name. (To access a dBASE or FoxPro file, use the Database command on the Insert menu or use the Mail Merge feature.)

WORKAROUND

Rename the dBASE or FoxPro database file so that it does not contain a hyphen.

STATUS

Microsoft has confirmed this to be a problem in the Microsoft products listed at the beginning of this article.

Additional query words: ODBC database dash

Keywords          : kbdta wordnt winword kbmerge ntword word7 word95 
Version           : WINDOWS:6.0,6.0a,6.0c,7.0,7.0a
Platform          : WINDOWS
Issue type        : kbbug
Solution Type     : kbpending

Last Reviewed: February 13, 1999