XL: "Syntax Error in FROM Clause" When Getting External Data

ID: Q171899

The information in this article applies to:

Microsoft Access 97
Microsoft Excel 97 for Windows
Microsoft Excel for Windows 95, versions 7.0, 7.0a

SYMPTOMS

When you use Microsoft Query or Access 97 to return external data to a worksheet in Microsoft Excel or when you view returned data in Microsoft Query, you may receive the following error message:

Microsoft Query

Syntax error in FROM clause.

Access 97

This data source contains no visible tables.

CAUSE

This problem occurs if the following conditions are true:

You attempt to retrieve data from a Microsoft Access database.

-and-

The path to the database or the database name itself contains a period (.), for example:
C:\My.Test\Northwind.mdb
-or-

You attempt to retrieve data from a Microsoft Excel workbook.

-and-

The table range in the workbook is called "Database".

WORKAROUND

To work around this problem, change the path to the database so that it does not contain any periods, for example:

C:\MyTest\Northwind.mdb C:\My Test\Northwind.mdb

NOTE: You may use a period before the file name extension (.mdb in this case).

Or, rename the table range in the workbook to a name other than "Database".

STATUS

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

MORE INFORMATION

When the file name path contains a period, the path is qualified incorrectly by Microsoft Query. As a result, the Structured Query Language (SQL) statement for the data you are retrieving is incorrect, and you receive the error message in the "Symptoms" section.

Additional query words: XL97 XL7 7.0 msquery get external data create new query


Keywords          : kberrmsg kbtool 
Version           : WINDOWS:7.0,7.0a,97
Platform          : WINDOWS 
Issue type        : kbbug

Last Reviewed: July 8, 1999