ACC95: Err "<Database> Isn't a Valid Name" Exporting Table/Query

• Microsoft Access 7.0

SYMPTOMS

Moderate: Requires basic macro, coding, and interoperability skills.

When you export a table or query to a Microsoft Access, Microsoft Excel, Paradox, Text, dBASE, Microsoft FoxPro, or Lotus 1-2-3 file, you may receive the following error message and the export fails:

   '<DatabaseName>' isn't a valid name.

CAUSE

The name of your database file or the folder in which it resides contains a period (.) or an exclamation point (!) followed by one or more spaces, or your database file name does not contain a file extension. Following are examples of folder or file names that cause the error message:

   Path and File Name                    Reason for Error
   ----------------------------------------------------------------------
   C:\My. DotSpaceFolder\Northwind.mdb   Period plus space in folder name
   C:\MyFolder\My! BangSpaceFile.mdb     Exclamation plus space in file
                                         name
   C:\Access\Northwind                   Missing file extension

RESOLUTION

Rename the database file or the folder to a new name that does not contain a period or an exclamation point followed by spaces, or add an extension to the database file name.

STATUS

Microsoft has confirmed this to be a problem in Microsoft Access 7.0. This problem no longer occurs in Microsoft Access 97.

MORE INFORMATION

Steps to Reproduce Behavior

1. Copy the sample database Northwind.mdb to "My. DotSpaceFile.mdb" (without the quotation marks).

2. Start Microsoft Access and open My. DotSpaceFile.mdb.

3. Select the Shippers table in the Database window.

4. On the File menu, click Save As/Export.

5. In the Save As dialog box, click "To an external File or Database," and then click OK.

6. In the "Save Table 'Shippers' In" dialog box, select Microsoft Excel in the Save As Type box, and then click Export. Note that you receive the error message.