MSQuery: "Invalid Path" Using Access 2.0 Driver

• Microsoft Query for Windows, version 1.0

SYMPTOMS

In Microsoft Query, when you open a database using the Microsoft Access 2.0 ODBC Driver for Microsoft Office, you may receive the following error message:

   Invalid Path

CAUSE

The above error message appears when the directory that contains the database you are opening contains an underscore character (_).

WORKAROUND

To avoid receiving this error message when you open a database using the Microsoft Access 2.0 ODBC driver, do either of the following:

• Rename the directory that contains the database to a name that does not contain an underscore character before you open the database in Microsoft Query.

  -or-

• Move the database to a directory that does not contain an underscore character before you open the database in Microsoft Query.

STATUS

Microsoft has confirmed this to be a problem in the Microsoft products listed at the beginning of this article. This problem was corrected in Microsoft Excel for Windows version 5.0c.

MORE INFORMATION

The following information is contained in the Microsoft Access 2.0 Readme.

If you have a database that is in a directory that contains an underscore ("_") in its name, you won't be able to open this database from Microsoft Word and Microsoft Excel using the Microsoft Access 2.0 ODBC Driver for Microsoft Office. You must first rename the directory or move the database to a directory that doesn't have an underscore in the name.

To see this information and to find more information about using Microsoft Access 2.0 with other applications, do the following:

1. Do either of the following to view the Microsoft Access 2.0 Readme:

   Double-click the MS Access Readme Help icon at Program Manager.

   -or-

   In Microsoft Access:

   a. From the Help menu, choose Contents.

   b. From the File menu, choose Open.

   c. From the File Name list, select ACREADME.HLP, and choose OK.

2. From the Microsoft Access Readme Help Contents screen, choose Using Microsoft Access Version 2.0 With Other Software.

3. Choose Accessing Microsoft Access Data From Microsoft Word And Microsoft Excel.