XL7: DAO Error Using OpenDatabase on ODBC Sources

• Microsoft Excel for Windows 95, version 7.0
• Microsoft Office for Windows 95, version 7.0

SYMPTOMS

In Microsoft Excel, when you attempt to open a database for use with Data Access Objects, you may receive the following error message:

   Run Time Error 3423
   You cannot use ODBC to attach (link) an external Microsoft Access or
   ISAM database table to your database.

CAUSE

This error occurs if you are trying to open a database for which an installable ISAM driver exists, and you are using an ODBC data source to establish the connection to that database.

WORKAROUND

In this situation, you must use the ISAM driver to open the database.

The following two examples demonstrate the syntax for connecting to an external database using Data Access Objects, using ISAM and ODBC drivers.

Microsoft provides examples of Visual Basic procedures for illustration only, without warranty either expressed or implied, including but not limited to the implied warranties of merchantability and/or fitness for a particular purpose. This Visual Basic procedure is provided 'as is' and Microsoft does not guarantee that it can be used in all situations. Microsoft does not support modifications of this procedure to suit customer requirements for a particular purpose.

Before you run either of the following macros, use the following two steps:

1. In the module sheet that contains the macro, click References and then click Tools.

2. From the list of references, select the Microsoft DAO 3.0 Object Library, and click OK.

   ODBC ----

   NOTE: If you use the dBASE driver in this manner, it will result in the error message listed above.

      Sub ODBCMethod()
         Dim db1 As Database
   
         Set db1 = OpenDatabase("c:\test", False, False, _
             "ODBC;DSN=dBASE Files;DBQ=c:\test")
      End Sub
   
      ISAM
      ----
   
      Sub ISAMMethod()
         Dim db1 As Database
         Set db1 = OpenDatabase("c:\test", False, False, "dBASE IV")
      End Sub
   
   

MORE INFORMATION

When you use data access objects in Microsoft Excel for Windows, it is possible to access an external database using either an installable ISAM driver or an ODBC driver. The following are two examples of data base types that can access an external database using either an installable ISAM driver or an ODBC driver:

   Microsoft Excel files
   Text files