ACC: "Could Not Find Object" Error Importing MS Excel File

• Microsoft Access versions 7.0, 97

SYMPTOMS

Novice: Requires knowledge of the user interface on single-user computers.

When you try to import or link a Microsoft Excel spreadsheet, if you click Show Named Ranges in the Import Spreadsheet Wizard or the Link Spreadsheet Wizard, you may receive the following error message.

In Microsoft Access 97

   The Microsoft Jet database engine could not find the object '<name of
   selected range>'. Make sure the object exists and that you spell
   its name and the path name correctly.

In Microsoft Access 7.0

   Couldn't find object '<name of selected range>'.

NOTE: This error message has also been found to occur if a Microsoft Access 2.0 database is converted to Microsoft Access 7.0 or 97, and it includes a TransferSpreadsheet macro action or Access Basic code with a Range argument that contains the sheet name along with a named range. For example:

   DoCmd.TransferSpreadsheet acExport, 8, "MyTable", "C:\MyFile.xls",
   True, "MySheet!MyRange"

CAUSE

The named range you selected in the Import Spreadsheet Wizard or the Link Spreadsheet Wizard is longer than 64 characters. Although Microsoft Excel allows a name of up to 255 characters, the Microsoft Excel ISAM driver that Microsoft Access uses to import or link spreadsheets truncates a range name to 64 characters. The import or link fails because Microsoft Access cannot find the truncated range name in the spreadsheet.

The reason for the 64-character truncation is that Microsoft Access uses the name of the range as the table name in your database, and table names are limited to 64 characters.

RESOLUTION

There are two ways to work around this behavior.

Method 1

Open the spreadsheet in Microsoft Excel and define a name for the range that contains 64 characters or fewer. You do not need to delete the existing longer name. Then, when you use the Import Spreadsheet Wizard or the Link Spreadsheet Wizard in Microsoft Access, select the shorter defined name.

Method 2

Use the TransferSpreadsheet action in a macro or the TransferSpreadsheet method in a Visual Basic for Applications function to import or link a specific range in the spreadsheet. In the Range argument, specify the range by address rather than by name, for example "A1:E32." The following sample Visual Basic for Applications function demonstrates this method:

   Function ImpByAddress()
      Docmd.TransferSpreadsheet acImport, acSpreadsheetTypeExcel97, _
         "test", "c:\My Documents\Book1.xls", , "A1:E32"
   End Function

MORE INFORMATION

Steps to Reproduce Behavior

1. Open a new, blank workbook in Microsoft Excel. In cell A1 type the word "test" and in cell B1 type the word "Excel."

2. Select cells A1 and B1, and on the Insert menu, point to Name, and then click Define.

3. In the Define Name dialog box, type the following in the Names In Workbook box:

       You_can_access_the_Microsoft_Knowledge_Base_from_the_Microsoft_Web_site
   

   Click OK.

4. With cells A1 and B1 still selected, again point to Name on the Insert menu, and then click Define. In the Define Name dialog box, type the following in the Names In Workbook box:

       Access_the_Microsoft_Knowledge_Base_from_the_Microsoft_Web_site
   

   Click OK.

5. Save the workbook as C:\Test.xls, and close it.

6. Start Microsoft Access, and open the Northwind sample database.

7. On the File menu, point to Get External Data, and then click Import.

8. In the Import dialog box, select Microsoft Excel (*.xls) in the Files Of Type box, select C:\Test.xls, and then click Import.

9. In the Import Spreadsheet Wizard, click Show Named Ranges, and then select this range:

       You_can_access_the_Microsoft_Knowledge_Base_from_the_Microsoft_Web_site
   

   Note that you receive the error message. Select this range:

       Access_the_Microsoft_Knowledge_Base_from_the_Microsoft_web_site
   

   Note that the Wizard continues because you selected a named range fewer than 64 characters long.

REFERENCES

For more information about Microsoft Access table specifications, search the Access Help Index for "specifications, Microsoft Access."

For more information about the TransferSpreadsheet method or action, search the Help Index for "TransferSpreadsheet method" or "TransferSpreadsheet action."

For more information about range names in Microsoft Excel, search the Excel Help Index for "naming, ranges."