Import or link (read-only) data on an FTP or HTTP Internet server

Note   You cannot import from or link to a Microsoft Access database, a text file, or an ODBC data source when importing or linking to an FTP or HTTP server. For a general summary of data sources you can import or link, click .

1. Open a database, or switch to the Database window for the open database.
   
   
2. To import data, on the File menu, point to Get External Data, and then click Import.

   To link data, on the File menu, point to Get External Data, and then click Link Tables.
   
   

3. To import or link from an HTTP server, type the Internet address in the File Name box. For example, to link the file Jansales.html on the //pubweb HTTP server, type http://pubweb/jansales.html.

   To import or link from an FTP server, either type the Internet address in the File Name box, or click the arrow to the right of the Look In box, and then click FTP Locations. In the list of FTP locations, double-click the location of the item you want, and then double-click the item.

Notes

• Although you can't import or link a text file by using the Import command, you can use the TransferText action or method.
  
  
• Microsoft Access copies the entire file to the Microsoft Internet Explorer cache folder on your local machine. Therefore, this process may take some time because potentially large amounts of data are being transferred through the Internet.
  
  
• A linked table is a data snapshot of the original, remote data source at the time you linked. You will not see updates to the data made at the remote location while the table is open, but the next time you open it, Microsoft Access refreshes the local copy in the cache folder.