Thanks for trying to help - even though the info I gave was inadequate.  The
Excel spreadsheet I am attempting to import from has data in columns and
rows.  The first row contains the headers of 'First name', 'Second name',
'Title' etc and the columns fill in the detail for each contact so that each
row beneath the title contains the full contact details seperated according
to the headers.  There are 30 contacts.  Each column has been highlighted and
given a name.
In Outlook I click 'file' 'import' and point to the spreadsheet.  I get the
list of fields on the spreadsheet with a blank tick box to the left of each
field.  I check the first and if it is not recognised by the program I am
prompted to identify which of the fields in Outlook it relates to.  I then
drag from the left and connect to the field on the right then click 'OK'.  
This procedure is repeated for all Excel source fields.
I click 'Finish' and the import.  The process starts and then I get the
error message shown in the subject.  It is headed 'Translation error'.  I
selected to carry on with other steps and then look at the resulting contacts
list.  The 'title', 'first name' and 'last name' were not imported at all.  
The were some 200 'contacts' set up.  All had only one field filled in and
none linked the full contact details in one 'contact' card.
Any assistance greatfully received.