External table is not in the specified format

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Harmen Klok - 16 Dec 2003 10:41 GMT

I want to merge an Microsoft Excel file in a Word document.
Word 2003 wants to have an data link. And looks to it as if it is an database. So eventually it gives me the message: "External table is not in the specified format". How can i make Word 2003 accept the XLS document?

Harmen

P.S. I am using a Dutch version of MS Office 2003

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Peter Jamieson - 16 Dec 2003 11:21 GMT

Assuming you have Excel on your system,
a. ensure you can open the .xls in the normal way. If you can, and the .xls
was not created in this version of Excel, you could try using File|Save As
to save the .xls using the current Excel file format. If you cannot the
following workaround will not work anyway.
b. check Word Tools|Options|General|"Confirm conversion at open", then go
through the connection process again. You should see an extra question which
lets you select the connection method. The DDE option should work.

I don't know why Word cannot open this .xls but I would check the file
format version (as I mentioned in (a)). Also, if the .xls is
password-protected there would be a problem opening it with OLEDB.

--
Peter Jamieson - Word MVP

> I want to merge an Microsoft Excel file in a Word document.
> Word 2003 wants to have an data link. And looks to it as if it is an database. So eventually it gives me the message: "External table is not in

the specified format". How can i make Word 2003 accept the XLS document?

> Harmen
>
> P.S. I am using a Dutch version of MS Office 2003

Reply to this Message