Microsoft Access Linking dat

What produced this file. There are many systems that can create a dat file. Generally, you cannot link directly to them, but need to have them running in their native system first and connect through that.

For instance you can create a dat file from SQL Server - but you would not be able to link to it - you'd have to go back to SQL Server, restore it and them link via SQL Server.


Kelvin

Kelvin,
The dat file is an exported file from the DB2 mainframe.  We normally import it into Excel but the file is too big so I thought I could link into Access instead of importing it.

Presuming the file is a dbase file that MS Access can still read...Try this:

Open Access
Create a new database
Click:
External Data-->Import-->More-->DBase file
Browse to the file
Select: "Link to the data..."
...and see if this works...
query in Access to combine all the data...

If this is a dbase file and Access cannot open, then your best bet may be to split up the data into sizes that Excel can take.
Then import all of the Excel files into Access, then finally run an append query in Access to combine all the data.

Does this file contain sensitive data?

Can you post it here?

Sorry the file is not a dbase file and it has sensitive data.  Any help is really appreciated as I have to attend a meeting and will check messages, the first thing Thursday morning.  In the meantime, I can try to create a similar file without sensitive data. Have a nice night!

< Any help is really appreciated>
You have not posted your results of the first two suggestions...

Sorry...
< Any help is really appreciated>
You have not posted a reply on my first suggestion...

Hello,

I have attached a small text file (AccountsReceivableAging-MHIP.txt) as I had to rename the extension so it would post.  Please rename the extension from txt to dat.  I so hope you can link this file.  Automation is my goal so if linking doesn't work perhaps writing VBA to import the file is a solution.  

Thanks!Public Attachment AccountsReceivableAging-MHIP.txt

Excellent, this works well and I will use VBA to automate the link.  Thanks!

great