Unable to get ODBC working on Mac (and many years trying) - Excel 2011 et al

I just found this that was posted last week on CNET: http://download.cnet.com/ODBC-Manager/3000-20432_4-10967170.html  I have no idea whether it's any good, I haven't tried it.

This is their real homepage: http://www.odbcmanager.net/

yes, was 1st step.


yes, these are for an ODBC Manager, they are not for the necessary driver.

That's one of the problems, on the 'net there is no distinguishing between the ODBC Manager app that Apple chose no longer to include and the Drivers that they never included.  

As such it is easy to spend hours searching for the wrong thing. As a result I have multiple ODBC Managers and zero drivers.

When I download drivers, such as Actualtech and Openlink, I don't get very far.

Incidentally the driver does not have to be free, just not the $200 an hour Openlink want.

I didn't see anything for Excel, just for MySQL and the UnixODBC/FreeTDS for MS SQL.

I believe my trouble lies in understanding how to install what I already have; while also understanding which of what I have is the right component. I say this only because I have long had all the components from both the suppliers mentioned in your first link.

As such I need to find someone who has successfully completed the ODBC Driver install process. A rare animal indeed it seems.

What shows up in your ODBC manager?

Just for a test, I downloaded and installed a MySQL ODBC connector and the ODBCManager software on my MacBook Pro 10.6.8.  When I run the ODBC Manager, all I see is the MySQL driver.  I do have a version of Microsoft Office 2004 and Libreoffice on my computer.

I wish it were that simple; I just tried to do that and there are so many tabs all with details and further dialogues I get lost.

Suspect I need to uninstall everything and start again, which itself is a problem.

Actualtech is I think the one I need to use and I should uninstall the OPenlink stuff.
Actualtech's Access drive includes Excel, csv and some others, but seems not xlsx

There is quite a lot of stuff on the internet about connecting to various databases, but not for Excel. At least not that I have found.

If you manage to get ActualTech's Access/Excel driver working for Excel do tell me how, please.

The first tab you need to look at is always Drivers.  If the driver isn't listed there, it's not installed or available anywhere else.

I don't have any reason to buy the Actualtech drivers.

Apologies, I wasn't suggesting you buy anything.

I have deleted the Openlink stuff manually now and will see if I can report back with some screen shots.

Yes , it took me ages to realise drivers need to be present in the drivers tab. Now I get lost with their configuration, which I am hoping was being complicated by having two different sets present.

On this page http://www.actualtech.com/products.php , it says...

The driver supports Access 97 or later, including Access 2003.

I think that 'xlsx' starts with Office 2007.  If that's true, it's not supported.

I just sent this email to Actualtech, maybe it will inspire a response here or there that helps me get past my "block". Regrettably my frustration probably shows through, I just hope not too much. I feel so stupid with this matter.

Their "readme" is here:

http://www.actualtech.com/readme.php


On 16 Apr 2013, at 11:34, Anthony Mellor  wrote:

Hi,

Support ODBC Excel 2011 to Excel Various Mac OSX 10.8.3

I have spent many YEARS trying to use ODBC to use MS Query from within Excel to query other Excel files located in the same directory as the file from which I am making the query.

I have never succeeded in getting through the ODBC Configuration requirements and usually get no further than the part that asks for database name (ok that can be anything) and then login details and location. Excel files do not have login details and the location is always the current directory for the file I am using.

Doubtless the solution is simple. However, I continue to fail and write to plead for help.

Be sure to include the following information in your e-mail:
A description of the task you are attempting to perform - Query Excel files from an Excel file
What you expected to happen - MS Query results drawn in from Excel files and sheets.
What actually happened - nothing
Your name and product license key (if applicable) - evaluation, happy to pay if it works as I need.
Which version you are using - latest, whatever that is.
Which version of Mac OS X you are using - latest
Which server OS and database version you are using OSX and .. database?! There's the problem. I wish to Query Excel files from Excel, just as I do on my PC. How hard can it be? :-)
 Thanks

Anthony

>>Actualtech have released a new driver yesterday
let's hope it solve this age old problem for you.

Best of Luck,
Paul

thanks, working on it as we type - I'll put the end result in here for any future searchers.

The only real solution is the link in the answer provided, the rest is a case of support required from the suppliers. Actualtech have released a new driver yesterday .