WD: ODBC Error Opening a DBF File with Hyphen in the File Name
Article ID: 188037
Article Last Modified on 8/17/2005
APPLIES TO
- Microsoft Word 6.0 Standard Edition
- Microsoft Word 6.0a
- Microsoft Word 6.0c
- Microsoft Word 95 Standard Edition
- Microsoft Word 95a
This article was previously published under Q188037
SYMPTOMS
If you try to access a dBASE or FoxPro database file using ODBC as the
conversion method, you may experience the following behavior:
You receive a series of ODBC error messages. For example, when you try
to access the database file Payrl-93.dbf using ODBC, you will receive a
sequence of error messages similar to the following:
Open Database Connectivity Error
Stop: Syntax Error
Choosing OK produces another error message:
Open Database Connectivity Error
Stop: SELECT * FROM PAYRL-<<????>>93.DBF
CAUSE
These error messages occur if the file you are trying to use contains a
hyphen in the file name. (To access a dBASE or FoxPro file, use the
Database command on the Insert menu or use the Mail Merge feature.)
WORKAROUND
Rename the dBASE or FoxPro database file so that it does not contain a
hyphen.
STATUS
Microsoft has confirmed this to be a problem in the Microsoft products
listed at the beginning of this article.
Additional query words: ODBC database dash
Keywords: kbbug kbmerge kbpending KB188037