Modify an error in linking to a text file

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CW - 18 Jul 2007 11:22 GMT

I made an error while defining the data type in a particular field in the
linked table, which is a .txt file.
Everything else is fine, but I said one field was a Number and in fact it is
Text so of course it does not display correctly in my Access table.
It is not possible to modify the data type in Table/Design, so how can I
correct this?
(I did not create and save an Import Spec for the import process). I cannot
find any way of getting into the definitions, to make the change. Surely I
don't have to create the whole link all over again, do I???
Thanks
CW

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j.mapson.nurick@dial.pipex.com - 18 Jul 2007 16:51 GMT

Hi CW,

Access creates an import/export specification for itself even if you
don't explicitly save one. Here's one way to proceed:

1) File|Get External Data|Link

2) Select the text file in question.

3) Click the Advanced... button in the text import wizard.

4) Click the Specs... button in the next dialog, select the right
specification (the automatically assigned names are obvious), and
click Open.

5) Modify the specification as needed, click Save As... and save under
the same name.

Next time you open the linked table, it should use the modified
specification.

If you use Tools|Options|View to display hidden and system objects,
you can see how the specifications are stored in MSysIMEXSpecs and
MSysIMEXColumns. The specification used by each linked table is stored
in the Connect column of the table's record in MSysObjects.

>I made an error while defining the data type in a particular field in the
>linked table, which is a .txt file.
[quoted text clipped - 7 lines]
>Thanks
>CW

--
John Nurick - Access MVP

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