Import .dbf files with long names into Access

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larry-v - 28 Jul 2005 20:46 GMT

In attempting to import dBaseIV files into Access, I get an error message
that the Jet DBE can't find the object. The dBaseIV files have long
filenames (Ex; HN021372_ooedr5_1546.dbf) generated by a proprietary program
in a hand-held datalogger. If I rename to eight characters, they import
fine, however I am receiving 150 files per day and the time to manually
rename is too long. Is there a way to get Access to import dBaseIV files
with long names?

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Ken Snell [MVP] - 28 Jul 2005 20:52 GMT

Not directly. But you could run VBA code in ACCESS that would rename the
files to "short" names.

Signature

Ken Snell
<MS ACCESS MVP>

> In attempting to import dBaseIV files into Access, I get an error message
> that the Jet DBE can't find the object. The dBaseIV files have long
[quoted text clipped - 4 lines]
> rename is too long. Is there a way to get Access to import dBaseIV files
> with long names?

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david epsom dot com dot au - 29 Jul 2005 03:24 GMT

If you are using code to import, you can use the
windows api to look up the short name for each file:

Declare Function GetShortPathName Lib "kernel32" _
Alias "GetShortPathNameA" (ByVal lpszLongPath As String, _
ByVal lpszShortPath As String, ByVal cchBuffer As Long) As Long

If you have an exceptionally bright windows geek on tap,
you can also re-configure windows so that the file open
dialog shows short names.

(david)

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