How to Import Spreadsheet or Text Data Into a Table in Access 2003

Before attempting to import a spreadsheet or text data into a table in Access 2003, you should make sure that the spreadsheet you want to import has the same type of data in each field (column) and the same fields in every row, or that the data you want to import is arranged in an appropriate tabular format. Follow these easy directions to import a spreadsheet into Access 2003.

Things You'll Need

• Computer
• Access 2003

Instructions

1. Open your database or switch to the Database window for the open database.

2. Point at "Get External Data" on the File menu and then click "Import."

3. Point to the "Files of Type" box located in the "Import" box. Select "Microsoft Excel" (*.xis).

4. Click on the arrow to the right of the "Look In" box, and then select the drive and the folder where your spreadsheet file is located. You may now double-click on its icon.

5. Read and follow the directions in the Import Spreadsheet Wizard.

Tips & Warnings

• If the Wizard does not start, you may be trying to import multiple files at the same time. Try saving each spreadsheet as an individual file.

• As long as your spreadsheet column headings match the table's field names, you can append the data to an existing table.

• Be sure to assign appropriate data types to the imported fields. For example, a phone number field may be imported as a number field into an Access database, but should be changed to a text field in Access 2003 because you would rarely perform any calculations on these types of fields.