XL: "Syntax Error in FROM Clause" When Getting External Data

• Microsoft Excel 97 for Windows
• Microsoft Excel for Windows 95, versions 7.0, 7.0a

SYMPTOMS

When you use Microsoft Query to return external data to a worksheet in Microsoft Excel or when you view returned data in Microsoft Query, you may receive the following error message:

   Syntax error in FROM clause.

CAUSE

This problem occurs if the following conditions are true:

• You attempt to retrieve data from a Microsoft Access database.

      -and-
  

• The path to the database contains a period (.), for example:

        C:\My.Test\Northwind.mdb
  

      -or-
  

• You attempt to retrieve data from a Microsoft Excel workbook.

      -and-
  

• The table range in the workbook is called "Database".

WORKAROUND

To work around this problem, change the path to the database so that it does not contain any periods, for example:

   C:\MyTest\Northwind.mdb
   C:\My Test\Northwind.mdb

Or, rename the table range in the workbook to a name other than "Database".

STATUS

Microsoft has confirmed this to be a problem in the Microsoft products listed at the beginning of this article. We are researching this problem and will post new information here in the Microsoft Knowledge Base as it becomes available.

MORE INFORMATION

When the file name path contains a period, the path is qualified incorrectly by Microsoft Query. As a result, the Structured Query Language (SQL) statement for the data you are retrieving is incorrect, and you receive the error message in the "Symptoms" section.