Access/Excel (DOE) - String Cutoff

[jpstrzoch]

Hello,

I am using an Excel file as a DB and connecting to that file using Crystal XI via an Access/Excel (DOE) connection. I am selecting Excel 5.0 when establishing that connection.

When I review the available database fields within Field Explorer I see that one particular field is listed as follows:

Issue_Summary: String [255]

The [255] is obviously limiting the characters beyond 255 in the report as they are being truncated when I show that field within a report.

What can I do to extend the character length? Is this simply a limitation of Excel?

Thank you very much!

James J. Pstrzoch,
Operations Manager
FGS Fulfillment Services

 

[synapsevampire]

Where do you see it listed that way?

Anyway, 255 is a limitation of Excel 5, why are you saving it as an Excel 5 file?

-k

 

[jpstrzoch]

Good morning,

I see it in the Crystal Reports "Field Explorer" under "Database Fields". When you say "why are you saving it as an Excel 5 file".....are you asking why am I using Excel? I meant to say I am identifying the XLS file as "Excel 5" during the Create New Connection process. Is there an alternate election I should make? I am using Excel 2003 to create the XLS file itself. I see that during the "Create new Connection" I can elect to go with Excel 8, but I am unsure of what effect that might have.

So you are you saying that 255 is the maximum character length that XLS can provide?

Thank you for your time and expertise.

James

 

[synapsevampire]

No, I'm saying that 255 was the max in Excel 5, read the post, it says Excel 5, not an XLS.

Save it in the most recent version you can, and use the most recent driver to open it.

Your caution errored on the wrong side in this case.

-k

 

[jpstrzoch]

Synapsevampire

Let's start again. I have an XLS or "Excel" file. I am using Crystal XI to tap into it. When I begin to write a report using Creystal XI I must identify the DB...in this case it is an Excel XLS file. During the process of establishing this connection I elect Access/Excel (DAO)....under which I can then link to the XLS file. In that same screen I select Excel 5.....there is an Excel 8...I tried that and still I am seeing [255] next to he field within Field Explorer.

Can I identify the XLS through ODBC creating a DSN and then expand the field length there? I am in the deep end of the pool Synapsevampire.....I realy don't know how to do it but in reading about character length perhaps this is the only way?

 

[synapsevampire]

I understand all of that.

What format is the Excel file in, and have you opened it to assure that this column is over 255 characters now?

Yes, you can use ODBC, but I tested the way you did and it read > 255 just fine.

One thing you might try is to increase the size of the column in the first row to make sure it is over 255, Excel does weird things...

-k

 

[jpstrzoch]

Thank you for your patience.

I am simply saving the XLS file as a "Microsoft Excel Workbook". I see other options for saving while using Excel 2003. When you say that I should increse the size of the cell I attempted to do so by selecting the column and then format the column width. When I try to enter a number larger than 255 I get an error indicating that the width cannot be over 255. Are you changing the width in a different way? Are you saving differently?

James