From a text file

In “Access” 2007, you have the option to import a text file.
In contrast to an “Excel” file, a text file is not divided into columns and rows.
Just click the “Text file” button in the “Import” group under the “External Data” tab in the “Ribbon”.

In the first window, select the text file on your computer by clicking the “Browse” button.
I will not use this image again, since you’ve already seen it several times in the previous lessons.
Click the OK button.
The “Text Import Wizard” opens.
In the first screen of the wizard, “Access” will try to determine whether the data in the file is separated with a delimiter or the different data in the file have a fixed width.

When the data is separated by a comma, semicolon, tab, or any other delimiter, “Access” will recognize this in the first option in the window.
Click the “Next” button.

In the next window of the wizard, you can still choose the delimiter that separates the fields but, “Access” will usually have it correct.
Click “Next”.

In the third window of the wizard, you can change the field names and data type.
And choose whether or not to index fields, or skip importing that field.
Click “Next”.

 

In the next window, you determine whether you do not want to set a “Primary key” or let “Access” add the “Primary key”.
Click “Next”.

In the next window, you give the table a name and click the “Finish” button.
In the window that appears, you can save the import steps if you wish.
Make your choice and click the “Close” button.

Your text file is now added as a table in the “Navigation pane” of the “Access” database.

One more thing:
If the fields are aligned in your text file and “Fixed width …” was selected, then the third window of the wizard will looks like this:

In this window, you set the boundaries between different fields.
Just click in the window in order to insert a delimiter.
To remove a dividing line, double-click it.
To move a dividing line, click and drag it to the correct position.

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