Access experts? How to get around type conversion error for hyphenated postal codes?

[bubbasmith99]

This is driving me batty. Every time I try to link or import an excel spreadsheet, it works fine except all the postal codes with hyphens in them (i.e. xxxxx-xxxx) don't get imported. Instead I get a table full of type conversion errors.

I try to go into the Excel spreadsheet and change the field type from number to text but that doesn't do anything. When I am clicking through the import wizard dialog box, it doesn't give me the option to manipulate the field type (that option is greyed out).

Does anybody have any idea how I can get around this?

 

[bubbasmith99]

woohoo! found out the solution to my problem. :beer:

no thanks to you noodniks! :disgust:

RESOLUTION
To work around this behavior, insert an extra row of data as the first row in the spreadsheet. Insert alphabetical characters in any columns that are defined as alphanumeric columns. Enter numeric characters in any columns that are defined as numeric columns. After you have imported the spreadsheet into Microsoft Access, delete the extra row of data from the spreadsheet and the table.

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;109376