XL98: Error Gathering List of Tables for FileMaker Pro Data Source (245138)

SYMPTOMS

When you click Connect in the Create New Data Source dialog box, you may receive the following error message:

Unknown error
An error has occurred while trying to gather a list of available tables.

CAUSE

This error message occurs if you do not have a FileMaker Pro database open when you click Connect. To create a data source in the Create New Data Source dialog box, you must have your FileMaker Pro database open in FileMaker Pro.

NOTE: This error message also occurs if you select a FileMaker Pro data source in the Choose Data Source dialog box and the FileMaker Pro database for the data source is not open.

RESOLUTION

To resolve this problem:

Click Cancel in the Create New Data Source dialog box.
Click Cancel in the Choose Data Source dialog box.
Click OK in the message about not receiving information from Microsoft Query.
Start FileMaker Pro and open the database for which you want to create the data source.
In Microsoft Excel, point to Get External Data on the Data menu and then click Create New Query.
In the Choose Data Source dialog box, click <New Data Source> and then click OK.
Type the name of your data source in the What name do you want to give your data source? box.
In the Select a driver for the type of database you want to access list, select ODBC 3.11 FileMaker Pro PPC.
Click Connect.
If you want to specify a default table for your data source, select the table in the Select a default table for your data source (optional) list.
Click OK.

MORE INFORMATION

When working with external data that is in a FileMaker Pro database, the database must be open when you are going to access the data. According to page 15-3 in the FileMaker Pro User's Guide: "Each file must remain open for client applications to access the data."