"Can't Access" Adding Table Using UNC Network Drive (132481)

SYMPTOMS

In Microsoft Query, when you add a table that is located on a network drive, you may receive the following error message

Can't access table <drive>:\<folder>\<table>

where <drive>:\<folder> is the default drive and folder for the data source that you are using (for example, C:\Program Files\Common Files\Microsoft Shared\MSquery), and <table> is the table that you added from the network drive.

CAUSE

This problem occurs when you add a table using a Universal Naming Convention (UNC) drive connection in the Add Tables dialog box. For example, if you enter the following in the Add Tables dialog box

\\computer1\share

when you click Add, the network share is connected as expected, and the folders on this share appear in the Directories list in the Add Tables dialog box. However, when you click a table in the Table Name list, and click Add, you receive the error message indicating that Microsoft Query cannot find the table. Additionally, the error message indicates that Microsoft Query is looking for the table in the default directory for the data source instead of on the network drive.

This behavior occurs with data sources that use paths, such as a dBASE data source. Note that this behavior does not occur if you enter the entire path to the table file in the Table Name box. For example, if you enter the following path in the Table Name box

\\computer1\share\files\customer.dbf

the table is added as expected.

WORKAROUND

To work around this behavior, make a real network connection to the network drive that contains the table file that you want to add. To do this, use the following procedure:

In the Add Tables dialog box, click the Network button.
In the Path box, enter the UNC network name, such as \\computer1\share.
Select or clear the Reconnect At Logon check box depending on whether or not you want to automatically connect to this share each time you log on to the network. Click OK.
In the Drives list in the Add Tables dialog box, click the share you connected in Step 3 above.
In the Directories list, select the folder that contains the table that you want to add.
In the Table Name list, click the table you want to add, and then click Add.

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.