XL98: Template Wizard May Update Database with Blank Record (188390)


The information in this article applies to:

  • Microsoft Excel 98 Macintosh Edition
This article was previously published under Q188390

SYMPTOMS

In Microsoft Excel, if you use the Template Wizard to add information from an existing Microsoft Excel workbook to a database, a blank or incomplete record may be added to the database.

Also, Microsoft Excel provides no warning that a blank or incomplete record was added to the database.

CAUSE

You may discover empty or incomplete records in your database if both of the following conditions are true:
  • You are using the Template Wizard to add information from an existing Microsoft Excel workbook to your database. -and-

  • The workbook you are using to add information to the database is not arranged exactly the same as the template file that is linked to the database.

RESOLUTION

In order for your database file to be updated correctly, make sure that any workbook you use to add information to a database is arranged exactly the same as the template file that is linked to the database.

MORE INFORMATION

To use the Template Wizard successfully, you must do all of the following:
  • Create a workbook that contains the layout for the data.
  • Define a template based on the layout in the workbook.
  • Create and save a new database or use an existing database.
  • Decide whether to consolidate existing data from separate workbooks.
  • Save the template.
To automatically add data to the database file, open a workbook that is based on the template you created with the wizard, type new data in the workbook, and then save the workbook.

You can merge data from other workbooks either when you create the template or after you create the template. If you want to merge data from a Microsoft Excel workbook, but you are unsure of which cells in the template file are linked to the database, follow these steps:
  1. Open the template file created by the Template Wizard that is linked to the database.

    NOTE: If Macro Virus Protection is enabled, then a macro warning message will be displayed when this file is opened.
  2. On the Data menu, click Template Wizard.
  3. Click Next in steps 1 and 2 of the Template Wizard.
  4. In the step 3 of the Template Wizard, you see a list of all the cell references (sheet name as well as cell address) that are linked to the database.
  5. Click Cancel to close the Template Wizard without any changes.
Make sure that the data you want to merge from your workbook uses the same cell references (sheet name, as well as cell address) as those listed in step 3 of the Template Wizard. Also the sheet names must be identical to successfully merge workbooks.

If your workbook does not contain a worksheet that is named the same as the one that is listed step 3 of the Template Wizard, you may receive the following error message:
Unable to find data in workbook <file name>
This problem occurs because the Template Wizard is looking for a specific worksheet name in your workbook and is unable to locate one with the same name as the sheet listed in step 3 of the Template Wizard.

REFERENCES

"Getting Results with Microsoft Excel 98 Macintosh Edition," pages 90-97

For additional information about using the Template Wizard, please see the following article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

188411 XL98: How to Use the Template Wizard with Data Tracking Add-In

Or, click Contents And Index on the Help menu (or on the Balloon Help menu if you are using a version of the Macintosh operating system earlier than 8.0), click the Index button in MS Excel Help, type the following text

Template

and then click Show Topics. Select the "What is the Template Wizard with Data Tracking?" topic, and click Go To. If you are unable to find the information you need, ask the Office Assistant.
Modification Type:MinorLast Reviewed:1/28/2005
Keywords:kbprb kbualink97 KB188390
©2004 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.