XL2000: Unable to Open Error Message Appears When Performing Web Query (211910)

SYMPTOMS

When you perform a Web query in Microsoft Excel, you may receive the following error message

Unable to open Uniform Resource Locator. Cannot locate the Internet server or proxy server.

and no data is returned by the Web query.

CAUSE

This behavior occurs if you are not connected to the Internet, or if you are connected to the Internet through a proxy server in a network environment and you are not logged on to the network.

NOTE: If you use Dial-Up Networking, you may not be connected to your Internet service provider (ISP). The Web query feature in Microsoft Excel does not dial your service provider and cannot be configured to do so.

RESOLUTION

To resolve this behavior, use either of the following methods.

Dial-Up Networking

If you use Dial-Up Networking to connect to the Internet through an ISP, connect to your service provider, and then perform the Web query.

To dial your service provider, follow these steps:

Click Start, point to Programs, and then point to Accessories.
Click Dial-Up Networking. In the Dial-Up Networking window, double-click the preconfigured connection icon for the service provider.

If you see no icon for your ISP, you need to create one. To do so, double-click the Make New Connection icon, type the appropriate information for your service provider in the dialog boxes that appear, and then click Finish.

An icon for the connection you created now appears in the Dial-Up Networking window.

Proxy Server

If you use a proxy server in a network environment to connect to the Internet, verify that you are logged on to the network. Also, check with your network administrator to make sure the proxy server is working correctly.

MORE INFORMATION

In Microsoft Excel 2000, Web queries allow you to query data from a specific World Wide Web, Internet, or intranet site, and then return the information directly into a Microsoft Excel worksheet. Microsoft Excel 2000 includes some sample Web queries, which are located in the Program Files\Microsoft Office\Office\Queries folder.

To perform a Web query, point to Get External Data on the Data menu, and then click New Web Query. Locate and select the .iqy file that contains the query, and then click Get Data in the Run Query dialog box.

REFERENCES

For more information about Web queries, click Microsoft Excel Help on the Help menu, type create a web query in the Office Assistant or the Answer Wizard, and then click Search to view the topic.