DoCmd.TransferText, Import/Export to delimited text ? Comma or semicolon

[Patrick Geiser]

Hello,

I have a problem with Access 2000 (maybe with other versions too). When I
use the command "DoCmd.TransferText" with the "acExportDelim" constant, the
file is sometimes exported with a comma as delimiter, sometimes with a
semicolon, depending on the version of Access I'm using.

I have different installations, and they don't react the same. Some have
Win98 english, some Win98 german, some have Access 2000 english, some have
Access 2000 german.

Can anyone help me find a solution. What is deciding whether to use a comma
or a semicolon ? Is it a dll (system or Access), is it a parameter, is it in
the registry ?

Any help would be appreciated.

Thank you in advance,
Patrick Geiser

[Rob Hamblett]

Unless you specify the format Access will pick up default
delimeters from the OS. You need to set up an
import/export specification. to do this pretend you are
doing a manual import of your exported data file:
File -> Get External Data -> Import
Click the 'Advanced' button, set up the required spec and
Save it.
you can then specify the Spec name in your TransferText
command.
See the help file for more details

HTH

Rob

>.
>

[Patrick Geiser]

Hi Rob,

Thank you for your answer.
Unfortunately, I cannot modify the application which is importing/exporting
the text files. It seems that, depending on the version of Access or some
parameter in the OS, the data are exported/imported using either a comma or
a semicolon.
The same application is installed on two computers. One exports using a
comma, and the second using a semicolon. It is then impossible to exchange
data from one computer to the other (they do not reside in the same
company).
Do you know where the "Default delimiters" come from if you do not specify
any import/export specification ? Is there something to change in Access or
in the OS ?

Thank you in advance,
Patrick

"Rob Hamblett" <ms...@rhamblett.demon.co.uk> a écrit dans le message de
news: fdff01c21ba1$9058d2a0$a5e62ecf@tkmsftngxa07...

[John Nurick]

Hi Patrick,

Normally, the default list separator used by Access is the one
set in the Regional Options control panel applet (the name
varies from version to version of Windows). This is "," in most
English-language installations and ";" in most German ones.

Obviously, these settings affect many other applications as
well as Access, so it may not be possible to change them
without causing problems elsewhere. If that is the case, you
may need to "convert" the text files by substituting commas and
semicolons as necessary. Provided the field contents do not
include commas or semicolons, that is very simple. If the
fields do contain commas or semicolons it's a lot more
complicated: post back here if you need help.

John Nurick [Microsoft Access MVP]

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