Linking tables to FTP site error

Hi

I tried to link tables to an FTP site many times but always get the same error

C:\My Documents\ftp:\\Test.ftp.com\users\dummy\testDB.mdb is not a valid path. maker sure that the path name is spelled correctly...and blah blah

Has anyone got clue that how can get around this error?

Cheers!
Aqif

FTP insanity

Aqif,

I'm doing a bit of cleanup duty in archives on the subject of FTP since I've finally managed to understand how to connect Access to FTP sites.

The way to make text file connections between Access and an FTP site is via a macro (TransferText action) or by using the TransferText method in VBA. You cannot use the Import/Link Wizard to setup the direct connection to the FTP site.

Here is the reason.

So, with that limitation in mind, what you need to do is first download a copy of your text file from the FTP site into a local directory on your LAN or computer. Import/Link to this local file using the Wizard for the sole purpose of creating your Import/Link specification. The name of that specification is what you then provide in your Specification argument in the TransferText action/method.

From there you should be off to the races!

Regards,
John

Update please

Your posts have hit the nail on the head for me - however I find it complex. I have split my database and put the back end on my FTP site - and of course I have got the invalid messages.

I would be most grateful if you could elaborate on exactly how to carry out the procedure you mention - I have tried several times but because I don't know or really understand what to expect I'm not geting very far.

Unfortunately, the success I had with this method was because I was actually linking to a web page (a pseudo-FTP site). Using this method for the FTP site I access at work hasn't been successful.

You'll have to use the Shell function to get the data and store it on your local server or drive in order to link to it. There should be some posts on the subject somewhere in this forum.

Apologies for the dashed hopes