joining an excel spreadsheet

Question

I am using an excel spreadsheet, joining it to some data in my map. I have been able to join if i put the spreadsheet on my computer, but if I try to access it over the network, it will not connect. I get "failed to connect to database. General function failure. External table is not in the expected format. Can someone tell me why it will connect from my computer but not thru the nextwork?  Is there a limit to the number of characters in the path?

RobertBorchert · Answer

Because it is looking for the excel table on your computer.

i.e say you put it in c:\exceltables\  and you put the mxd on your network and your network is the s:\ drive it does not have c:\exceltables\

You need to put the spreadsheet on the network and re-path your mxd to point to that directory.

I am using an excel spreadsheet, joining it to some data in my map. I have been able to join if i put the spreadsheet on my computer, but if I try to access it over the network, it will not connect. I get "failed to connect to database. General function failure. External table is not in the expected format. Can someone tell me why it will connect from my computer but not thru the nextwork?  Is there a limit to the number of characters in the path?